Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Page

AKA: hcmbanjo
Location: Orlando, FL
Club Memberships: NAR
Favorite Rockets: Estes Goblin
Personal Home Page: www.oddlrockets.com
Club Home Page: www.R-O-C-K.org
RocketReviews.com Pages:
Rocket Gallery
Flight Log
Flight Statistics

2025-08-01

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, arrr, Part 4, D.I.Y. Centerin' Rings

Blog
TIP: One o' t' best centerin' rin' materials be t' left over mat board found at a frame shop. Ask t' manager if they have any scraps, leftover pieces too small t' be used in a frame. If you're lucky they might give them t' you for free! Blimey! If nay free, ya bilge rat, cheap anyway. Arrr! Blimey! Trace around t' diameter o' t' tubes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Trace t' larger tube first, ya bilge rat, it's easier t' center t' smaller tube afterwards. It ... [More]

2025-07-31

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 3, Makin' A Centerin' Tube

Blog
From t' original instructions: There is a side Kraft centerin' tube set over t' engine tube and engine hook. Blimey! I don't have a 3/4" long centerin' tube, so we'll "make" one. Arrr! Three 20/50 centerin' rings will be used, stacked and glued end t' end. For tighter glue joints, sand t' ends flat. Avast, me proud beauty! Slide t' rings over a BT-20 tube and glue just t' rings together, don't glue them t' t' tube yet. ... [More]

2025-07-30

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Part 2, Parts Fitting

Blog
T' 3" long BT-20 tube is notched for a standard engine hook. T' inside o' t' nozzle doesn't have a relief slot for t' engine hook. A square diamond file cut a notch for t' hook. Arrr! Don't go too deep, t' top o' t' nozzle is thin. Arrr! I marked t' inside notch with pencil so you can see t' fit through t' plastic. Begad! I can now slide t' nozzle over t' engine mount tube without distortin' t' tube. ... [More]

2025-07-29

Centuri Skylab Build, me hearties, #KB-4, me hearties, Part 1, me hearties, Parts Fitting

Blog
I have t' wonder if t' Thingverse 3D designer made t' pieces fit t' Estes tubes. Ya scallywag! T' two pod nose cones and nozzles fit a BT-20, shiver me timbers, but t' nose cone and main nozzle fit a tube slightly larger than a BT-50. T' large nozzle bell didn't fit a BT-50, too small at .976" diameter. T' older Centuri ST-10 tube was 1.04" diameter. I didn't have any ST-10 tubing. Aye aye! Before orderin' parts, I always ... [More]

2025-07-28

Centuri Skylab Build, #KB-4, Background

Blog
This has been one o' my "bucket list" builds. I've wanted t' tackle it for years but t' vacuform wraps and nozzles always held me up. I do some vacuform canopies but nothin' this detailed. T' Skylab kit was available from 1972 through 1981. It stood 24.5" tall and retailed for $4.95. Avast! Blimey! After Centuri be absorbed by Estes, matey, t' nose cone showed up occasionally in some Estes kits. Arrr! Blimey! T' see ... [More]

2025-07-27

Estes Mini Bomarc Clone, Kit #TK-5, Finished

Blog
This build brought back some 1970s Mini-Brute memories. Will it be stable? I'll know when I start launches again later this year. Right now - it's too hot! T' silver mask on t' nacelles was only possible by paintin' before gluin' t' t' main body. T' underside is pretty plain compared t' t' sides. Blimey! I'll add t' decal trim lines in t' future. I wondered about t' Canadian color ... [More]

2025-07-26

Estes Mini Bomarc Clone, Kit #TK-5, arrr, Part 18, Ink Lines?

Blog
T' instructions show "ink lines" over t' wings, stabilizer and rudder. How can these be drawn? I thought about usin' a extra fin point Sharpie but it would be hard t' control. On a Mini Bomarc build in t' 1970s, me hearties, I drew t' lines with a fine point Rapidiograph pen with mixed results T' lines were added t' t' decal art. Avast! It'll have t' wait until I print some more decals and sneak ... [More]

2025-07-25

Estes Mini Bomarc Clone, shiver me timbers, Kit #TK-5, me bucko, Part 17, Those White Backed Decals

Blog
On t' right side, t' white decal has been set down. Let dry. On t' left, T' maple leaf rin' has been set over t' top o' t' white decal. For t' Canadian flag decal, I used a strip o' maskin' tape for alignment. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Set t' white decal, let dry. On t' aft tube be t' smaller maple leaf circle white underlay. All t' decals in place. T' 6312 number decal is centered underneath t' flag. Avast! Blimey! ... [More]

2025-07-24

Estes Mini Bomarc Clone, Kit #TK-5, me hearties, Part 16, Those White Backed Decals

Blog
From t' original kit instructions, Here's t' decal placement. There is some white in t' background o' t' maple leaf circles and t' Canadian flag. Avast, me proud beauty! I used one o' me white decal layerin' tricks t' get t' right look. Begad! A clear decal sheet is sprayed with gloss white paint. White spray paint is all that's needed, arrr, no clear coat. This makes a water transfer white decal. After t' white paint ... [More]

2025-07-23

While t' Mini Bomarc Paint Dries -

Blog
I used t' only brown I had on t' Mini Bomarc nose cone - Rusto Custom Spray Enamel. Begad! Blimey! One o' those new cans with that crappy "5 in 1 custom spray nozzle". T' paint is still tacky after two days! Blimey! While I'm watchin' paint dry, a new project is in t' works: I got t' Centuri Skylab 3D parts back from a commercial printer I found on Etsy. Begad! Blimey! These are resin printed, much smoother ... [More]

2025-01-04

Estes Mini Bertha Clone

Flight
- Estes A3-4t - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Estes Blue Origin, New Shepard

Flight
Stable with a B6-4, ya bilge rat, nay so much with a C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Flew a bit south over t' trees. Recovered by other club members with t' pole. Begad! No damage! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Aye aye! [More]

Semroc Snake Jumper

Flight
Launch wasn't vertical and veered off t' t' south. Landed in trees, given up for lost. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2024-12-07

Centuri Vector V

Flight
My Centuri VECTOR V clone was first in t' air with an Estes A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! On t' left is an Estes Viking, t' kit used t' make me clone. Altitude was estimated t' be around 225 feet. Reefed 12" chute recovery. - A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! [More]

Ol'SaltRockets Stealth

Flight
Stable and true. Arrr! Blimey! Broke off one o' t' smaller winglet fins, nay recovered. - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
A favorite is my Goony X-15 . Part are from a Quest X-15 parts pack but built around a shorter BT-60. Great stable flight usin' an older Chinese made Quest B6-4 motor. Well, blow me down! Estimated altitude was 325'. - German Made Quest B6-4 - ROCK Monthly [More]

ASP Micro Wac Corporal

Flight
This be t' ASP MMX CORPORAL , a well performin' MMX bird. Aye aye! It was easy t' follow t' Mylar streamer as it descended. - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Semroc Centurion

Flight
Very stable, arrr, slow lift off. Ejection blistered t' paint right above t' baffle inside. Begad! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

2024-06-29

Ol'SaltRockets Little Green Man

Flight
A little wobble on t' way up. Nay much altitude but recovered safely. Begad! - B4-4 - Muncie AMA Field [More]

2024-04-06

Quest MMX Saturn V

Flight
T' larger fins really didn't help much, it was unstable after it cleared t' short launch rod. Ya scallywag! - 1/8A-1 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! [More]

2015-04-19

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

Hans "Chris" Michielssen's Orange (Q Cobalt Kitbash)

2014-11-09

Rockets By Style / Kit-Bash/Modified

Photograph

MX-774 Kitbash on an Estes A8-3. Bunnell Blast, November 8, 2014

2012-09-22

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 17

Build Entry
T' outside curved lines o' t' Engine Fairin' Shrouds were cut from t' cardstock with scissors. T' interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. Arrr! [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

Build Entry
T' A Frames and Fins were pressed together. Arrr! T' C Frames are pressed into t' A Frames and Fins. Be careful handlin' t' Fin paint while assembling. Silver or metallic paints are easy t' dull with fingerprints. After all were assembled dry (no glue) I applied white glue t' all t' joints with ... [More]