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

2025-12-15

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, ya bilge rat, Part 6, me bucko, Roundin' T' Leadin' Edges

Blog
From t' new Optima kit instructions: T' leadin' edges and outside edges are rounded. Well, blow me down! T' trailin' edges remain square. Well, blow me down! T' short leadin' edge o' t' forward, smaller fins be tricky. Ya scallywag! I used me sandin' block t' knock off t' edges then a piece o' 400 grit around me fingers t' get t' final round. Here's t' three forward fins, note t' squared trailin' edges. Well, blow me down! and t' larger aft fins ... [More]

2025-12-14

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, Part 5, Cuttin' Out T' Fins

Blog
There is enough "free" balsa on one side o' t' Monarch fin sheet t' cut out one o' t' larger, lower Optima fins. T' other two larger fins will be cut from two glued together Monarch fin pieces. Begad! Before gluin' together t' fin pieces, sand t' laser cut burnt edges square with a block. Glue t' two pieces flat with weight on top. T' third fin only needed a small fin tip ... [More]

2025-12-13

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, me bucko, Part 4, Fins

Blog
I decided t' kitbash t' Monarch into a downscale Optima. I've always liked t' dual fin design and bold graphics. I couldn't find a fin pattern so I looked up a rocksim drawin' on rocketreviews.com. This was copied and dropped into Corel draw. T' do t' quick downscale, a circle was drawn t' 1.325", t' diameter o' t' Monarchs BT-55 tube. Well, blow me down! T' drawin' be reduced t' match t' tube ... [More]

2025-12-12

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, Part 3, Engine Mount

Blog
T' finger tab was cut off and t' engine hook flipped over. A subtle curve was bent down t' length o' t' hook for better motor retention. Avast, me proud beauty! T' upper centerin' rin' got a small punch for t' added Keelhaul®©™ line. Begad! T' upper rin' was slid on just over t' upper bend o' t' hook for strength. T' rest o' t' mount was assembled as shown in t' instructions. A 1/16" diameter heat shrink tube be ... [More]

2025-12-11

Estes Monarch Build, #7214, matey, Part 2, Questions?

Blog
It looks like I already sanded t' coupler. Sometimes these red couplers are too tight and can get locked up in t' wrong position when gluing. Avast! Why are two joined tubes used in this design? Was it a SPEV? T' parts list says it's balsa, but a blow molded nose cone is included. Begad! No screw eye is provided, it's nay needed. Blimey! T' instructions don't mention usin' glue on t' screw eye ... [More]

2025-12-10

Estes Monarch Build, shiver me timbers, #7214, Part 1, Background & Parts

Blog
I'm takin' a break on t' Enterprise build. I remember pausin' t' Klingon build a few years back. Begad! Sometimes you just have t' ease up and build somethin' simpler. A few years back, shiver me timbers, I picked up some Monarch kits in an Estes clearance sale. We all have kits that sit in opened bags, pieces bein' cannibalized in other builds. That might explain some parts questions. Aye aye! Here's t' ... [More]

2025-12-09

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, matey, Part 30, shiver me timbers, Intercooler Dowels

Blog
Four short 7/32" lengths o' t' remainin' 1/12" diameter are cut. Aye aye! I usually cut a few extras and pick t' best ones for t' build. I like t' keep small pieces in zip lock bags until needed. Aye aye! T' dowels were held usin' tweezers. A line o' glue was applied. T' dowels are placed usin' t' tweezers. T' low end o' t' dowels butt up against t' front o' t' intercoolers. Ahoy! [More]

2025-12-08

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 29, T' Tail Caps

Blog
GOTHCA! T' tail cap liners (slip-in shoulder base) won't fit into t' tail caps! T' diameter o' t' liner be t' same diameter o' t' tail cap. Ya scallywag! Notice t' sides o' t' liner taper towards t' right side. T' instructions say t' "sand t' liners until they fit 1/4" into t' tail caps. I sanded usin' 220 grit. Well, blow me down! T' picture t' t' right show how much o' t' edge was sanded off that first shoulder. ... [More]

2025-12-07

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 28, T' Recovery Probe

Blog
When t' face o' a centerin' rin' is exposed - I like t' sand, seal, then re-sand t' face. This aft rin' face was sanded with 220 on a block, then got a wood glue coat rubbed in, ya bilge rat, Then more sandin' with 220 and 400 grit. Ahoy! T' long 1/8" dowel is thar t' reinforce t' thin walled BT-20. T' upper picture shows t' glue line before t' dowel be set down. Avast! My dowel had a slight ... [More]

2025-12-06

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, arrr, Part 27, T' Recovery Probe

Blog
When buildin' me first Enterprise in t' 1970s, I remember bein' disappointed by t' recovery probe. Ya scallywag! It adds length for stability and area for packin' t' 18" parachute. Begad! It is a flight necessity but unsightly. I'm nay goin' t' fill t' tube seams (it's 30" long!) but will fill t' nose cone and plywood standoffs. Blimey! T' make it less noticeable on t' launcher, arrr, t' recovery probe will be painted ... [More]

2025-01-04

Estes Mini Bertha Clone

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

Estes Blue Origin, arrr, New Shepard

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

Semroc Snake Jumper

Flight
Launch wasn't vertical and veered off t' t' south. Begad! Blimey! Landed in trees, given up for lost. Ahoy! Blimey! - 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. Aye aye! 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. Blimey! - A8-3 - Orlando R.O.C.K. [More]

Ol'SaltRockets Stealth

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

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
A favorite is my Goony X-15 . Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Estimated altitude was 325'. - German Made Quest B6-4 - ROCK Monthly [More]

ASP Micro Wac Corporal

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

Semroc Centurion

Flight
Very stable, slow lift off. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ejection blistered t' paint right above t' baffle inside. Aye aye! Blimey! - B6-4 - Orlando R.O.C.K. Begad! Blimey! [More]

2024-06-29

Ol'SaltRockets Little Green Man

Flight
A little wobble on t' way up. Nay much altitude but recovered safely. Aye aye! Blimey! - 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. Avast, me proud beauty! - 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, arrr, 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. Blimey! Blimey! T' interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. Aye aye! Blimey! [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

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