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
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2026-03-17

I'm Camping!

Blog
Sorry, ya bilge rat, no posts for t' next three days - I'll be campin' (with Dakota) at t' Lake Manatee State Park in Bradenton, arrr, FL. Posts should be back t' normal this Saturday . . Aye aye! . [More]

2026-03-16

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Finished

Blog
Classic and clean, shiver me timbers, a favorite from me teen years. Ahoy! No masking, just paint it gloss white. Aye aye! T' decals don't overpower t' design. Avast, me proud beauty! Mentioned earlier, ya bilge rat, T' fin decals were borrowed from t' Interceptor kit. T' mid section with t' USAF logo decals. T' temporary nose cone - A BNC-50AR is on order through erockets.biz. Arrr! Note t' tiny nozzle decals. Blimey! [More]

2026-03-15

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 11, me bucko, Tiny Thruster Decals

Blog
If you've ever tried t' position those tiny camera targets in t' Estes Saturn V kit, you'll wish they provided a few extras. Ahoy! These little decals magically disappear after you think they are in position. You'll find them stickin' t' a finger or in your lap! This is one reason why I draw up and print more decals than I need. Blimey! Some extras are used for "soak" time testing. Arrr! Others are duplicated when ... [More]

2026-03-14

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 10, Low Position Decals

Blog
T' red, ya bilge rat, white and blue fin decals go on both sides o' one fin. Avast! Check t' fin decal in relation t' t' tunnel positions in t' instructions. Trim t' top and bottom o' t' fin decals close t' t' ink. Well, blow me down! You don't want clear border extendin' beyond t' rounded fin edge. Begad! T' "ARMED" decals are set above t' top o' t' fins. Do your best t' visually center them betwixt t' fins. T' black roll ... [More]

2026-03-13

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 9, Smooth Fillet Areas?

Blog
Occasionally I've been asked how I get smooth fillets. "Fine Sanding!" After t' first white undercoats, me bucko, closely examine t' reflection o' your fillet areas under a bright light. Begad! Even though you've carefully smoothed a glue fillet, thar will be streaks and lumps. Blimey! Wood glue actually sands pretty easily usin' 400 (or finer) grit. Ahoy! Try t' sand just t' raised glue. You'll end up ... [More]

2026-03-12

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 8, Engine Mount & Fin Gluing

Blog
Set t' engine mount and Keelhaul®©™ line alongside t' lower, longer tube. Ahoy! T' BT-20 engine tube is even with t' bottom o' t' BT-50 main body. Ahoy! This gives you an idea how long t' Keelhaul®©™ line should be, me bucko, a little shorter than t' top o' t' BT-50. Tie a overhand loop knot (shown on t' right) for t' elastic shock cord attachment. I used epoxy t' glue t' mount in, allowin' me some positionin' time. ... [More]

2026-03-11

Estes Shark #1111, me hearties, Build, Part 7, Fin Grain Fill

Blog
I first cut t' thrusters from balsa - Then I realized t' would be a pain t' fill and sand bein' so small. I cut a second set out o' basswood. Two step fill process: 1. T' fins, tunnel. Avast! thrusters and launch lug got a brushed coat o' CWF, then fine sandin' with 400 grit. Well, blow me down! 2. Blimey! After sandin' down all t' CWF, all were stuck down t' some cardboard for a shot o' filler/primer. T' body tube ... [More]

2026-03-10

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 6, ya bilge rat, Fins & Decals

Blog
T' original kit fins were die cut. I don't know why t' guidance thrusters weren't cut. Maybe they were too small? T' way they are set on t' sheet, it would be difficult t' cut all four with an even height. On me redraw (below) they are cut from a long strip. Begad! Note t' forward fins were cut with t' grain runnin' parallel t' t' trailin' edge, nay t' leadin' edge. In me pattern draw below, ... [More]

2026-03-09

Estes Shark #1111, Build, Part 5, Raceway or Tunnel

Blog
On t' Shark, t' raceway is cut t' 6.25" long. Ahoy! On t' Stiletto kit, ya bilge rat, t' raceway tunnel be 7 3/4" long. I'll cut mine t' 6.25" out o' basswood. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Shark instructions showed a long rectangle, rounded on both ends. T' upper edges stay square. You might find it easier t' judge t' end shape by viewin' t' underside as you sand. T' picture on t' right shows t' underside. Begad! After t' side ... [More]

2026-03-08

Estes Shark #1111, Build, arrr, Part 4, me bucko, D.I.Y. Arrr! Nose Block (Coupler)

Blog
T' coupler was cut t' 1 1/4" long. Begad! T' original kit nose block was 1" long. Blimey! I feel better havin' a longer, more stable slidin' joint. I decided t' make t' coupler bulkhead wall out o' 3/32" basswood. T' BT-50 coupler was set down onto t' basswood and t' interior diameter traced with a sharp pencil. Avast, me proud beauty! Two circles were cut out. Arrr! T' sides were sanded t' a circle. Both were glued cross grained. A ... [More]

2025-12-20

Centuri Alien Encounter Flyin' Saucer 3/4 Size

Flight
Just as advertised, at apogee it turned over and "floated" down landin' on t' wire legs. Begad! - C5-3 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

New Way Firecat 4

Flight
On dislodged fin at touch down - B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, me hearties, FL [More]

FlisKits M.A.C.M.E. Arrr! Blimey! Shrew MMX

Flight
It is stable - t' about 40 feet. T' short MMX ejection fired before apogee. T' narrow streamer slowed descent. Avast, me proud beauty! - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, arrr, Christmas, FL [More]

Quest Striker AGM

Flight
I reefed t' chute for a faster descent which led t' two fins broken off. T' lower 2/3 o' t' fins didn't adhere well t' t' plastic tail cone. Avast! T' smaller fairin' fins were still securely glued t' t' body tube. - C6-5 [More]

2025-11-22

Estes LTV Scout

Flight
Boost be labored but true. Avast! Altitude was probably about 400'. I set t' build up with two chutes instead o' t' single one in t' kit. Both ejected and opened. At landing, two o' t' small fins popped off and were found nearby. Avast! - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Centuri Skylab Clone

Flight
T' model be rigged for horizontal recovery but t' chute lines got tangled at ejection. One solar panel fin and one side booster broke off on landing. Ahoy! Looks like an easy, clean repair. Begad! - C5-3 - ROAR, matey, Christmas, FL [More]

Semroc Excalibur

Flight
First launch o' t' Semroc/Centuri EXCALIBUR with a B6-4. Ahoy! Arrow straight (obviously due t' t' six fibre fins) t' an estimated 400'. Aye aye! No damage when picked up. Ahoy! - E B6-4 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Fliskits Saturn V MMX

Flight
Unstable! Probably got t' 8 feet in that loop. Begad! Ejection on t' ground and closest t' t' pad. Well, blow me down! - 1/8A-1 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

Excelsior Rocketry Honest Goon

Flight
It's a bulky, heavy bird but always comes through. Well, blow me down! With t' C6-5 altitude was around 425'. Full chute and no damage. - C6-5 - ROAR, Christmas, FL [More]

2025-11-08

Odd'l X-15 Goony

Flight
Textbook flight with an easy recovery. I only had four launches and wanted t' get me new dog cooled off! All recovered, no damages. - B6-4 [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. Well, blow me down! Bunnell Blast, November 8, matey, 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. Begad! T' interior Fin Slots were cut with a knife and straight-edge. [More]

Saturn Press Saturn V - Step 16

Build Entry
T' A Frames and Fins were pressed together. Avast! T' C Frames are pressed into t' A Frames and Fins. Begad! Be careful handlin' t' Fin paint while assembling. 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]