Action Hobbies

Interest in launching a homemade rocket can start at any age. What’s not to love about this hobby? Launching a homemade rocket is an adrenaline rush. As you watch the rocket rise several thousand feet, it feels like your own mini-NASA launch!

“It’s exciting … It keeps your mind real active.” says Rick VanVoorhis, an electronic forklift mechanic from Pflugerville, Texas, who sent his rocket “HyperGammaSpaces” 17,300 feet with a motor he designed and built himself.

Launching a homemade rocket can be simple or technical.

Advanced rocketry requires a high degree of planning. It’s one thing to launch the rocket, but another to recover it. Some electrical and mechanical engineering skills are required to begin, but real prowess in these areas develops over time with experience. Yet simple starter rockets are easy and fun, with no special skill sets necessary to build and launch.

Many enthusiasts participate in competitive rocketry events, one example being the CanSat rocket competition, recently held in Amarillo, TX, where each launch and recovery was required to meet specific criteria. Each rocket carried an electronic payload about the size of a soda can, which determined altitude and GPS positioning during its descent. It also recorded ground temperature after landing. Teams were awarded bonus points for including an onboard camera or for using solar power.

Rocketry is a fun activity enjoyed not only by advanced hobbyists and engineers, but also grade school students and families who love the thrill and challenge of building, launching and recovering rockets of their own. Whatever your age or skill level, this hobby proves that you can have fun with math and science.

Rocket kits are available at most hobby stores. Visit your local hobby retailer this summer to learn more about the exciting hobby of homemade rocket building.

Each hobby has its own unique tool needs. Today I’ll share with you several tools to make your hobby projects more enjoyable.

A Track Cutter for Model Railroaders

First is one that is a must have for those who find building model railroad layouts a great and relaxing pastime. As with a real railroad, the track which the trains run on is a critically important component. So the model railroader needs a track cutter that is effortless to use and delivers a precise cut each and every time. Xuron’s 2175M Track Cutter does both.

A Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit

If your hobby includes stringing beads together, Xuron also has a tool kit suitable for you. The TK2400 Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit features three tools that are essential for stringing jewelry beads on to flexible stranded bead wire, cord, monofilament and thread. Packaged in a handy canvas pouch with pockets, these ergonomic tools have soft Xuro-Rubber™ hand grips and a Light-Touch™ return spring for cutting, holding, forming and looping tasks.

The tools in Xuron’s TK2400 Bead Stringer’s Tool Kit include the Model 410 Micro-Shear® Flush Cutter for soft wire up to 18 AWG, flexible stranded bead wire, craft wire, cord & monofilament; the Model 450 Tweezernose™ Pliers for bending and forming and holding jump rings, split rings and small beads; and Model 488 Round Nose Pliers for looping and forming wire.

Tools for Cutting Carbon Fiber

If you’re into building RC projects, you’re probably aware that some of the composite materials being used today are lighter and stronger than previously used materials, and that this creates some some challenges when cutting and shaping them. Carbon fiber, for example, is lightweight and very strong, yet is difficult to cut with conventional tools. Not anymore; Xuron answers the challenge with tools for cutting carbon fiber materials.

Their model 9180 Scissor is for cutting strip between .019” and .034” thick and the Model 2193 Shear will cut rod from .20”-.80” diameter and .060” ID tube. These tools create a square cut on strip and rod, but it is recommended users insert a properly sized wire inside the tube before cutting to prevent the thin walls from crushing.

Featuring one serrated edge, the Xuron Model 9180 grips the carbon material for faster and easier cutting. Xuron’s Model 2193 is a full by-pass shear designed specifically for cutting hard materials. Standard features for both tools include ergonomic handles, cushioned Xuro-Rubber™ grips, return springs and precision ground high carbon steel blades.

The right tool for the job makes the project more enjoyable. Visit your local hobby shop for these and other specialized hobby tools from Xuron today.

Although remote control toys and toy robots have been around for decades, the first combination of the two into what would be considered a true robotic toy was the “Big Trak.”

This particular toy was one of the first successful attempts to combine education with play. Big Trak, for those who don’t remember, was a six wheeled truck that had a flashing light at the front (this was called the “photon cannon”). There was also a keypad on the truck that allowed the child to program the robotic toy to do his or her bidding.

In addition to teaching the logic of programming, Big Trak taught children to make reasonable spatial estimates and judge angles. Before Big Trak, there were many toys that children could play with, but the programming feature was totally new.

After programming the robotic toy, a child could sit back and watch Big Trak crash through an obstacle, dump a load of action figures to rescue their teammates trapped in an imaginary cave, head to the nearest doorway and fire several shots from the photon cannon to discourage aliens who might interfere with the rescue. After a pre-programmed victory lap, Big Trak could return directly to the point where the entire adventure started.

Robotic toys allow our children to meld reality and imagination. When you see a young person playing with the latest, coolest new robotic toy, remember that it was Big Trak and its blazing photon cannon that cleared the path.

Photo Credit: The return of Big Trak! by scalleja on flickr

Many kids are really enthusiastic about remote control. It’s easy to see why; remotely controlled vehicles seem to almost magically fly through the air or race over the ground, and they give kids a sense of power and control that they just can’t find elsewhere. But the thing is that electrically powered vehicles, such as those found at toy stores, tend to be seen as “kids stuff” and a child who has moved on into his early to mid teens will have no interest for such cars. They are simply too slow, limited and impractical, intended more to look cool than perform well.

Luckily, for kids who are not really kids anymore but still have an interest in RC cars, there are RC gas cars. These vehicles use a special blend of gasoline instead of a battery, and their tiny motors are incredibly powerful. Some RC gas cars can go over forty miles per hour, and have parts and components similar to real cars. This means that RC gas cars are not only great toys, they are also useful learning tools for parents who want to teach their kids about automobiles.

RC gas cars are sold only from hobby stores, as is their gasoline. Their gasoline is not the kind placed into a proper automobile, as it has a much higher octane rating as well as lubricants necessary to keep the small engine running. They also require a glow plug or other starter. They are much less complicated than a full-sized car, though, and anyone can use one safely if they follow the rules and learn about the car.

Follow this link to find a local hobby shop in the USA or Canada, where you can learn more about RC gas cars.

Related Posts: Team USA Takes 4th Place in NINCO World Cup

Image Credit: Team Associated R/C Race Cars

Photo Credit: Bob Lewen

After six-hours of grueling racing on a 16-lane GT slot car course on October 31 and November 1st, the NINCO World Cup is over. This important race was held at the famous Formula 1 racetrack in Silverstone, England.

Mark Azarraga and Jason Stanley from Georgia & Kurt Moser from Indiana (MRC’s 2008 Team USA) have certainly put the international world of slot car racing on notice with their exciting and skillful performance. The rules are very strict and 16 International teams raced NINCO’s new, 1/32 scale Acura LMP2 slot cars in this annual event.

In the Superpole on Friday, Oct 31st, Mark Azarraga won Pole Position for Team USA with a blistering time of 12.855 seconds. Like full scale racing, winning the pole does not guarantee winning the race, and Spain eventually won the 1st place trophy, with Italy 2nd, Portugal 3rd and USA 4th (2 laps from being on the podium).

Silverstone NINCO Racetrack

Mark also received the award for fastest lap against the best and fastest in the world. His fastest time was 12.860 seconds. He said the practice the Team was able to get on the 6-lane track at Sling Shot Speedway in Lawrenceville, Georgia really paid off.

Team USA World Cup Car

Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) sponsors all the USA races and the Team USA selection. The NINCO World Cup has been previously held in Spain, Italy, and Germany. As well as trophies, MRC provided free airfare, free hotel accommodations, free racecars and parts, and free Team USA uniforms for the trips to Europe for our Team members.

NINCO quality is high and our (MRC) customer support is legendary. We created NINCO on-line forums to interact directly with consumers, and provide authoritative reference, factual information and personal support about the products.

As Mark said, “The NINCO World Cup 2008 was a world class event and it was very special for our team; I could not have asked for better team mates to race by my side. The level of European driver skill was phenomenal and to achieve pole position and the race fastest lap in this group is truly an honor. Our team pushed all the way to the end, and even though we came short of the podium, we were happy with our finish. I would like to thank Model Rectifier Corporation for their generous efforts into making Team USA possible, and it was MRC’s races that introduced me into slots in September 2006.”

Photo Credit: Bob Lewen

MRC is confident and looks forward to the continued growth of NINCO dealer network and overall expansion of the Slot Car hobby on this side of the pond.  Mark, Jason and Kurt are certainly three of the best slot car racers in the world… Who will be on MRC’s Team USA for 2009?

Content provided by Model Rectifier Corporation.

It’s short, a bit corny, but you’ve got to admit that these dancing robots are fun to watch. Enjoy!

Rhodri Armour designed Jollbot as part of his PhD thesis.

The Jollbot, created by Rhodri Armour, a PhD student from the University of Bath is the first robot that can jump over obstacles AND roll over smooth terrain. The robot, designed as part of his PhD thesis, has potential for space exploration or land survey work.

Shaped like a spherical cage, the Jollbot can roll in any direction. It’s flexible and small and jumps very much like a grasshopper. This YouTube video shows it in action:

Read the full article here: Researcher designs robot that jumps like a grasshopper

Learn more about robotics at Chibots.org

You’ve seen them at parks and on the beach, heard the engines in the water, and watched intently as they maneuver around toys in the swimming pool. Is it time to get your own? Is it time to get a radio controlled boat for your husband, or child?

What Kind Of Radio Controlled Boat?

• Electric R/C boats are known for their ease, using a rechargeable battery that gets slower as battery power runs out. These are less expensive than nitro or gas boats, and have a range around 15-40 mph. Some seriously high-end electric boats still tout high speed rivaling gas.

• Nitro R/C boats are mid-range in price and don’t run out of power until the tank is empty. Nitros can do upwards of 50 mph, and require fuel and a start kit to operate.

• Gas boats are a mix of gas and 2-cycle oil, much like your weed-eater, and are typically faster boats. They get about 45 minutes of play time to a tank of gas. Because of the size of the engine, these are much larger. It’s not unusual to find a 4 ft gas powered R/C boat. The noise, smell, and rooster tail make this a pretty impressive toy, and you’ll pay for it. These easily run around $1,000.

Enjoying your radio controlled boat with your family and friends is an extraordinary way to spend your afternoons on the water. The purchase, maintainence, and refurbishing your new R/C boat adds new depth to your list of educational hobbies.

So, level with me. It’s for you, isn’t it?