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"The Launcher" Photo Contest
CONTEST - IS OVER! |
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Contests: All
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Essence's Model Rocketry Reviews is pleased to announce our 9th photo contest.
Yes, we love our rockets. Yes, they perform outstanding feats of aerodynamics.
Yes, great lift-offs, deployments, glides, staging, and even the rare lawndart! It is time to get beyond the rocket
obsession and take a look at the person behind the scene.... the Launcher!
It's true, as stated in a rocket-lover's movie; "it won't fly unless someone
launches it!". Some the those individuals are more interesting, in many aspects, than the rockets themselves. For
example, I'm sure you know a few Launchers that could have qualified in our last photo contest: Odd-Rocs!
We are not completely dumping our love for rockets because to qualify for
this photo contest you must capture the rocket and the launcher!
Winners will be judged by EMRR Guests during a voting week of September 29 -
October 5, 2003.
- Entry photos must be two (2) photos with different launchers and different
rockets.
- Objective is to have a good picture off both the rocket and the launcher
- Entry may be GIF, JPEG, of BMP - or - if you don't have an electronic photo,
e-mail us for a mailing address and we will scan the pictures for you.
- The "write-up" must include the name of the Launcher and the rocket.
You may choose to include the motor(s) and any other "fun" information like, "first launch",
"cried afterward because it was beautiful", etc.
- MUST Be "G-Rated".
- Contestants may only enter (1) entry
- Contestants must be on EMRR's Announcement List to
be eligible
- Contest is over on 9/28/2003.
- Online Voting will take place from 9/29 -
10/5.
PRIZE TABLE (it will grow):
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One XSSRT-1 timing / deployment system (electronics) |
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Any Style Flying Saucer of your choice of design up to a 29mm motor
mount. |
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Any Style Flying Saucer of your choice of design up to a 29mm motor
mount. |
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One "The Black Shadow" kit. |
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One $20 Gift Certificate for something of your choice! |
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One Lil' Johnny kit |
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One Explorer 29mm HPR Kit |
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Set of Advanced Information Reports:
#1 - Motor Installation
#4 - Ace Fugue Shroud Method
#5 - Boosted Dart Theory
#6 - Motor Selection and Performance Optimization
#7 - Ground Support Equipment
#8 - Stability
#10 - Advanced Construction Techniques |
The winners agree to write a kit review
using the format guidelines included in EMRR's site. Previous winners are eligible for future Rocket Give-Away. EMRR
assumes no responsibility for the kit once it leaves our location. EMRR is not liable for any damages or injury caused
by the assembly or use of the kit.
Entries:
Entry #15 - Scott Sager
= 74 |
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Launcher: Becky
Rocket: Estes "Skywinder"
The expressions on these three "rocket girlz" are priceless. From right to left are Savannah (Hear no
rocket), My daughter Stephanie (See no rocket) and the launcher, Becky who is having a real blast! |
Launcher: Co-launchers Stephanie & Tiffany
Rocket: Estes "Exo-Skell"
My daughter Stephanie and her friend Tiffany are both pressing the launch button while cousin Matt (age 6) looks
on with a shocked and dazed (and funny) expression. I'm not sure if Matt was frightened by the little green alien
inside the Exo-Skell - or - maybe he has watched that "Home Alone" movie a few too many times. |
Entry #3 - Jeffrey Anderson = 50 |

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Launcher: My son Reed (on the right) and his friend Kyle
Rocket: Estes Nova Payloader
Launched as part of their "shoot and catch" game. As soon as the rocket launches, they race to catch
the rocket in recovery. The person who catches the rocket is awarded points as follows: A engine - 1 pt; B engine - 3
pts; C engine - 5 pts. Reed caught this one and earned 3 points for the B6-4 engine that was used. |
Launcher: My daughter Hannah
Rocket: Estes "High Flyer"
This is her first "solo" launch, holding the control key, counting down and pressing the launch button.
This rocket also used a B6-4 engine but was lost in the woods around our house. |
Entry #2 - Drake "Doc" Damerau = 49 |
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Launcher(s): Ed Sopinski and his son Bradley, Randy Galderi, and
Joey Buchalski
Rocket: 4 Aerotech G-Forces
This is a drag race. All four actually left the pads, although not at the same time. |
Launcher: Eric Salerno
Rocket: PML Black Brandt on an H128
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Entry #12 - David Flournoy = 45 |

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Launcher: Joe Heckenbach
Rocket: Estes Saturn 5 on a D12
This was taken last year at our September launch. Joe Heckenbach was our "LCO" at the time and he has
just launched a Estes Saturn 5 on a D12. |
Launcher: Tony Cooper
Rocket: Thunderbirds 3 on a D12
This is of Tony Cooper launching a beautiful scratch built Thunderbirds 3 on a D12 this was taken at this year's
September launch. |
Entry #6 - Rick Hatton =
41 |
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Launcher: son, Aden (age 2)
Rocket: Estes Invader on an A3-3T
Editor's note: Yes, the rocket is in motion! |
Launcher: Lucas (friend's son)
Rocket: Scratch built saucer on a C6-3
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Entry #14 - Joseph Pscolka = 33 |

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Launcher: Self
Rocket: Launch Pad AIM-120 AMRAAM on dual E9-6's
First launch on Estes E9 motors. Rocket flew to altimeter reading of 1241'. Landed 3 feet from launch pad!
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Launcher: Bryan Pscolka
Rocket: Estes Phoenix on E9-6
10th launch on an estes E9. When ejection occurred the ball of fire was so big I thought the motor blew up. But
the chute deployed and it landed safely in the top of a walnut tree where it hung for three days of nonstop
rain. |
Entry #11 - James Gartrell = 30 |

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Launcher: McKinney High School Team 2
Rocket: Team America Rocketry Challenge Entry on four Estes SU D12 motors
Spectacular flight right at dusk. The team stands sort of nonchalantly, as if to say, "Yeah, we do this all
the time. We are rocket scientists." |
Launcher: Self
Rocket: Estes Orbital Transport clone on C6-3
Wide open spaces, a pickup truck, a dog (enlarge picture to see dog), a rocket...doesn't get any better than
this! |
Entry #9 - James Harechmak = 29 |

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Launcher: Me & Loki Harechmak
Rocket: 1/8.4 scale Razumov-Shtern LRD-D-1 on an A10-3T
Tthis was the LRD's 50th and last flight! Launch equipment, 1971 Centuri Servo Launcher |
Launcher: John Bowman (Loki's older brother) & Loki Harechmak
Rocket: MRC Concept II Flare Patriot on a B6-4
Launch equipment, 1971 Centuri Servo Launcher |
Entry #8 - Jason Toft =
26 |

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Launcher: Jason Toft
Rocket: Fliskits Deuce's Wild, dual B4-4's.(review)
My DW makes it's first flight! This time, we actually got both motors to light up! Great flight!
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Launcher: Chris (between the smoke trails)
Rocket: 24mm Upscale Deuce's Wild Dual E9-6's (article)
LOOK where the launcher is! RIGHT in between the smoke trails! This was the upscale DW's seventh flight, and it
has flown PERFECTLY every time! |
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Entry #7 - Damian Burrin
= 21 |

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Launcher: Me
Rocket: Angeline on a B6-4.
Hasten to add that as this is made purely out of folded card [paper], this was the only picture taken as it was
never seen again and is now in possession of the rocket gods ;-) |
Launcher: Nick Harrison
Rocket: Flying a 'Bog Roll Bob' on an C6-3
Photo is of Nick Harrison, who was at the time the technology teacher at Queen Elizabeth's grammar school,
Lincolnshire England who I managed to persuade to fly rockets during a school activity day. This is of Nick showing the
kids how it's done!! |
Entry #4 - Stephen Peart
= 17 |
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Launcher: wife, Sherry
Rocket: Estes Big Bertha
August 10, 2003 - This is the first launch of my latest rocket, what I'm calling a retro Big Bertha. I saw the
color scheme in an old (1969) Estes catalog on the Ninfinger website, and just really thought it would be a neat
project to try and duplicate it. The flight was almost perfect on a C6 - 3, the landing was great, too. I am very happy
with this rocket. My wife volunteered to do the honors so I could snap the shot. |
Launcher: daughter, Katie
Rocket: Estes Wacky Wiggler
August 10, 2003 - My daughter built this rocket (pretty much) by herself as a result of her father's gentle
urging. She is 12 years old, and sadly, her interests are leaning less towards flying rockets, and more towards
Instant-messaging her friends, going places with her friends, playing video games with her friends (I'm noticing a
trend here). Anyway, the rocket took off fine on a B6-4, but then veered perilously close to some power lines before
it's separation. The model is basically a series of plastic couplers linked together with a small cord. The section of
cord closest to the engine burned through, but all pieces were easily recovered and it has since been repaired.
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Entry #10 - Rocky Firth
= 13 |
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Launcher: Mikki
Rocket: Custom Razor
Mikki lauching a Custome Razor she built the night before, first of 3 flights on the day. |
Launcher: Oscar
Rocket: Rocket
Mikki coaches Oscar, an unexpected walk on, helping fire off his first model rocket (supplied by grandpa).
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Entry #18 - Jerry Irvine
= 10 |
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Launcher: "Rebel Hoarder"
Rocket: 1.7 x 18" rocket kit
One image is a USR F80-12 (RL 29-100-F) lifting off in a 1.7 x 18" rocket kit on a cold cloudy day at
Lucerne. Hey it happens! Last known photo :) Note that the wind has blown the entire smoke trail evenly a bit away from
the rod at the moment of image. |
Launcher: LSO
Rocket: Cineroc
Cineroc images taken by Daniel Franklin FROM the ROCKET of the PEOPLE FLYING THE ROCKET |
Entry #16 - Howard Jackman = 8 |
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Launcher: Kyle (age 4) - Look closely, he's there!
Rocket: Estes Airwalker on a B6-4
5...4...3...WHOOSH!!!" Kyle gets a little antsy on his first ever Rocket launch which surprises Dad, but not
Mom who took this great picture. The flight was perfect with the rocket landing 15ft from the launch pad and inches
from Kyle's outstretched hands. |
Launcher: Mom (a.k.a.) Seongja (age-"yeah right")
Rocket: Estes Military Command "Army" rocket on a C6-7
Kyle's Mom takes her turn at her first ever rocket launch and sends the "Army" rocket on what turns out
to be a very high flight. Our friend and the owner of the rocket Curtis watches his rocket liftoff not knowing that he
would soon be hopping over the fence to the nearby golf course to retrieve his rocket. Seongja is no longer allowed to
launch his rockets! |
Entry #13 - Niall Oswald
= 6 |
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enlarge) |
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Launcher: Self
Rocket: Physics of Flight Wikinger on a D12-5
The 'chute deployed this time, unlike the first flight - no 'hedge recovery' on this flight. |
Launcher: Mike Hoffman
Rocket: Estes Big Daddy
Shock cord broke, but the rocket survived 'tumble recovery' unscathed! |
Entry #17 - Buzz Nau =
2 |

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here to enlarge) |

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Launcher: Self
Rocket: Boiler-plate scale SM-2 Standard Missile 2 using air-start staging
Early airstart staging boiler-plate test of concept. Staging worked perfectly though the booster core sampled.
With the launcher was daughter Jessie, and Rich Rau, founder of THOY. |
Launcher: Mark O'Brien
Rocket: Original design by Mark
Sport launch near Ann Arbor, MI |
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