Model Forum / General / Rockets / November 2004

In a recent thread about the book, "Amateur Rocket Motor Construction",
someone posted the following message.
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"I have the book and I've made a few motors from it. The book is "OK" I
wouldn't buy it again. Seams everyone thinks is great but I can't see why.
It's a how-to book for black powder based engines, very little information;
just walks you though how to make several sizes of engines using his
propellant formula. Ohh and unless you know someone with a metal lathe you'
ll spend more time making the tooling then the engines.
Sorry just my humble opinion!"

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When he says, "...very little information;
just walks you though how to make several sizes of engines using his
propellant formula..", what book is he talking about? As the author of
"Amateur Rocket Motor Construction", I can verify that the book is 514 pages
in length with 600 photos and drawings. It contains an entire chapter
devoted to safety and the history of amateur rocketry, a chapter on basic
concepts, chapters with extensive information about the chemicals, including
what to buy, how to shop, and even how to make some of the chemicals
yourself or extract them from common garden products.

Regarding the tools, there are TWO chapters on tools. The first is devoted
to tools you buy, and the second is devoted to the tools you make. This
second chapter DOES contain complete instructions on how to make
professional-quality tools on a metal lathe, but for people without a metal
lathe, it has detailed instructions on how to quickly improvise with things
like plastic pipe, hose clamps, and wooden dowels.

When he says, "just walks you through how to make several sizes of engines
using his propellant formula", what book is he talking about? "Amateur
Rocket Motor Construction" contains complete instructions on the making and
performance-refinement of FIVE propellant formulas, and the book contains
not "several" engine designs, but FIFTY FOUR proven and tested engine
designs ranging from a C6 through an I65.

It also contains complete instructions on the making of homemade motor
casings and homemade igniters, and it has an entire chapter devoted to the
construction and use of a homemade test stand and strip-chart recorder that
you can make from common surplus and hardware items. Finally, it teaches you
how, with simple things like a ruler and graph paper, to interpret the data
and calculate your motors' total burn time, maximum thrust, total impulse,
average thrust, and specific impulse. This is VERY educational stuff.

Very little information,? Is this REALLY someone who's read my book? He
certainly doesn't SOUND like someone who's read my book. Is it possible that
his post is just another example of anti-amateur rocketry spin and
propaganda, and another effort to discourage people from making homemade
rocket motors? I would ask everyone on this newsgroup to ask YOURSELVES the
same question whenever you see a post like this.

David Sleeter, author of "Amateur Rocket Motor Construction"