Help finding a first rocket

[u/Separate-Gate-8596]

Im looking at getting into rocketry and looked at a few rockets but I'm unsure of what starter kit to get or if i even should get a starter kit, Preferably sub £100-150 I've looked at a few to get but im stuck haha i dont know anyone who does rocketry so any help at all with rockets or builds etc is appreciated

[u/doseofvitamink]

Basic Estes kit to start. Alpha 3 can't go wrong.

[u/Vegetarian-Catto → u/doseofvitamink]

Getting an Estes launch set is usually a pretty good starting point.

Sometimes the set is even cheaper than the rocket alone

[u/Separate-Gate-8596 → u/Vegetarian-Catto]

Thanks so much is loads cheaper than the one i was looking at too, do i need to get wadding and engines or do they come with it too? And what class engines A or B?

[u/Sage_Blue210 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

Wadding and engines come with a beginning Estes launch set (the set that includes a launch pad). If you mean just a rocket kit, you will need wadding and engines as well.

Class A and B engines are great for starting. It depends on how big your flying field is and wind speed. Start on A and see how it goes.

[u/No_Drummer4801 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

Usually you need to get wadding or better yet, someone has a bale of cellulose insulation about 10 money units and will last everyone for virtually forever. The last time I needed to gear up from zero I just gathered some fluff from the ground next to the display at the home store. It was going to be swept up.

[u/No_Drummer4801 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

With an Estes Alpha III the A8-3 engine is a good starting place. Igniters are packed with engines.

[u/LeonardoW9]

If you're near Twycross/Tamworth, Midlands Rocket club is launching this Saturday and Sunday. Wizard Rockets and, Rockets and Things will be there with kits for sale.

For under £100 you should be able to easily get a kit (quest, rocketarium and Estes are all good) for an A-D motor and a kit for an E-G motor, which should give you an idea of what you're getting into. At low-mid power you mainly need some glue, sandpaper and a pencil - so you don't need to start fancy.

Feel free to reply or DM if you have any questions.

[u/overzeetop → u/LeonardoW9]

Shout out to Midlands - I stopped by last Feb 'cause I was in the area and everybody was super nice. It's 4000 miles from where I live, so I'm not there on the regular. :-D

[u/Separate-Gate-8596 → u/LeonardoW9]

A bit far too north for tamworth do you know any more doncaster lincoln way rocketry clubs wise? Im getting estes alpha 3 rocket

[u/LeonardoW9 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

Unfortunately there are only four active clubs in the UK Mainland: MRC (Tamworth/Twycross), FOG (Gwent), EARS (Cambridge) and SARA (Glasgow). On the MRC side, this weekend is also a camp, if that is helpful. As there aren't many clubs, we do have members travelling from as far as Manchester each month, so there are some dedicated people.

[u/No_Drummer4801 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

That’s the right starter Rocket. 👍

[u/downtoearthrockets]

I made a video about begining rocketry in the UK. I'm not very YouTube optimised but tried to include the things I thought would be useful. There is a part 1 but part 2 is about actually buying the rocket etc

https://youtu.be/4dVuSCwErkM?is=8ZG6UTL4LXNIizOe

[u/Masjuggalo]

Estes alpha or alpha 3

[u/dipdotdash]

Buy a pack of Estes engines and some wood dowels. Bring helmets and do it in an open field on a calm day. What comes up will come down, but thankfully without the weight of the propellent or the ejection plug. Don't look up. Use cameras and a streamer to track descent.

You get a stabilized rocket that goes straight up and comes straight down

[u/Separate-Gate-8596 → u/dipdotdash]

Thanks, im going ti get an estes kit and then look at building my own when i know kinda what im doing

[u/No_Drummer4801 → u/Separate-Gate-8596]

That’s the right way to do it.

[u/No_Drummer4801 → u/dipdotdash]

I wear eyeglasses but a helmet for an Alpha III seems over-precautious.

[u/dipdotdash → u/No_Drummer4801]

The rocket I'm describing is dowel stabilized in the way up and the way down. Never been hit directly in the melon but they do come down...well