This video came up on my feed, and I thought folks would find it of interest:
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Tool and die guy has been around a long while. It’s kind of a shame he doesn’t get more viewership.
If you like his stuff, apparently there are tons of courses on his website that are pretty good. (Never paid for them myself but I’m considering it)
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Thanks, Will!
Reminded me of my high school drafting classes. I’ve still got some of the tools around … somewhere. His drawings reminded me that my senior year project was to create the mechanical drawings of a hobby sized model airplane gas engine (in those days the planes weren’t RC controlled but had a string tether. (One tended to have more parts and pieces than assembled aircraft! 
) I’ve still got that set of drawings rolled up … somewhere. I’d bet I could find some red marks from my instructor, too!
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Same (except all my drawings got pitched due to various circumstances beyond my control).
Walking to the small hobby shop just off-base when I was younger is a fond memory.
Need to figure out the title of a book on “Advanced Model Rocketry” which I used to check out of the high school library (many of the drawings were of model rockets).
This sounds like a book that would be advertised in the back of an old popular mechanics magazine.
Do you remember anything else about it? Rough page count, age, color, cover photos, etc…I bet we could find it 
It was an older, academic text (I distinctly recall asking my algebra teacher about the formulae).
Dark blue or navy or black buckram/book cloth cover, octavo, reasonably slim ~80–120 pages
One project I distinctly recall was making a glider which had little enough lift to not influence the launch, but which would separate from the rocket body when then parachute was deployed and then glide down.
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Didn’t Estes have a boost glider like that? Mounting lug was angled forwards so aerodynamic drag kept the glider seated during boost but just passive connection disrupted when the ejection charge jolted the booster relatively backwards. I never got beyond making Estes kits…
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Yes, they did — this book had the math for calculating lift and so forth and to adjust for scale.
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@WillAdams I sent your text (quoted) to an LLM and got the following:
Need to figure out the title of a book on “Advanced Model Rocketry” which I used to check out of the high school library (many of the drawings were of model rockets). It was an older, academic text. 80–120 pages. this book had the math for calculating lift and so forth and to adjust for scale.
It sounds like you might be referring to “Model Rocketry: A Guide to Advanced Techniques” or a similar title. While there are several books on advanced model rocketry, one that fits your description of being an academic text with mathematical calculations for lift and scaling is “Advanced Model Rocketry” by various authors.
These types of books typically include detailed diagrams and formulas for calculating various aspects of rocketry, including thrust, drag, and stability. If you remember any specific illustrations or unique features, that might help narrow it down further.
If you have any additional details, such as the author’s name or specific topics covered, feel free to share!
One project I distinctly recall was making a glider which had little enough lift to not influence the launch, but which would separate from the rocket body when then parachute was deployed and then glide down.
Based on your description of the glider project and the focus on advanced techniques in model rocketry, the book you are thinking of might be “Model Rocketry: A Guide to Advanced Techniques” by G. Harry Stine. This book is well-known for its detailed explanations of various model rocketry concepts, including the design and construction of gliders that can separate from the rocket during descent.
### Key Features of the Book:
- Mathematical Calculations: It includes formulas for calculating lift, drag, and stability, which are essential for designing rockets and gliders.
- Illustrations: The book features numerous drawings and diagrams that help visualize the concepts discussed.
- Projects: It covers various projects, including the glider you mentioned, which is designed to minimize lift during launch and separate from the rocket body.
If this doesn’t sound quite right, there are other titles in the realm of advanced model rocketry that might also fit your memory. Let me know if you have any more details or if you’d like to explore other options!
End of adventure!
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That looks to be it — thanks! — I’ve added the updated edition to my Thriftbooks wish list and Amazon cart and will grab one when I need to fill out an order for free shipping.
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Let the record show I’m still barely in my 30s, but… that brings back fun memories!
I went to college for drafting out of high school and they started us on boards. I was already remembering the smell of blue prints being made when he mentioned ammonia flooding everything. I still rotate my pencils slowly when I’m writing to maintain the sharpness. Lot of art in it.
I had one failed night hammering coffee trying to “pull an all nighter” over a drafting board.
Thanks for sharing.
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