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Field Box - What's in yours?
For RC there are universal tools needed like the electric starter and glow driver. What are the things you bring to the field on launch day? What are some of the tricks to make loading the engines and readying the rocket for flight.
I have a hand held tool box that fits 2 estes launch pads, 2 launch controllers, a box with 24 engines, a small box to hold igniters I will use for that day, a small box to hold the igniter plugs, pliers, CA glue and some lead weight. Have I forgotten anything? |
#2
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I have several range boxes. One holds stuff for model rocket launches. Another has stuff for working with reloadable motors. Another has stuff for larger rockets. Another has bug spray, sun screen, wet wipes, band aids, etc.
I use the Stanley tool boxes you can get for less than $10 at Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or Lowes. They stack nicely (though they did change the design some time in the past). I also have boxes organized for specific tasks such as model rocket building, working on electronics, general house repairs, etc. That way I can grab one box and have the right tools for a specific job. Anyway ... to actually answer your question .... In addition to the things you list, for model rocket launches, I try to make sure I have masking tape, a dowel for pushing out spent motors or liners from reloads, extra 'chutes and streamers, a sheet of sandpaper, a pencil, a pen, miscellaneous hardware such as snap swivels, a razor knife, a couple of used motors in case I need a stand-off, and a small bag of dog barf. -- Roger |
#3
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My answer has changed significantly since I posted that reply back in 2007. Now, I just have one range box and the answer to "what's in it" is "pretty much everything." :-) But, I still do have the collection of inexpensive tool boxes. They make it easy to organize things and to carry stuff where you need it both at the launch site and at home. -- Roger |
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Another good thread... I have a plastic Craftsman tool box with removeable tray insert, and two snap-in small parts boxes on the lid. They're usually empty, but they would be good for extra igniters and nozzle plugs. I take a grill mat to place the launch pad on top of, instead of setting it directly on the ground. Keeps stray sparks and the occasional rod-hang from causing a grass fire. I'm debating carrying a hand-pump garden sprayer with about a gallon of water in it during the dry months. The box carries at least two controller units, some spare batteries, a gallon bag of dog barf, a container of talcuum powder, a small box of loose motors (left-overs from opened packs), some spare parachutes and streamers, extra snap links, a roll of masking tape, an X-Acto #1 knife and spare #11 blades, pens and small notebooks. Recently I've been carrying a digital camera with me to record some flight moments, a large notebook, and now my laptop computer to link with my AstroVision to download captures. Generally, I carry two or three bottles of water to drink, especially in the warm months.
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Craig McGraw BARCLONE Rocketry -- http://barclone.rocketshoppe.com BARCLONE Blogsite -- http://barclone.wordpress.com BARCLONE Forum -- BARCLONE Forum BARs helping BARs SAM 0044 AMA 352635 |
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I usually just walk out the back door to fly and the range box stays in the house.
I'll have to think about what I normally carry to fly LPR away from home. For LPR BP Motors Ignitors Wadding Estes/Quest motor plugs Motor adapters E to D spacers X-acto knife and a few blades white and CA glue Good 3M masking tape that doesn't melt when used to friction fit (more important with AP motors) Scotch/Magic/Clear (whatever you call it) tape Extra leads/clips for launcher Clip whip Needle nose pliers Baby powder A few launch lugs Screw eyes Little Estes/Quest launch controller as backup for my main launch system Sandpaper and steel wool to clean microclips and steel launch rods A few chutes and some crepe streamer material, shroud line, some tape disks and whatever else is still in the "Estes Emergency Kit" I got as a kid...still in the bottom of the range box. I'll likely never use any of that because I use snap swivels on all the LPR rockets I build these days and can swap chutes between them if needed because of damage, wind conditions, etc. I keep tools in my truck all the time so I don't have to add those to the range box. Needle nose pliers are used often enough to keep in the range box, though. I also keep a set of turnout gear in my truck. I can put on the pants and boots and stomp out a lot more fire than any of the little dry chemical or water extinguishers. If it's pretty dry, I'll throw a shovel in the truck for extra firefighting use. My HPR box has a lot of other specialty stuff in addition to the HPR versions of a lot of the above stuff like quick links instead of snap swivels, etc. It sits all lonely as I haven't flown any HPR since the new legislation after 9/11. Silicone grease snap ring pliers (I mostly did EX stuff) o-rings dowel rod altimeter box with altimeters, batteries, extra leads, etc. premade ejection cups BP chutes straps eye bolts quick links dog barf (actually kept separately) drill bit for adjusting delay grains delay grains AP grains igniters paper towels and wet wipes or waterless hand cleaner I'm sure there's a lot more, but it's been a long time, and I'm not going out in the cold to look. I'll add to the LPR/BP list when I go upstairs and look in it. |
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Come on guys.....what ever happened to just carrying the tweesers?
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Don NAR 53455 "Carpe Diem" |
#7
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Great list guys.
Since my old steel launch rods seem to get dirty so I always carry some 3 in 1 oil and some 400 grit sandpaper. I give them a quick sanding and then clean the with a rag and the 3 in 1 oil. Also: Notebook & pens to record flight logs ( I am a nerd ) Cloths pins for that needed rod standoff Extra balsa wood for repairs 2+ foot piece of 1/4 inch dowel emery boards multi tool Extra shock cord James Pierson NAR# 77907 |
#8
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Can't tell you how many times someone at a launch has to borrow my pair of pliers and/or
masking tape as they "forgot" theirs.... Also, at the most recent NAR Regional meet we had at JSC, I forgot my waterproof boots; the result was my shoes, socks and feet got muddy and wet from having to traverse through the recovery area to retrieve our models .
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Dave, NAR # 21853 SR. |
#9
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Those are kept on the Swiss Army Knife... that's an everyday item, not limited to time in the field. .
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. . Dreaming of making the rockets I dreamed of as a kid (and then some). "The Guide says there is an art to flying", said Ford, "or rather a knack." "The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss." Launching is Optional... Landing? That Depends on Trees. |
#10
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Field box
A lot of good ideas. I always take a "ton" of stuff w/me, cause my launch site is over an hour away. One box with all tools; 1 box w/ motors, spare streamers, chutes, etc., "mini-pocket box" to hold igniters and plugs, "storeage box": 6"x24"x 48". I use it for transporting my rockets. I have a pickup and bulk of space in bed.
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