So I started an Australian Model Rocketry business.......

[Bones]

After finishing my cab (well 90% finished anyway), I became interested in model rocketry. I know in America-land Model Rocketry is pretty common, but in Australia it has never gained any super momentum. I believe the main two reasons for this have to do with the high cost of rocketry products here, and the incredibly monotonous range of limited options available. That’s not to say people here don’t enjoy rocketry, it’s just not comparable to the popularity of the USA even from a percentile point of view. Is there even such a word?

I started ordering a lot from overseas to fill the void of what I could buy locally. In time I wanted more & more and speaking to other Aussie rocket guys they were pretty much in the same boat - Either purchase the same old boring kits available in Australia, or pay through the nose for expensive airfreight to get something original and different.

So about 6 months ago I started playing with the idea of importing unique and locally unavailable rocket kits and building supplies. I spoke to a few American manufacturers who were quite helpful and supportive and before long my initial idea grew incredibly out of control.

My website is www.suburbanrocketry.com. Although this is probably not much interest to the lucky Americans who are spoilt by a plethora of rocketry companies, for Aussies (and perhaps New Zealanders), Suburban Rocketry now offers the largest range of rocketry products in Australia - or for that matter, probably the South Pacific. While I am making such a claim I might push my luck and claim the entire Southern Hemisphere. The nice parts anyway....

While this is an arcade site (saint invited me to make this post), if anybody is looking for a new hobby, you could do worse than to check this stuff out and give it a try.

Special mention to Joymonkey  who has offered a huge amount of time & support in regards to the geek stuff  . I really couldn't have done it without him. Big thank you to Harry for his printing, Drew for hording stuff at his Wisconsin abode, and the guys at the secret place of which I will never speak of again for their helpful supportive caring beneficial valuable intelligent insightful comments.

[saint]

Looks awesome!  Sadly, it's only open one month out of the year...

Suburban Rocketry will be closed from the 1/11/2007 to the 11/11//2007. During this time you will still be able to place orders, but they will not be processed until the 12/11/07.

Heh, ok I know that's only 10 days. Still had to do a double take on that. Us Americans get confused when you not-Americans do your dates...

[Havok]

Nice! good luck with the business, I love to build and fly model rockets even today. The last one I built was the Saturn V rocket - the big ones are the most fun in my opinion: that take off nice and slow, and don't go as high. The little ones just shoot off the launch pad, and then fly out of sight too quick.

Hope it works out well!

 

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Congrats on the new business! May you always remain the number one provider of phallus shaped flying objects in Australia!

[Ed_McCarron]

MrC has too many rocket pics.

[The 80s Man]

Has anyone ever tried to make a rocket boat? Just take one of those rocket engines and mount it to a small toy boat and try it.

[boykster]

Has anyone ever tried to make a rocket boat? Just take one of those rocket engines and mount it to a small toy boat and try it.

I've never made a rocket boat, but I used to race 1/12" scale electric RC cars, and I once took a retired racing chassis and made a rocket powered RC car out of it.  It ran exactly twice.....I found a wide open empty parking lot and swept a nice smooth long section.  First run was spectacular; car ran straight and true, chute deployed, etc.  Second run was a catastrophe...about 1/3rd into the run the car got VERY squirrelly and got sideways and launched about 6' into the air.  Chute deployed at least 

A rocket boat would be cool, but how would you get it back to shore?

Oh, and Bones.....does your site sell any rocket bulding supplies?   

[The 80s Man]

that's a good RC mod. Last year (for the 4th of July) I covered my RC car with aluminum foil to protect it then I mounted a fire work cone on top of the car, lit the cone and drove it up and down the street while it was on fire.   
(Sorry for straying off topic)

[Bones]

I recently found a video where some dad strapped rocket engines (big ones, maybe G's or H's) onto his kids roller skates.

Of course I can't condone this sort of foolish behavior now I am representing the rocket community, but damn... It looked like a lot of fun. 

[Ed_McCarron]

I recently found a video where some dad strapped rocket engines (big ones, maybe G's or H's) onto his kids roller skates.

Of course I can't condone this sort of foolish behavior now I am representing the rocket community, but damn... It looked like a lot of fun. 

Translation:

I am currently looking for my daughters skates and my video camera and will report back once the beer has kicked in.

[Donkey_Kong]

If you are visiting Bones website be sure to watch the Big Balls launch video. Sweet launch & nice editing job. It is the first one on this page...
http://www.suburbanrocketry.com/Suburban-Rocketry-videos.html


Good luck wit da biz! 

[mpm32]

You know, every time I scan past this thread I read the title as "So I just started an Australian Model business"


I have to read it 3x everytime before my brain puts in the word 'Rocketry'


lol

[ahofle]

Your site looks very nice.  That's a shame about rocketry availability down there.  I imagine there are plenty of good wide open launch sites there (maybe that's just in the movies though).  I built and launched Estes rockets when I was a kid, and a friend of mine at work and I got back into the hobby a few years ago.  Shortly after, I launched my first midpower rocket and was immediately hooked again.  I'm mostly into scale kits these days (check out http://the-launch-pad.com).  Scale kits are pretty hard to find these days -- hopefully you will carry some.  Anyway, good luck with your website and hobby!

[ChadTower]

Maybe he is shooting Aussie fashion models into space? 

[mpm32]

He can launch Niki Gudex over this way.  I'll provide the coordinates.

[Bones]

You can have her. She isn't quite pretty enough for me.

[mpm32]

Thanks, now if we can only get her to agree.  Oh and my wife would have to agree too.  lol