Back to the future

Hi folks. Been a bit busy with the dissertation. Still am, actually. But stuff has come up. Last week I was wandering around the local Half-Price Books and I found a copy of The Conquest of Space, by Chesley Bonestell and Willy Ley. It's an early 50s printing, the sixth or seventh I think, but I don't care. I bought it because it's awesome, not because I'm planning on selling it someday. I picked up a cheap copy of the movie The Conquest of Space on DVD last fall, and I'm ashamed to say I haven't gotten around to watching it yet.

Also, there's a rocket launch at the park this coming Saturday. I've got a jillion unbuilt things in the closet, but I don't have time to build any of them. Mainly because I'm not planning on building any of them stock. For example, my Estes Big Daddy is going to be a stubby, camera-carrying, probably dual-motored V2. But that's going to take planning and work.

I do have an idea I want to try. I found some killer cones at Michaels last December. They are cardboard cones that use as bases for Christmas tree angels, I think. Irritatingly, the Michaels online catalog doesn't seem to have them so I can't show you a picture. The cones are about seven inches long, three or four inches across at the base, and a bit less than an inch across at the top. If I get some serious dissertating done this week, I might cannibalize the Star Dart or Sizzler to build a cone-finned rocket.

And hell, if I run out of time I'll take the Turd Burd and a Laughing Cow saucer and still have a wonderful time. Stay tuned for launch photos...I hope!