Les Bradshaw's Page
AKA: Les
Location: Johnson City, NY
Certification Level: L1 NAR
Favorite Rockets: Explorer Aquarius
Biography:
I did rockets when I was a kid. Dropped out when I went off to college. Got back into it when my kids did some through a science program and scouts. That was back in 1998. They lost interest, but I didn't. I now have over 100 built rockets and over 200 kits waiting. Got my L1, working on my L2. I've been paying forward to scouts, 4H, CAP, and a local science foundation - even got on TV for it! I've done a few reviews and even won a few contests here. Glad I got back into it.
Favorite Quote:
Are you done yet?
And 42 is the answer to the question.
RocketReviews.com Pages:
2008-12-14
Scratch UNF Pangaea (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Les Bradshaw - 12/14/08) Brief:
Earth has recently developed Faster Than Light space travel. The United Nations Federation ship, the Pangaea was
built to bring United Nations delegates and ambassadors on an important diplomatic mission to meet with representatives
from ... [More]
2008-12-07
UNF Pangaea
Flight
Nice straight flight - COLD out. Only used 12 chute, broke 1 fin, stabilizer, cracked other fin - D12-3 [More]
2008-11-04
FlisKits Morning Star (Kit)
Review
Brief:
This is a new offering from FlisKits. It is a single stage that uses parachute recovery. I got the rocket as part of
their 6th anniversary celebration. It was quickly delivered in a well packaged box.
Construction:
There are 2 body tubes, a BT-55 that transitions down to a ... [More]
Modification Klingon Star Dart (Modification)
Review
Brief: This is the Estes Super Neon that I modified to become the Klingon Star Dart. I added 3 fins and moved the tube fins out to the ends of these new fins.
Modifications: The motor mount was built stock.
I cut out my new fins from 3/32" balsa. They were sized 3 1/2" at the root and tip ... [More]
2008-11-02
Estes Klingon Star Dart
Flight
Went much higher - drifted quite a ways. Recovered OK - C6-5 [More]
Estes Klingon Star Dart
Flight
Much higher flight - nice and straight - B6-4 [More]
Estes Klingon Star Dart
Flight
Very late deploy - just before hitting ground. Minor lawn dart and damage - still flyable. - A8-3 [More]
FlisKits Morning Star
Flight
Used adapter for B6 in 24mm mount. Nice straight flight - no issues - B4-4 [More]
Estes Super Neon
Flight
Strong ejection charge - rocket jumped. Blew motor mount out - B6-4 [More]
Estes Super Neon
Flight
Landed right back at launch pad - A8-3 [More]
Interstellar Cruise Liner
Flight
Rocket separated. Chute for top half came out OK but did not open. Bottom half chute did not come out and lawn darted - D12-3 [More]
2008-09-30
Scratch Interstellar Cruise Liner (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Les Bradshaw - 09/30/08) Brief:
The Intersteller Cruise Liner consists of three segments. At the top, furthest away from the engines, is the cabin
for the passengers with a set of canard fins. Next is the cargo section and finally the hyper-atomic engines. The l ... [More]
2008-09-28
Interstellar Cruise Liner
Flight
Top section used a 12 chute - deployed, but took a while to open. Main section used 18 chute. Broke one leg off on landing. Next time will use a 24 chute. - D12-3 [More]
2008-08-31
Scratch F-32 Avenger 1.85X (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Les Bradshaw - 08/31/08)
Brief:
1.85x upscale of the Starlight F-32 Avenger, including upgrading the motor from 18mm to 24mm.
Modifications:
I have the Starlight kit, so I decided to build both in parallel. I traced the wing fins, tail fin, and canard fins
onto ... [More]
2008-07-06
Scratch Remote Guardian Probe Jinx 1.2 (Scratch)
Review
( Contributed - by Les Bradshaw - 07/06/08) Brief:
This is for the Box of Parts contest Well, this rocket for me has had multiple problems, hence the “jinx”
name. Part of the issues was good old procrastination. But, excessive work schedules (a few weeks where I was aver ... [More]
2008-03-08
Modification Gravity Rider 224 (Modification)
Review
After reading Chan Stephens' review, I decided to modify the design to boost the power. I changed from a single 18mm mount to dual 24mm mounts. I also made the ejection charge to vent into the top center tube and eject from the very top.
Modifications: After deciding to upgrade the engines, ... [More]
Rocket in a Box Viper-28 (Kit)
Review
Brief:
Rocket in a Box has a unique concept. They indicate that most rockets sustain more damage transporting the rocket to
and from the field than actually flying the rocket. Of course, this has to exclude any rocket eating trees! Their
rockets have a 3" tube that then transitions ... [More]
2008-02-16
Pemberton Technologies Kraken (Kit)
Review
Brief:
Probably no legendary sea monster was as horrifying as the Kraken. According to stories, this huge, many armed
creature could reach as high as the top of a sailing ship's main mast. Well, this rocket may not have many arms, but it
will fly higher than a ship's main mast!
This ... [More]
2001-09-25
Estes The Dude (Kit)
Review
This rocket goes back to the time when the body of a rocket was so thin it could not support its own weight. The rockets relied on the pressurization of the fuel to keep them from collapsing. The Dude has a fin/motor mount cage and then a chrome covered nylon "balloon" that is inflated for the ... [More]
2001-08-01
Estes Explorer Aquarius (Kit)
Review
This is an OOP "Sci Fi" rocket that can still sometimes be found. It consists of a main body tube surrounded by 18 "storage pods". It has an unusual plastic nose cone. Estes defines it as "Galaxy Class craft used in exploration of distant star systems". Estes indicated that it is skill level 4.
... [More]
