MODEL ROCKETRY

All model rockets are judged with the same score sheet and by the same criteria. All judging “elements” are grouped within five major categories. Note: For safety reasons no rockets are to be entered or judged if armed with a live engine.

Disqualify immediately. Live engines look new. “Burnt” engines look charred at both ends, smell burnt, or are open so you can blow through the engine.

  1. Flight Capabilities (Total 25 points).
  1. Nose Cone (5 points). Smoothness, straight alignment with body tube, non-binding when pulled from body tube.
  2. Recovery System (5 points). Parachute or recovery system in good condition and folded so it doesn’t bind in body tube. Shock cord and parachute lines in good condition and firmly attached. Non-flammable recovery wadding should be lightly packed between engine and recovery system in body tube.
  3. Launch Lugs (2 points). The launch lug (2 if large rocket) should be present, straight with body tube and firmly attached.
  4. Fin Assembly (7 points). The fins should all be the same size and the leading edges sanded to a taper. When attached to the rocket, grain in the wood should run towards the body tube, the fins should be in perfect alignment with the direction of travel and they should be equally spaced (3 fins, 120° spacing; 4 fins, 90° spacing).
  5. Body Tube (2 points). Should be smooth with no “mushroom” at joint holding nose cone.
  6. Engine Block (4 points). Inner tubing and spacer rings should be smooth straight and properly spaced.
  1. Workmanship (Total 25 points).
  1. Sanding (5 points). Poor or no sanding leave balsa wood nose cone and fin surface rough after painting. The result is slower flight due to friction and poor appearance. Most instructions call for three sanding-sealing cycles before paint.
  2. Gluing (5 points). Good gluing is a must to hold the rocket together. Glue requires two operations. First attachment, then a fillet to give a smooth arc to the joint. Blistering under the paint, over the glue joint, is caused by brushing sanding sealer over glue.
  3. Straightness (7 points). The nose cone, fins, and other parts must be straight or the rocket will have poor flight characteristics.
  4. Painting (7 points). Brush painting is expected to be rougher than spray painting. Look for straight, clean edges where colors change. The problems to look for are paint too thin, runs, finger prints, colors blending together, orange peel texture, or sandy texture from overspray.
  5. Decals (1 points). Decals should be straight and smooth with no breaks or air bubbles.
  1. Rocket Appearance (Total 10 points).

Rocket should be neat and clean showing artistic value, especially with respect to painting, pen stripping, and decals

  1. Display Appearance (Total 5 points).

Display should substantially support and protect rocket from damage. Artistic and educational value should also be considered.

  1. Statement (Total 35 points).

The statement describing the rockets flight characteristics may consist of a “log” of each flight. Information may include engine used, success, or problems igniting engine, what the rocket did in flight, success or problem with recovery, speed, and altitude. Completeness of the story should receive high consideration. A description of launch and flight problems are not to lower ribbon placing. Three (3) launchings are required to earn the points listed on the score sheet. Only actual launches count.

Note to Judge: Rockets that have been launched a number of times are eventually damaged. Overlook normal wear, scratches, or breaks when judging. Properly repaired breakage of fins should not lower the total points of an entry. 4-H’ers should not try to cover up damage as it may make the rocket look even worse.