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How to Build Remote Controlled Rockets

Model rocketry can involve substantial investments of time and money. It can thus often be discouraging when a rocket adopts an unintended course that leads it somewhere where it will be difficult or impossible to recover. While model rockets will always be somewhat unpredictable, there are modifications that can give you at least partial control over the trajectory of your rocket. One approach is to affix a remote-controlled rudder to your rocket that, with practice, will allow you to make subtle aerodynamic course corrections to the rocket while it is in flight.

Things You'll Need

Remote-controlled toy car
Model rocket w/ tail rudder
Screwdriver
Glue
Tape (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Carefully remove the rudder component if your model rocket of choice is already assembled. If your rocket is not yet assembled, then assemble it in accordance with the directions, but leave the rudder piece unattached for now.
- 2
  Disassemble your remote-controlled toy car by using your screwdriver. Your goal is to remove the small mechanical actuator that is responsible for pivoting the front wheel axle in response to remote signaling from the user. Feel free to remove the axle itself if you can do so without damaging the actuator. All you want is the small component that turns left or right when activated by the remote control. If the actuator has a wire antenna leading out of it, keep this intact and remove it alongside the actuator.
- 3
  Glue the end of the actuator that was originally attached to the chassis of the remote-controlled car to the fuselage of the rocket, where the rudder would normally go. Have the joint of the actuator facing downwards toward the tail of the rocket.
- 4
  Glue the rudder to the end of the actuator that was originally attached to the front wheel axle of the remote-controlled car. Orient the rudder the same as you would normally.
- 5
  Launch your rocket, then use the remote control to change the angle of the rudder mid-flight. This will change the aerodynamics of the rocket, causing it to veer in a predictable direction. The controls will likely take some getting used to, so practice and don't get discouraged if they don't feel immediately intuitive.

Aviation