'Nother new guy

**Retired_for_now** · #1 06-09-2009, 02:47 PM

Yogi here, just a retired military guy seeing how long this retirement thing will last. Meanwhile, keeping occupied. I found paper models (spacecraft and rockets especially) are great entry points with local teachers to promote science and math in their classrooms. Get the kids interested and you can't hold them back. It's also a great place to display your creations - lots of viewers and you don't have to dust them. If they take a little wear and tear, it's a good reason to build another (or use my conditions - you break it, you get to build one of your own).

Got started in paper last winter as an adjunct to making the $10 straw rocket launcher for a teacher workshop. Little paper rockets are much sexier (or whatever is equivalent for schoolkids) than straws. You can even launch airplanes - anything you can stick a straw into/onto.
I built plastic and created a few simple paper ships many decades ago (did the dime models from the cereal boxes too), but got hooked into this after seeing what's possible at low cost and reasonable effort (started out on Jon Leslie's site - jleslie48.com - at the Lower Hudson Valley Challenger Center, very worthy work). It's a good break from carpentry - no sawdust.

My few originals are available free through Jon's web site (and a couple are out to NASA, etc to see if they'd like to use them in their outreach - the Solar Probe +, MESSENGER, and Mars Recon Orbiter). The lesson here is YOU can create as well as build. I'm no Ton Noteboom, so if I can do it so can you.

Yogi

The $10 rocket launcher that started this obsession (plans are in the lesson book on Jon's web site under misc downloads)

Fun projectiles

Magnificent Obsession

Used Satellite Lot

Science, technology, engineering and math "bait"

'Nother new guy-fwb-science-explosion-3.jpg

**B-Manic** · #2 06-09-2009, 06:23 PM

Welcome aboard Yogi. It looks like you have been busy. Thanks for sharing the pix. What a great way to young people interested in science.

Reporting live from Halifax, Nova Scotia

**cgutzmer** · #3 06-10-2009, 04:30 AM

Welcome Yogi

Chris

**Retired_for_now** · #4 06-16-2009, 07:08 AM

I'm posting random builds and obscure philosphy over on the Paper Aero-Space Admin forum if you're interested. And, I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions on how to improve both the fidelity and (frankly) appeal of the models. Taking any ideas on models you've found that would also be exciting and motivational.

Yogi

**jparenti** · #5 06-17-2009, 12:59 AM

Hi Yogi! I have seen some of your builds on various threads here and I'm very impressed with your Solar Probe and your James Webb Space Telescope.
So you did the Magellan, SOHO, and MRO at jleslie's site? I've built all three and let me say, I'm glad to have your talent in the paper community.

**Retired_for_now** · #6 06-17-2009, 02:02 PM

If you're happy with the models - guilty as charged. If not, well it's still me but I blame it on bad influences ...

Yogi

**jparenti** · #7 06-17-2009, 10:27 PM

:D. Don't sell yourself short at all. You're doing a fine job with some of the spacecraft no one else has designed a model of yet. I collect them all, and it's nice to add Magellan and MRO especially to the collection. I was worried I'd never see them anywhere.

**Retired_for_now** · #8 06-21-2009, 04:03 PM

jparenti - this what you were looking for?

Still thinking about the RTG and scan platform launch restraint struts (not included on my original design). Also needs more graphics.

Yogi

**jparenti** · #9 06-21-2009, 10:22 PM

That looks great! Exactly what I had in mind. I think it will be a great addition.
I have to get busy on it now... :D

**Retired_for_now** · #10 06-22-2009, 07:50 AM

J. Many thanks for the Voyager blueprint. My inquiring mind wants to know:

"Where does he get those wonderful toys?!"

Yogi