The rocket pack collective thread

[maduncle]

I would like to begin a 'collective thread for all them rocket packs'.

Given the recent work by Herr Doktor and Maets, I have decided that imitation is truly the sincerest form of flattery and I am setting out to flatter the pants off these excellent rocket pack builders.

And I know that there have been other rocket packs in the past - so please add your photos here for mutual appreciation.

As for my attempt - well, I have a pile of assorted rocket pack parts sorted and I have the pre-requisite Swedish knapsack frame. The plan is to mount the flexible copper tubing off the top of the oval tank and then attach the old brass air horn to that, pointing down the tank as the main thruster.



I have assembled two small directional thrust adjusters, these are made using two brass rose vases fitted with a 1/4" threaded rod. They then each pass through a brass chandelier fitting and screw into a small brass ball from a bed head. These will screw to the sides of my rocket pack.



As for the body of the rocket pack. I am using an old oval shaped petrol tank that I think came off one of those old paratrooper scooters from WW2. The tank has a nice 'miniature steam engine saddle tank' look to it. I had to cut a hand hole in the tank body to be able to fit off bolts from the inside for the attachments, but I have a disc to go over the hole I cut. My wife believes that the tank should be a nice bright red, so I will give it a try. If it looks naff then I shall revert to British Racing Green.



My theory is that I am a rocket pack racer, and this is my 'souped up' competition rocket pack. I might put a white oval on the pack with a number, just like racing bikes have. I like the idea of souped up customised and modified rocket packs for races - it feels like a more steampunk version of motorcycle racing.

So if anyone else wants to build themselves a rocket pack and enter the rocket races - please post your pictures here.

[Maets]

Great start. Looking forward to the race!

Gentlemen Start Your Rockets!

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Gentlemen! Please remember to wear your asbestos trousers.

[Charleson Mambo]

I don't have a rocket pack, yet.
So I'm posting mostly to say that:

Rocket Pack Collective would be a great name for a band. (Or an underground art movement. It just needs a manifesto.)


Charleson Mambo

[Mechanism Man]

You can keep your ray guns. Rocket Packs - It's the future!!
I just gotta have a go at this....
Ladies and Gentlemen - Light Your Wicks!
(I mention ladies as I find the thought of a ladies rocket pack rather appealing.... Not for me of course.... That would be just plain absurd.... But a rocket pack with an Amelia Earhart kind of outfit, yes, that would work rather well don't you think...?) 

[Herr Döktor]

I heartily approve of more rocket pack based shenanigans!

[maduncle]

I heartily approve of more rocket pack based shenanigans!

I believe 'rocket pack based shenanigans' will now shortly appear either as a chapter in a steampunk novel (and titled thus) or as a scene in a steampunk movie.

I can just see the misty english moors early morning, folk gathering in small groups flying their racing club flags from their workshop tents, the sounds of small whooshes and explosions in the background, several folk striding around in the latest in racing rocket packs as they show off their contraptions to the gathering crowds prior to the race, a dirigible in the distance flying the race half way point flag...

Ahhh - bliss!

[Xenos]

You can keep your ray guns. Rocket Packs - It's the future!!
I just gotta have a go at this....
Ladies and Gentlemen - Light Your Wicks!
(I mention ladies as I find the thought of a ladies rocket pack rather appealing.... Not for me of course.... That would be just plain absurd.... But a rocket pack with an Amelia Earhart kind of outfit, yes, that would work rather well don't you think...?) 

This.  VERY MUCH THIS.

I mean... er...  um...  Absurd, simply absurd and appaling! 

[Capt. Dirigible]

.... But a rocket pack with an Amelia Earhart kind of outfit,

Come, come, Sir! You're British! Surely you mean an Amy Johnson kind of outfit?

[Mechanism Man]

I'm so sorry - I stand corrected. Please forgive my momentary lack of patriotism. It won't happen again!

[Dr Insidious T BoneHammer]

No need to apologize, eventually you'll get it.......... wait for it.............. Wright, brother..... 

[Xenos]

No need to apologize, eventually you'll get it.......... wait for it.............. Wright, brother..... 

Here is your hat, good sir.  The door is THAT way.  *Points.* 

[Otto Von Pifka]

...and don't let the doorknob hitcha where the good lord splitcha!

anyway, rocket packs as the new goggles. hmmm.

I always think of that guy on the ice skates who keeps trying to light a rocket pack and it fizzles then blows up.

I was thinking that if you need to use your hands to throttle and generally control the rocket pack, you are pretty much defenseless in flight. I am thinking foot controlled rheostats or valves could do the same and even allow the flier to use both hands for weaponry. put the rheostat panel on the ankle and a lever to the toes to control it.

the only other problem I see with most rocket packs is the whole center of thrust vs. center of gravity thing. putting all the rocket nozzles on the back without anything in the front would make for a giant pinwheel. I'm yhinking two thrusters forward of the hips and belly button high  would be low enough to allow you to use your arms without roasting them and hopefully not charring your legs either.

yeah I'm probably overthinking it.

[Mr Peter Harrow, Esq]

Shoulder mounted Gatling guns, you haven't seen Kick-Ass haven't you?

[Xenos]

<SNIP, because it starts to do funny if I type outside the box...>

Rather than have the thrusters where they can *potentially* burn you, why not have some manner of wings?  Or rather than have it all tight to the back, some sort of heavy protrusion to even it out a bit?  I like the foot control idea, never would have thought of that (spurs, anyone? ) myself.

For some reason, whenever I think of rocket packs, I always think of Sirius from Bomberman 64:

THIS GUY: ShowHide

His wings actually pop in and out, ala Buzz Lightyear.  Dont know how that would look, NOR how it would work from a physics point of view.  I DO know that wings are pretty much the ONLY way a rocket pack COULD work, at least from a practical point-that one dude that drops himself out of a flying plane and flies around is an example.

I mean, you dont want to fly around looking like THIS

Spoiler: ShowHide

Do you?

[maduncle]

Wings?

Controls??

Burns???

How impractical!

I consider the arms pointed forwards in an aggressive V formation, and the legs tightly locked together at the ankles as the epitome of body flight dynamics.

My rocket pack will be controlled via wired goggles - where the left eye will blink to veer left, and the right will operate in a similar pattern. The wired goggles will be rigged to the left and right directional thrusters.

Altitude and descent will be controlled via the appropriate measure of fuel to the main thruster - controlled through the iris monitor in the goggles that monitors eye tilt.

I am also considering the fitment of a leather tail to the rocket pack to provide insulation against posterior burns.

But then we would not be true rocketeers if we could not suffer a hot arse from time to time. (Which must make my good lady wife a particularly good rocketeer - given her fine assets in that area...)

'nuff said.

[Xenos]

Maduncle, true to your form, you have, once again, made my day.  I thank thee, good sir!

Now if I could just stop laughing! 

[maduncle]

Maduncle, true to your form, you have, once again, made my day.  I thank thee, good sir!

Now if I could just stop laughing! 

... but I am quite serious...

[H. MacHinery]

I can just see the misty english moors early morning, folk gathering in small groups flying their racing club flags from their workshop tents, the sounds of small whooshes and explosions in the background, several folk striding around in the latest in racing rocket packs as they show off their contraptions to the gathering crowds prior to the race, a dirigible in the distance flying the race half way point flag...

All that's missing is Terry Thomas!

[Dr Insidious T BoneHammer]

Has this ever been posted?



http://www.gaj-it.com/11031/water-powered-jetlev-flyer-a-monster-of-a-hosepipe/

[Capt. Dirigible]

All that's missing is Terry Thomas!

Has this ever been posted?

That chap is an absolute shower!

[akumabito]

Has this ever been posted?



http://www.gaj-it.com/11031/water-powered-jetlev-flyer-a-monster-of-a-hosepipe/

Yeah, it's been posted before, but something that awesome just needs to be reposted every now and then..

[Xenos]

Maduncle, true to your form, you have, once again, made my day.  I thank thee, good sir!

Now if I could just stop laughing! 

... but I am quite serious...

I've no doubt that you are!  Still, I find it humorus beccause I'd have said the exact same thing of my wife's...  Assets... 

[Mechanism Man]

I can just see the misty english moors early morning, folk gathering in small groups flying their racing club flags from their workshop tents, the sounds of small whooshes and explosions in the background, several folk striding around in the latest in racing rocket packs as they show off their contraptions to the gathering crowds prior to the race, a dirigible in the distance flying the race half way point flag...

All that's missing is Terry Thomas!

Well that's rectified that!

[Capt. Dirigible]

I can just see the misty english moors early morning, folk gathering in small groups flying their racing club flags from their workshop tents, the sounds of small whooshes and explosions in the background, several folk striding around in the latest in racing rocket packs as they show off their contraptions to the gathering crowds prior to the race, a dirigible in the distance flying the race half way point flag...

All that's missing is Terry Thomas!

Well that's rectified that!

Ahhh T-T..gawd bless 'im! Good picture