Storing your model rockets

[bernomatic]

Here at the Starport, we have been doing some remodeling in the command center. The top of my desk hutch just wasn't a safe place to store my rockets anymore and dings and dents (and other major damages) were being incurred when a cat silked across the terrain or one of the dogs banged into the desk and a rocket would tumble to the deck. So I did some brain storming. I liked the adaptability of a peg board and its ease of rearranging, but the aesthetics just didn't impress me.

I looked around the web and saw some great stuff for tool rooms with french cleat system. I started on the project at the beginning of September, and in my usual slow paced way have started with this...

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I was planning on making this post in a couple of weeks, but someone on facebook was asking how we stored our rockets, so I pasted a pic. I'll update as things progress.

[Rocket Babe]

Looks nice. Ours are standing or are in a box in our tornado shelter in the garage below our 1st floor.

[Joe Wooten]

Interesting. I might have to invest in something like this......

[bernomatic]

Here is a picture of the basic hook.

Unfinished french cleat rocket hooks

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For ease of adding the rockets and positioning, I don't glue the dowel into the hook. I do glue an empty casing, either 13mm or 18mm, onto the dowel.

I have varied the design and finish on various hooks. I plan on showing some more of them here including additional items for the display and storage of rocketry equipment using this system.

[bernomatic]

This is a basic hook design with square corners and stained with an Early American wood stain and Minwax Polycrylic finish . The base boards were finished with a simple application of Boiled Linseed Oil.

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In the bottom picture, the hook does not have the wedge block inserted. In the close up, you can make out the darker wedge block. This keeps the hook from being easily bumped off the base strip on the wall.

[bernomatic]

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Shown here, a hook with a simple chamfer, dark walnut stain and the same finish as above.