Building a model rocket requires that you pay attention to every detail and the paint job you apply to finish the project is no different. A little time and a lot of care will help your rocket look the best and fly the highest.

But what are the best paints for model rockets? Most model rocket builders prefer to use spray paints because they are lightweight. Commonly used brands are Testors, Model Master, and Tamiya model spray paints, Dupli-Color automotive spray paint, and Rust-Oleum spray paint.

If you are about to paint a model rocket and want all the details on how to get the best-looking paint job on your rocket, continue reading. I will detail the different kinds of paint you can choose from as well as how to ensure that your paint job looks good regardless of paint choice.

Are you still using the standard Estes controllers for your launches?

We just built our own beautiful launch controllers that make launches SO much more fun, and we documented EVERY single step and item purchased and put it into a step-by-step course that teaches you how to do the exact same thing.

Click here to learn more about how you can build your own launch controllers!

The Best Paints for Model Rockets

Ideally, the best paint for a model rocket would be one that is lightweight, durable, and long lasting. The paint must also help create a smooth finish.

Spray Paint

Spray paint is the preferred paint for model rockets because it goes on in a thin, lightweight layer, covers well, and creates a smooth finish.

An alternative to the spray paint that comes in cans, you could use a paint sprayer or an airbrush to apply paint in thin, consistent coats, but these are considered advanced methods.

Generally speaking, there are two types of spray paint you might use for model rockets: lacquer spray paint and enamel spray paint. Which you choose is truly a matter of preference. Some people swear by lacquer, while others prefer enamel. Experiment with both types to see which you prefer.

Lacquer paint is lighter and dries faster, but it is also less durable, more expensive, and harder to find compared to enamel spray paints. Many people also believe the lacquer spray paint creates a nicer looking finish.

Enamel spray paint is less expensive, easily located, and very durable, but it takes much longer to dry and is heavier, which means it will take longer to finish your rocket.

Testors and Model Master

Testors and Model Master appear to be two different brands, but they are both owned by the same company. In fact, Testors, Model Master, and Rust-Oleum are all owned by the same company, RPM International.

Testors is a long-time maker of craft paints, and it is one of the best model paints out there. Its paints are specifically made for use on all types of models including model rockets.

Testors makes both enamel and lacquer sprays for around the same price. They also offer glitter spray paints, fluorescent spray paints, and color shift spray paint (links to read reviews on Amazon).

Color shift paints have an interesting visual effect. The color will appear to change depending upon what angle you are looking at it from.

Tamiya

Tamiya is another company that specializing in paint for models. They make a synthetic lacquer spray paint (link to read reviews on Amazon) that is meant to be used on model airplanes, but it can be used on model rockets as well. They also make a line of bottled paint that is good for painting small details.

Tamiya is one of the few brands that offers lacquer spray paint in more than just black and white colors. They have several greens, blues, grays, and tans as well as brighter colors like red, yellow, pink, and orange.

Dupli-Color

Dupli-Color spray paints are meant for automotive use, but many model rocket builders swear by Dupli-Color. Since it is a paint intended to be used on cars and trucks, it is extremely durable and long lasting.

Dupli-Color offers both enamel and lacquer sprays, but the lacquer sprays basically only come in black, white, and gray, while the enamel has 15 color options including several varieties of black and gray as well as blue, red, yellow and green.

One of the best things that Dupli-Color has to offer is their filler, which is a part of the primer series. This does a fantastic job of filling in any imperfections on your rocket. You can then sand it down and reapply until you have a smooth finish that you can sand again and then paint over.

Be sure that you do not confuse the Primer Series Filler with the 2-in-1 Filler and Sandable Primer. This is a completely different product and many model rocket builders have not been satisfied with it when used on model rockets.

Rust-Oleum

One of the best things about using Rust-Oleum is that it is a sort of one stop shop when it comes to spray paint, and you can find it at any home improvement store. Rust-Oleum spray paint comes in a wide variety of finishes, textures, and colors.

Their line of all-purpose spray paint is called Painter’s Touch 2x, and it is generally less expensive than other options we mention here.

They make just about any kind of spray paint you could think of including automotive filler paints, lacquer paints, and enamel paints. You can get metallics, protective finishes, different colored glitter paints, glow in the dark paint, color shift paint, and mirror effect paint.

The lacquer paint colors are once again limited to black, white and clear, but you can get the enamel paint in semi-gloss, gloss, satin, or flat finishes and just about any color you could imagine.

Best Paint for Children Building Model Rockets

 If you’re working on building a model rocket with a young child, or one that just isn’t ready for the responsibly of wielding a can of spray paint, then you can use any non-toxic craft paint for the rocket.

Paints to Avoid:

• Toxic Paint
• Watercolor paint
• Tempera paint
• Finger paint

Especially if your model rocket is paper, you will want to avoid any paint that is too wet. Additionally, certain paints like tempera paint and finger paint sometimes flake up and fall off after they dry on certain materials.

Consider applying filler and/or primer yourself before having your child paint the rocket for the best finished product. Once they have painted the rocket and it has dried, you can apply a finished to protect their art and add some shine.

Ideally, your child should not pile the paint on to keep the rocket as light as possible, but at the end of the day, it is their rocket and the rocket will still fly just fine.

Alternatively, you can use stickers to decorate the model rocket instead of paint. This is great for a kid who isn’t really that into decorating the rocket.

How To Paint a Model Rocket

No matter what paint you choose to use, your model rocket’s paint job is not going to look good unless you prepare the rocket for painting and paint it well. The best paint in the world can’t make up for a rushed job.

In this section, I will be going over everything you need to know to paint your model rocket including the materials you will need, how to prep the rocket, how to paint it, and how to finish it off.

What You Will Need

Before you begin to paint your rocket, make sure you have all the materials that you will need to complete the task. Here is a list of materials you might need.

• Model Rocket
• Filler
• Sandable primer
• Spray paint
• Top coat
• 400 grit Sandpaper
• Newspaper
• Masking tape
• R95 face mask
• Latex gloves
• Decals (optional)
• Bottled paint for details (optional)
• Paint brush for details (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide to Painting a Model Rocket

1. Makes sure that you have a clean workspace and all of your materials are ready to go. You should always use spray paint in a well-ventilated area and wear an R95 face mask to protect your lungs.
2. Lay newspaper down beneath the area where you want to spray paint. You may need to use several heavy objects like rocks to hold it in place if you are outside.
3. Lightly sand the rocket on all of the places you intend to paint. This includes the fins and the nose cone.
4. Remove the nose cone and stick newspaper into the top of the rocket. Paint the nose cone separately. Do not get paint on the shoulder.
5. Spray the rocket with the filler following the instructions listed on the filler that you purchased.
6. Allow the filler to dry and sand the rocket until it is smooth. You may need to apply a second coat of filler if the imperfections in the rocket are still showing through.
7. Use a spray primer following the instructions listed on the primer.
8. Sand the rocket lightly again. The rocket needs to be a little rough so the paint can stick to it.
9. Select the color that you want the barrel to be and spray paint the whole thing that color, unless you want the fins to be a significantly lighter color than the body in which case you would need to tape them off precisely.
10. Follow the directions listed on the can of spray paint you purchased.
11.  Favor a light coat over a heavy coat to keep the paint from pooling or running.
12. Allow to dry and sand the rocket again. You may need to apply 3 or 4 coats of paint to get the look you want. Be sure to lightly sand the rocket between each coat.
13. If you wish to paint the fins a different color, use masking tape to protect the area near the fins you do not want to paint. Wrap a thick layer of newspaper around the barrel.
14. Paint the fins just as you did the barrel. If the fins are wood, they may require more layers of paint and more sanding to get a smooth finished product.
15. Once the rocket is dry, you can paint any small details you would like using bottled paint and a brush.
16. Allow the entire rocket to dry before adding any decals.
17. Finally, apply a top coat, flat or glossy, to protect the decals and the paint job.

A Few Tips

Do not get paint inside the rocket. It could make it difficult to fit the nose cone or the motor into the rocket.

Also avoid spraying inside the launch lug.

Chose a darker primer for darker paint and a lighter primer for lighter paint.

By selecting the best paint and carefully painting your model rocket, you will ensure that your rocket looks good and flies well.

Build Your Own Launch Controller

Don’t forget! You can ditch the stock controllers and confidently build your own from scratch using our step-by-step instructions and exact materials list! We promise this will make your launch experience 10x better, and using our course License to Launch you can be 100% confident you’ll be able to finish this project and be super proud of what you’ve built! Here’s a sneak peek below.

While watching some impressive high power model rocket launches on YouTube recently, I found myself in awe of the power of these rocket’s engines and the size of the rockets.

It got me to wondering, what is the largest model rocket engine? The most powerful and largest rocket engine used by amateur model rocket enthusiasts has an impulse class of S which can weigh over 400 pounds. The smallest rocket engines start at an impulse of A and every increasing letter is twice the engine size as the better before it.

Although the largest motor used by amateur model rocket enthusiast is extremely powerful, you won’t be getting your hands on one any time. Motors as powerful as the S have to be custom made, and they are highly regulated.

Are you still using the standard Estes controllers for your launches?

We just built our own beautiful launch controllers that make launches SO much more fun, and we documented EVERY single step and item purchased and put it into a step-by-step course that teaches you how to do the exact same thing.

Click here to learn more about how you can build your own launch controllers!

Impulse Class S Engine

It is hard to even imagine the amount of power an impulse class S model rocket engine has. Impulse classes for engines traditionally start with A and each class represents a range of total impulse.

Total impulse is measured by Newton seconds, which is the force of one Newton applied over one second. In beginner rocketry you don’t really need to understand or memorize any sort of scale for Newton seconds, but for the purposes of this article it’s interesting to see for context just how large the S sized engine is.

For A engines this range is between 1.26 and 2.50 Newton seconds. A typical class A engine is 18mm or .7 inches in diameter, 70 mm or 2.75 inches long, and the propellant weighs approximately 3.3 grams or .12 ounces.

As you make your way through the alphabet of impulse classes, each new level is doubling of the previous level. That means B engines have a total impulse between 2.51 and 5.00 Newton seconds. It comes in the same size as the class A engine, but the propellant is about twice as heavy.

Civilian Space eXploration Team

To give you an idea of just how powerful and large the S class engine is, let’s look at the S motor used by the Civilian Space eXploration Team (CSXT). In 2004, the CSXT made history by being the first amateur group to have a verified launch into space.

The propellant alone needed to launch the 21 foot rocket weighed 435 pounds and the case for the engine was 10 inches in diameter and over 14 feet long. The engine had over 655,000 Newton second’s worth of power. That is a big engine!

This massive and powerful engine carried the GO FAST rocket 72 miles into the air and reached Mach 5 speeds.

Regulations

As you can imagine there are some pretty tight restrictions on an engine that is capable of launching a model rocket into space. In order to launch a rocket using an S motor you need to get a permit from the Federal Aviation Administration by submitting an application to their Experimental Permit Program.

This is a long process where the FAA ensures that every detail of your proposed launch is reasonably safe and that the launch site you plan to use it large enough. The process generally starts a leave 150 days before a proposed launch.

Most of us won’t be launching a class S engine anytime soon.

Largest Motor You Can Use Without FAA Approval

Launching a 21 foot long model rocket into space with an S motor is all well and good, but you are probably still wondering what is the largest motor that you actually have a chance of using.

The largest model rocket engine available to purchase without getting approval from the FAA is an O. It is also the largest motor certified by the Canadian Rocketry Association, which has reciprocity with the TRA and the NRA. This means you might even be able to find this engine class for sale.

The largest and most powerful engine listed on the Combined CAR/NAR/TRA Certified Rocket Motors List is the Cesaroni O25000VM-P. This powerful engine is approximately 5 inches in diameter, 55 inches long, and weighs approximately 52 pounds with the propellant making up 32 pounds of the 52. You’re going to need a good sized sturdy rocket to use with it.

The crazy thing about this motor is that it releases that massive amount of power in 1.3 seconds.

Regulations for High Powered Engines

A high powered model rocket engine is any engine that has an average thrust greater than 80 Newtons regardless of impulse class. This is typically seen in engines with a classification of H or higher, but there are some F and G motors that have average thrusts that reach this level.

Websites that sell these rocket engines clearly list the requirements you must meet to purchase them.

In order to purchase a high powered engine, you must get a certification from the NAR or TRA.

There are three levels of certification:

Level 1 Certification: For the purchase of certain F and G engines as well as all H and I engines.

Level 2 Certification: For the purchase of J, K, and L engines.

Level 3 Certification: For the purchase of M, N, and O engines.

Level 1

To get the Level 1 Certification through the NAR, you must submit an application and fly a model rocket that you built yourself using an H or I engine at an NAR event. Before launching the rocket must pass a safety inspection, and you must answer questions related to safety.

The launch must be witnessed by the certification team members at the event and will be judged both during flight and after recovery.

Overall, the Level 1 certification is not all that difficult to obtain.

Level 2

To get the Level 2 Certification, you must take a High Powered Rocket Level 2 Written Exam and pass it with an 88% or better. You must do this before you can try the flight attempt.

For the flight attempt, you must first complete an application for Level 2 certification and then make your own model rocket and fly it using a J, K or L engine.

Just like with the Level 1 Certification, the model rocket will have to undergo a safety inspection and you will be expected to answer questions related to safety. The flight will be assessed by the certification team during flight and after recovery.

The test for the Level 2 Certification adds an extra level of difficulty.

Level 3

The Level 3 Certification is even more involved. You must first submit an application and a proposal of your plan for your model rocket.

You must document with photos parts of the rocket’s features that are hidden after the rocket is built, and there is a ton of documentation you will need to submit to the NAR at various points in the process and many safety measures that must be followed. The NAR wants to be sure that your advanced high power rocket is safe.

Launch day is very similar to the Level 2 and Level 1 Certifications. The rocket will be assessed during flight and after it has been recovered. If you are successful, you will be certified to buy and fly model rocket engines with an impulse classification of M, N, and O.

As you can see, the certification process is not just some arbitrary hoops that must be jumped through in order to purchase high powered motors. They are meant to ensure the safety of the flyer and to help them learn to build and fly high powered rockets.

Largest Motor You Can Use Without Certification

High powered model rocketry is not for someone with a passing interest in model rocketry. It requires real dedication to make it through some of the tests you must pass to get certification.

And, as much as it might pain you to have to make it through all three levels of certification before you can launch your dream rocket, this is a good thing. The regulations keep you and those watching you launch safe by ensuring that you have enough knowledge and experience to launch high powered rockets.

That being said, you can still get a lot of power out of the motors you can purchase without getting a certification. The largest model rocket engine that you can purchase without getting a certification is the impulse class G as long as the average thrust is not over 80 Newton seconds.

Class G engines have a total impulse of 80.01–160 Newton seconds. The Aerotech G80T-13 is one of the most powerful model rocket engines that you can purchase without a certification.

It is a 29 mm single use composite engine with a total impulse of 136.6 Newton seconds. It weighs approximately 4.6 ounces while the propellant weighs approximately 2.2 ounces.

Even though it is not considered a high power model rocket engine, it could launch a rocket like the Apogee Aspire, which is built for altitude, well over 4,000 feet into the air.

When Engine Size Doesn’t Matter

In general, a larger and heavier motor will be more powerful because there will be more fuel inside of it, but this is not always true.

There are two different types of model rocket engines commonly used to launch model rockets of all kinds.

The model rocket engine most people are familiar with is the black powder engines, which were the first model rocket engines sold widely. Since the 1980s another model rocket engine has been gaining in popularity, especially for high power model rocketry, and that is the composite engine.

One of the most important differences between these two types of engines is that the fuel in composite engines offers more power in smaller packages than the fuel in black powder engines. The total impulses of these engines will reflect this power difference, but the dimensions and weight of the engine will not be reflective of their comparative power levels.

In short, a smaller composite engine may actually be more powerful than a larger black powder engine.

The Takeaway

The largest model rocket motor available for amateur model rockery is a Class S motor, but this is out of reach for most of us. Most casual model rocket enthusiasts are not likely to ever use an engine larger than a G.

Of course, if you really want to launch with an extremely powerful engine, there’s no reason not to pursue it. Just take the certification process one step at a time, have fun along the way, and before you know it, you’ll be the one blasting rockets thousands of feet into the air at high speeds.

The sky’s the limit, after all.

Build Your Own Launch Controller

Don’t forget! You can ditch the stock controllers and confidently build your own from scratch using our step-by-step instructions and exact materials list! We promise this will make your launch experience 10x better, and using our course License to Launch you can be 100% confident you’ll be able to finish this project and be super proud of what you’ve built! Here’s a sneak peek below.

If you have a rocket loving, future astronaut in your family, then a model rocket is the absolute perfect gift to inspire and excite them. Model rockets are great for children of all ages with adult supervision, and the process of building a rocket is a great learning experience, even for the youngest children.

So, what are the best model rockets for 5-9 year olds? Some of the best model rockets for a 5-9 year old include the Apogee Apprentice Starter Set, the Quest Planet Probe Model Rocket Kit, and the Estes Alpha III because of their ease of build. Estes also offers the Estes Rascal and Hijinks Launch Set, which come out of the box ready to fly.

For kids that are between 5 and 9 years old, rocket construction and launching should always be done with adult supervision. The rocket will need to be constructed properly, and it will need to be launched with the proper safety precautions taken.

Continue reading to find out what you should look out for when purchasing a model rocket for the younger crowd, as well as some suggestions as to what models you should buy.

Are you still using the standard Estes controllers for your launches?

We just built our own beautiful launch controllers that make launches SO much more fun, and we documented EVERY single step and item purchased and put it into a step-by-step course that teaches you how to do the exact same thing.

Click here to learn more about how you can build your own launch controllers!

Your kids will LOVE using these controllers that make the launch so much more interactive!

What to Look for in Model Rockets for a 5 to 9 Year Old

Ease of Build

The attention span, fine motor skills, and ability to overcome challenges is limited in children of this age group. Every child is different of course, but most children are still developing their skills in these areas.

Model rocket building will challenge your child in these areas, and this is a good thing as children won’t learn without a little challenge, but you wouldn’t want to pick a model rocket build that is too far outside of their ability. They may grow too frustrated, give up too quickly, or simply not be capable of completing the build.

To give you an idea, most children have attention spans that are 3 to 5 minutes per year of their age (source). That means that a five year old will have a 15 to 25 minute attention span, and a 7 year old would have a 21 to 35 minute attention span. Of course, attention span will vary widely from child to child.

With this in mind, choose a model rocket that can be completed in 15 to 20 minute sessions to allow the child to be able to complete a component and take a break before coming back to it.

Simple Instructions

The instructions should be easy to follow with pictures to support the written portions. Many 5 to 9 year olds are still learning to read. You will likely need to read and explain instructions to them.

You can usually find the instruction manuals for any model rocket on its manufacturer’s website if you would like to check it out before buying. This will give you a good idea as to their complexity.

Engine Size

Ideally, your rocket would use the standard 18 mm motor and you would want to use the less powerful of these as they are safer, and the rocket will not fly out of sight or get lost.

The 13 mm motors are smaller, but they have similar power levels to the lower powered 18 mm motors, and they often require adaptors and are harder for small hands to work with.

Always start with the least powerful approved motor for your rocket and work your way up.

Best Model Rockets For 5 to 9 Year Olds

Building model rockets can be an enjoyable activity for everyone involved, as well as a great way for parents and children to bond together. However, there is no fun in building a model rocket that is too difficult to assemble or launch.

When you are seeking out the best model rocket for a 5 to 9 year old child, whether you will be purchasing a gift or building it with them, it is important to find the most age appropriate models for the best results.

In this section, I will go over the best model rockets for children ages 5 to 9 and give you all the details you would want to know about them.

The Best of Estes for a 5 to 9 year old

Estes Industries has been making model rockets for over 60 years and is one of the most well known makers of model rocket kits for people of all experience levels, but they have a special emphasis on creating model rockets that will educate and inspire children.

Estes offers a whole collection of beginner level rockets that are easy to build and plenty of others for children to grow into. Almost all the beginner level Estes rocket would be appropriate for 5 to 9 year old children with adult supervision, but here I will showcase some favorites.

Estes Alpha III

The Alpha III (link to read reviews on Amazon) was the first rocket Estes made for their beginner level, and it is truly a great rocket for a first build. All of the parts come pre-painted, so you can have the rocket up and flying in a matter of minutes.

This is great if you’re child isn’t so much into the decorating and building part and is really excited to get to the flying part.

Even better is that the Alpha III can fly as high as 1,100 feet. These heights are certain to excite your child and may even inspire them to build more complex rockets in the future.

The all-inclusive launch set comes with everything you need (except engines) to start launching today.

Estes Rascal and Hijinks Launch Set

The Rascal and Hijinks launch set (link to read reviews on Amazon) comes with two rockets that do not need any assembly. Just take them out of the box, and you’re ready to fly. This can be great for a child who is too young to build their own rocket.

The launch set comes with a launch system, but you will still need to purchase engines, starters, and wadding.

Estes Designer’s Special

The Designer’s Special (link to read reviews on Amazon) has enough parts to build up to 8 model rockets and includes a Model Rocket Technical Manual that goes over some of the basics of rocketry.

While this would not be the best model rocket kit to get for a first build, it would be a great kit to get once your child masters the basics of building a model rocket. It allows them to get creative as they take the first steps into experimental rocketry.

The best thing about this set is that it is truly an educational experience for your child. They will be able to try to make the rocket of their dreams and test it to see if it flies! This is rocketry at its best.

Estes Saturn V

The Estes Saturn V (link to read reviews on Amazon) may not be the fastest or highest flying rocket, but it is a 1:100 scale replica of the Saturn V, which was the rocket used to launch man to the moon in the 1960s. For a pint-sized space history buff, and I’ve met a few, this is the ultimate model rocket.

It comes ready to fly out of the box, so, even though it is not listed as a beginner rocket, it certainly doesn’t require any expertise.

If your child would especially like a rocket that looks like a real rocket used by NASA, then this is hands down the best buy you could make.

No matter which model rocket you choose for your child, it will definitely be an experience that they will never forget.

Apogee Rockets for Kids

Apogee is another leader in the model rocket space. While they aren’t as widely known among beginners, Apogee has an impressive amount of customization for their rockets and could be a better project for older kids that want a little more work involved in their rocket set up. We’ll cover one pre-made option and then a few that require some assembly.

Apogee Apprentice Starter Set

The Apogee Apprentice Starter Kit (link to read reviews on Amazon) is one of the best model rockets for young children. It can be completed in 15 simple steps including adding the decals that come with it. The instruction manual has clear pictures on how to do what the instructions are telling you.

In addition, the Apogee Apprentice Starter Set comes with everything you will need to complete your launch, and it comes with a DVD that guides you and your child through constructing and launching the rocket. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

The Apogee Apprentice Starter Set comes with an A8-3 motor, and with that motor, it is estimated to reach 240 feet in the air, which would be very impressive to anyone’s first launch. You can also use a lower powered 1/2A6-2 motor, which would launch the rocket about 69 feet. Again, plenty high for a small child to enjoy the experience with minimal risks.

This rocket is comes with everything you need to fly the rocket including the wadding, 3 motors, igniters, and the launch system.

Apogee Avion

The Avion is another first flyer offered by Apogee. Although it is a first flyer, it is slightly more complicated to assemble compared to the Apprentice. The instruction manual has 21 steps you must follow to assemble the rocket. For an older child, it can make a great first build and for a younger child, it could make a great second build.

The kit does not come with the launching system, engines or wadding. Essentially, you’re just getting the rocket, but the Apogee website offers free construction videos that can be streamed to help you and your child build the rocket.

One of the great things about this rocket is that even though it is easy to build, it can reach some pretty impressive altitudes. A B4-4 engine could launch the Apogee Avion 809 feet into the air while a C6-7 could launch it 1,394 feet high. This is sure to really impress your child.

Of course, the more power an engine has, the more dangerous a mishap could be. It is best to start with the lowest recommended engine, in this case the 1/2A6-2, and work your way up.

Quest Planet Probe Model Rocket Kit

If you’re looking for something a little different for your future astronaut, this may be the right fit for you. Instead of the traditional rocket shape, this rocket is shaped like a probe. If the probe look isn’t interesting to your child, you can flip the pre-printed aeroshroud over and decorate the white side instead. Lots of room for creativity with this one.

The Quest Planet Probe is very easy to construct, and the kit comes with everything you will need to launch it. There are only 11 instructions, and each has a picture to help understand what to do.

It also features a tumble recovery system, which means no need to add a recovery system. It is very simple.

With an estimated maximum altitude of 200 feet, there is no danger of losing this one to wind. If you have more than one child launching this rocket, you can race to see whose probe lands first.

Build Your Own Launch Controller

Don’t forget! You can ditch the stock controllers and confidently build your own from scratch using our step-by-step instructions and exact materials list! We promise this will make your launch experience 10x better for you AND (especially) your kids, and using our course License to Launch you can be 100% confident you’ll be able to finish this project and be super proud of what you’ve built! Here’s a sneak peek below.

The more addicted to model rocketry that you become, the more you’re going to fly through those engines. What at first is not a large investment becomes more so as you increase the size and power of your engines. You will soon be wondering if there is a way to reuse an engine.

So, are model rocket engines reusable? Most small model rocket engines you would use in everyday model rocketry are not reusable, but many high powered model rocketry enthusiasts use a reloadable motor system which allows you to refill the engine’s casing with fuel.

In this article, I will explain why most model rocket engines are not reusable and give you everything you need to know about reloadable motors.

Are you still using the standard Estes controllers for your launches?

We just built our own beautiful launch controllers that make launches SO much more fun, and we documented EVERY single step and item purchased and put it into a step-by-step course that teaches you how to do the exact same thing.

Click here to learn more about how you can build your own launch controllers!

Black Powder Model Rocket Engines

In order to understand why you cannot reuse a typical model rocket engine, you must first understand how the engine works.

Most model rocket engines are solid propellant engines made out of black powder. If you were to cut open a model rocket engine, which you should never do, you would see that the tube is filled with compacted black, gray, and white material.

The clay nozzle is where you put the igniter and it is whitish, and after that comes the propellant. The propellant, in most cases black powder, is black and usually is the largest section of the motor.

This is followed by the delay which is generally a lighter gray. The delay slows down the rate at which the motor burns up before it reaches the ejection charge. The ejection charge is what activates your recovery system. It is all topped with a white clay cap.

After you use the engine, you may still be able to see the clay caps in both ends, but inside, the propellant, the delay, and the ejection are completely used up. If you would like to see a neat video of see through model rocket engine being ignited, check this out. It makes it all too clear why a black powder engine cannot be reused.

Now you may be wondering if you can refill the engine with black powder, which is essentially just gunpowder and pretty easy to get a hold of. The answer is quite simply no.

You cannot refill a black powder model rocket casing because in order to make a model rocket engine you need to stamp down the black powder and make it as compact as possible using rocket tooling.

This process is not safe in the least. Ramming black powder will heat it up. Too much heat, and your rocket could explode right in front of you.

Additionally, the motor casings themselves should not be reused if you decide to get into making your own model rocket engines as the casing has already undergone a lot of stress with its first launch.

The stress the engine had to endure would be intense and they could have become damaged. A visual inspection would not be enough to tell you if the casing could endure a second launch.

The result of reusing an old casing when making your own engines would be creating an unsafe engine with a high likelihood of a catastrophic failure.

Single Use Composite Engines

Single use composite engines are very similar to black powder engines. Composite engines are also solid propellant engines, but instead of black powder, they use a mixture of fuel and oxidizer that undergo a chemical reaction to create a composite material.

Instead of cardboard, single use composite engines usually have a plastic casing with a small nozzle in one end. Beyond that, they work in a very similar way to black powder engines.

Single use composite engines cannot be reloaded with fuel for the same reasons that a black powder motor casing cannot be reused. The casing is not structurally sound enough to be reused.

The Benefits of Composite Engines

Composite engines of all sizes are becoming increasingly popular since Aerotech began making them in the 1980s. There are several advantages that composite engines have over traditional black powder engines.

Composite engines are more reliable and therefore safer than black powder engines. The compacted black powder tends to be very brittle and cracks easily, which could cause an engine to fail. The composite material is more rubbery than black powder and does not crack as easily.

Additionally, a lot of power can be fit into a smaller package with composite engines. If you have two engines, one with an ounce of black powder and the other with an ounce of composite fuel, the composite fuel will have a higher total impulse and be more powerful.

Composite engines have extra customization options. You may notice that the codes for composite engines often have extra letters at the end. This extra letter typically indicates a feature of the engine’s launch. For example, the letter could indicate the smokiness or the color of the fire that comes out of the rocket. And who wouldn’t love to color coordinate their rocket and their engine’s fire?

Reloadable Composite Engines

Aerotech first came out with reloadable motor systems in 1990, and they have been a popular and cost effective alternative ever since.

A reloadable composite engine allows you to reuse the engine’s casing by refilling it using a propellant kit. In order to use a reloadable composite engine, you will need to get a casing. They usually come with the forward closure and the aft closure, but this is not always the case.

The initial investment you must make in the casing is high. The casings range is price from about $50 to up to $150 depending on the size and brand, but you end up saving money in the long run as long as you don’t lose the casing in a launch.

In addition to the casing, you will also need a propellant kit for each launch you want to make. The Aerotech propellant kit includes just about everything you might need to reload the engine including the composite propellant, the delay, o-rings, liners, nozzle, ejection charge, and starter.

You may need a few easy to come by items in order to reload the engine’s casing to the propellant kit like petroleum jelly, tape, paper towels, and an exacto knife.

An alternative to the Aerotech reloadable motor system is the Cesaroni reloadable motor system. These two systems are not interchangeable.

The Cesaroni propellant kits involve far less work on your part to reload the casing. The propellant comes almost completely ready to go. The only adjustment, you may need to make is to alter the time delay.

Some people prefer the Cesaroni for the ease of use, while others like to put the motors together on their own. The reload kits for Cesaroni do tend to be slightly more expensive but are much easier to put together. Which is better is really a matter of taste.

Buying a Casing for a Reloadable Engine

When purchasing your first reloadable case, you might be a little baffled by the coding system. It doesn’t look anything like the engine code listed on single use motors, and that is because it can’t, like single use motors, describe the total impulse, the average thrust, or the time delay that you decide to use.

Instead, the code on reloadable model rocket casings will tell you how much total impulse the casing can handle.

The code will look something like this: RMS-29/60.RMS stands for Reloadable Motor System and basically means that what you are looking at is the casing for a reloadable motor.

The first number, in this case a 29, is the lowest total impulse in Newton seconds that you would want to install in the motor. The second number, the 60, is the highest total impulse in Newton seconds you could install in this casing.

These numbers will help you purchase the correct propellant kit for your casing.

Why Use Reloadable Composite Engines?

Along with the benefits of using composite engines in general, there are a few reasons you might be interested in using a reloadable composite engine in the future.

Reloadable composite engines will save you money. The initial cost of the casing is high, but the propellant kits are much less than the cost of buying a single use composite engine. You typically save between $6 and $10 per launch by using reloadable kits (source).

Reloadable composite engines are fun! They give you the experience of building your own engine without the dangers of brewing your own rocket fuel. They are perfect for the do it yourselfers in the model rocket community, of which there are a great many.

Can Anyone Use a Reloadable Engine?

No. Not anyone can use a reloadable engine. There are rules concerning the purchase of the casing and the reload kits.

First of all, to purchase any engine that housed in a metal casing, regardless of the size of the motor, you must be 18 years old. All reloadable engines use metal casings.

Additionally, all of the reloadable kits require that you are 18 years of age or older to purchase them.

There are also certifications required to purchase model rocket engines of certain sizes, and many casings and propellant kits are meant for high powered engines.

If you’re looking to fly a high power model rocket, you’re going to need at least a Level 1 certification from the National Association of Rocketry. A high power model rocket engine is one that has an average impulse of 80 or greater. This includes some F and G motors and all H or higher motors.

This means if you wish to use a high powered reloadable engine, you will also need to get the appropriate certification first.

Hybrid Reloadable Engines

Hybrid model rocket engines combine a solid propellant with a liquid oxidizer, but these are much less commonly used than the other two motors.

There does seem to be a hybrid reloadable engine available, but it is difficult to locate and the information available is limited. If you’re interested in using hybrid model rocket engines, you may want to find a mentor who has firsthand experience using hybrid engines.

The general appeal of hybrid motors is that they offer an even cheaper alternative to composite engines. They do require that you learn how to properly reload them and install them first, however.

Many people don’t bother seeking out hybrid motors. This is because they are more difficult to find, and most people don’t feel the need to learn another engine system.

Build Your Own Launch Controller

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