Storing Rockets In Non Climate Controlled Storage Unit
 

Anyone have any negative experiences storing rockets and rocket parts in non-climate controlled storage units? Any tips? I live in Ohio.

I moved some built lower power, mid power, and high power rockets and a few unbuilt kits from a climate controlled storage unit to a non-climate controlled unit. Curious if i should move some things back to my home, which is of course climate controlled. I already moved the stickers/decals from unbuilt kits to climate controlled home.

Will wood glue or expoxy joints crack due to temperature cycling? Will cardboard tubes get moist/soft or swell due to humidity cycling?

Bob

All of mine are stored in my garage which is not temperature controlled. I have them in plastic totes. I have not had any issues with decals but I am not sure what the long term effects are.

The built rockets that are painted white will tend to turn yellowish over time. I use rattle can paint which is probably why. I have heard that if you are mixing your own paint, put a little blue in to prevent that.

The damage I get to glue joints/fin attachment is more from putting too many built rockets in one tote and they then tend to crush each other......

I hate to say this, but I need to fly more and lose some to the rocket eating trees to make more storage room.

I might store BUILT rockets in non-climate controlled storage, but never vintage kits or any motors EVER.

I don't know what area of the country in which you live, but here in the south (and probably even in cooler climates), temps in the summertime inside non-climate controlled storage facilities probably climb easily above 100 degrees, along with very high humidity. Not good conditions for any kind of painted and glued wood and paper models.

It may be a bit of an extreme view, but I would almost equate such storages areas as only slightly better than one's attic; a place I would NEVER store built or unbuilt kits.

I have some car parts and wheels and other 'hardware' kinds of things in such storage facilities and they are fine for that. But, if you have options, I would suggest NOT storing model rocket 'anything' in such places.


Earl

Living in Colorado, we might not get the really deep cold in Winter like the Midwest or East, although our garage is on the north side of the house, and usually feels colder than when standing in the driveway on a Winter day. :)

Also, we are known for temperatures in the 90s in the Summer, so the temperature swings are huge. I store all rocket items — kits, parts, built rockets, and motors, in my basement. It stays in the mid 60s year-round. I’ve opened twenty year old kits and parts and decals look like new. Another contributing factor I think is the low humidity we have.

I have a few friends that have woodshops in their garage. I’m not that tough! Mine is in basement (dedicated woodshop area and separate rocket room). I thought about building an outdoor shop, but that’s just another huge space to heat. And neighbors would likely complain if I ran any tools in the evening.

Plastic rockets, Plastic parts, composite-only parts, 100% composite/fiberglass rockets, and certain launch equipment that does not rust, and that's about it.

Never any kits, motors, built models, balsa wood, plywood, cardboard based parts, decals, or anything that gets ruined by moisture, extreme cold, or excessive heat.

I've stored old beater models in the attic for years and flown them. My attic sees temperatures from about 20F to 130+ give or take 10 degrees on occasion. If you have an Alpha III and it's laying against something, you will have warped fins. I had an old Colossus who's nosecone that became brittle and shattered. It's a PNC-80K, but the red colored plastic was a little different. White paint will yellow. Decals will yellow more. Dirt (mud) dobbers will sometimes build inside them unless you leave a spent motor in the mount. Often I have to knock off nest on the outside, usually at a fillet. Rubber shock cords will rot faster. Spiders love them, especially brown recluses and black widows.

All that said, I go to those rockets for demos when I'm having to fly in a small and/or windy area that I'm highly likely to lose a rocket. I just make sure to give the shock cord a tug to make sure it is good and the mount is still solid, lay out the chute and check shroud connections, and drop a bit of evil talc on it.

I have stored built rockets in the attic, a storage unit and the garage over the years and have never had an issue.

Kits and motors stay in the house.

Hiding places for Brown Recluses and Black Widows ??
Sheesh.
Sounds like you should store a pinch of DDT (yes, if you know how, you can still get it) in those rockets.

We've been out of DDT and Malathion for a good while now. That's sad cause organochlorides and organophosphates RULE!