If you want a good cheap hobby, then model rockets are the way to go. You can purchase
an ESTES starter kit for around $25(at Wal-Mart, K-mart, Hobby stores, Etc.) that includes
a rocket, a launch pad, a remote starter, a few rocket engines and the ignitors.
The kit rockets take around 1 hour to assemble,(unless you buy the
kit that already has it assembled), so you can be flying it shortly after
you get it home.
A good thing to remember if you have never messed with model rockets before is to put the
smallest of the recommended engines in first. This way you can see how the rocket will react
before you put a big engine in it and never see it again.(Which reminds me, If you happen to find
a pink and green rocket with "Viking Research" on it laying in your yard, please e-mail me.)
After you get used to the starter kit rockets you can purchase other rockets by themselves.
ESTES has them in all shapes and sizes, and you can get them in 2 and 3 stage configurations.
I have a 2 stage rocket that uses a "D" engine for the first stage and a "C" engine
for the second stage. The higher the letter the stronger the engine.
I will add some pics of more rockets later. Maybe pics of some while taking off if I can catch it on film.(They are pretty quick.)