Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 0.95 inches |
Manufacturer: | Apogee Components |
Style: | Cluster, Payload |
Brief: This is a three finned egglofter designed for NARRRRR eggloftin' competitions.
Construction: Everythin' arrived undamaged and all t' parts were there. T' fins are precut balsa. T' fins are precut balsa. Arrr! T' body tube is spiral wound paper as be t' motor tube and two sets o' centerin' rings. Avast, me proud beauty! There is a balsa launch lug offset, as t' nose cone is much wider than t' body. Aye aye! T' launch lug is 1/8 inch, arrr, shiver me timbers, thin plastic, matey, like a drinkin' straw. Avast! T' parachute is 24 inches in diameter and is thin black plastic. Avast! Its six shroud lines are nylon thread and are affixed t' t' chute via adhesive paper donut shaped reinforcements. Begad! T' nose cone is thin hollow plastic with a groove in t' middle t' allow cutting, t' open it and place in cargo. Avast! T' nose cone fits into t' body tube with two centerin' rings around its neck. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! One o' t' rings also serves t' anchor t' shock cord and chute.
Finishing: There were no decals, so I finished it with green Monokote and silver craft paper available from many hobby stores. Well, blow me down! T' nose cone is black, ya bilge rat, and I left it unpainted. Well, blow me down! I spray painted t' fins and balsa offset yellow. Avast, me proud beauty! It looks unusual t' say t' least. Arrr! There are two complete aft ends with fins and engine mounts and blocks. They have t' same fin design each, only t' one with 3 engines uses wedge fin attachment like me LOC 4-29SS does. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! With couplers and tape, shiver me timbers, t' ends are interchangeable and will stay in place.
Construction Rating: 4
Flight: I flew t' rocket first with t' 18mm choice, matey, and used an Estes A8-3 and no payload. It flew straight and recovered smoothly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but unloaded, me bucko, it nearly drifted out o' reach, me hearties, ya bilge rat, comin' t' rest in a tree. Avast! Blimey! I had t' climb up and get it.
Apogee recommends this engine as well as t' A6-4, matey, B4-4, B6-4, C4-5, C6-3, me bucko, and C10-4 for loaded use, ya bilge rat, but unloaded use a C6-5, C10-7, and D3-5. Ya scallywag! For t' cluster mount, use three 1/2A2-2, me hearties, A2-3, ya bilge rat, and B2-3 loaded, ya bilge rat, matey, and unloaded, ya bilge rat, matey, me bucko, use B2-5 and B2-7. Avast! I haven't flown it loaded yet, but suspect that t' weight will make recovery shorter and nay treeward!
I used a couple pinches o' worm bed wadding. Blimey! If you don't know what this is, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it's dry recycled newspaper cellulose puffs that are great t' breed nightcrawlers in, me bucko, ya bilge rat, hence its name. This stuff is better than paper sheets in protectin' plastic chutes. Begad! T' chute here is unburnt. Well, blow me down! Tape bands are sufficient t' retain t' engines. Aye aye! I use black electrical tape t' close t' nose cone because it matches t' color and looks good.
Recovery: T' shock cord is 18 inches o' Keelhaul®©™ threading, ya bilge rat, affixed inside t' body tube with a folded paper mount. It was easy t' assemble.
Flight Rating: 4
Summary: Unusual looks, arrr, easy t' assemble, choice o' usin' one or three engines.
Overall Rating: 4