Apogee Components Super Centrix

Apogee Components - Super Centrix {Kit}

Contributed by David Urbanek

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Apogee Components

Introduction
This was t' first rocket me buddy, Greg Vose, me hearties, built. Arrr! Begad! I looked at it and thought he was goin' t' be greatly disappointed. Arrr! We'd go t' t' launch and he'd watch F, G and H motors and then slap this dinky rocket on t' pad with a 1/2 A motor and feel . Blimey! . Avast! . tiny.

Well, t' experience be anythin' but disappointing. Arrr! Blimey! It's a tiny rocket, shiver me timbers, sure, ya bilge rat, but it flies straight and true and really gets goin' even on t' 1/2 A motors. Well, blow me down! Everyone got a real kick out o' watchin' it fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' B motors kick it up out o' sight, I'm nay kidding. Arrr! I'm really sold on t' Apogee micro motors.

T' rocket is nay sold as a two stager. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It's sold as a stand alone rocket, arrr, me hearties, and you can buy t' booster seperate. Aye aye! Blimey! It's standard light weight fare: paper tube, arrr, balsa fins and nose cone with streamer recovery. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It goes together nicely and finishes just as nicely. Ya scallywag! Paint it a very bright color. Begad! Blimey! Greg's is dayglo red for a reason: so we can find it after he flies it two staged with a B2-0 stagin' t' a B2-7.

If you've heard that t' Apogee motors are hard t' ignite, it's hogwash. Arrr! Ahoy! We did 5 fine flights over 2 days and only once did t' motor fail t' ignite. A little care is all that is needed so you don't short out t' igniter. We leave t' toothpick in t' motor nozzle. Begad! Begad! It keeps t' igniter secure and provides a small stand-off.

Real, real, arrr, small.
This is a really tiny rocket. Begad! However, as they say, ya bilge rat, it nay t' size o' t' boat but t' motion o' t' briny deep that counts. For all it's diminutive size, arrr, it flies like a champ. It gets some o' t' same exclamations left for much larger rockets. Avast! Especially if you fly it with t' B2-7 motor. It just keeps on going.

Construction...
What's thar t' screw up with this rocket? It's a body tube, three die cut fins, a nose cone, an engine block, a piece o' Keelhaul®©™, me hearties, a little bead. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! That's it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Glue t' fins on, glue in t' engine block and t' body's done. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' bead holds t' Keelhaul®©™ t' t' nose cone with a drop o' CA. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Tie on a streamer and your ready t' fly. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Well almost. Paint it Day-Glo something. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is a very small, shiver me timbers, very high flyer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! If your NARRRRR club ever has an altitude event, me bucko, me hearties, this rocket stands a good chance o' placin' in t' top 4.

T' Super Centrix adds a booster. Well, blow me down! Well, me hearties, blow me down! It's a bit trickier because you have t' cut t' vent holes and add little balsa reinforcers made from left over balas. Begad! It is gap staged. Begad! Blimey! T' throat o' t' Apogee micro motors is so small, though, that you'll need a 'stagin' igniter'. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! You have t' order these separate from Apogee, me hearties, but do buy them. Begad! Well, blow me down! Otherwise you'll never get t' sustainer t' ignite. T' stagin' igniter is a bit o' fast fuse that gets poked in t' sustainer's engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' booster is tumble recovered. Blimey! If your NARRRRR section is havin' a C altitude event, me bucko, this rocket will take it (if t' trackers can see it at apogee).

Materials get 5 points (on a scale o' 1 t' 5).

Flight & Recovery...
Like I said, it's a great flyer. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' micro motors burn so long and this rocket is so light it just screams higher and higher. Well, blow me down! It's a crowd pleaser. If thar's much wind, ya bilge rat, you'll need a good recovery crew. Begad! Ahoy! I'd keep it low on windy days. Begad! Well, blow me down! On t' days where t' wind is calm and t' sky is clear, then let her rip with t' B motors.

Here's t' performance you can expect from t' Centrix (single staged):

Motor 4300' elevation Sea Level
1/4A2-4 410' 390'
1/2A2-6 875' 815'
A2-7 1485' 1340'
B2-7 2300' 2085'

Now if you fly it two stage, you're gonna get serious altitude. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! This rocket will nay be visible about 2000'. T' motor's smoke will be. Arrr! Use trackin' powder. Brin' binoculars.

Motor 4300' elevation Sea Level
A2-0 + 1/4A2-4 1330' 1210'
A2-0 + 1/2A2-6 1580' 1435'
A2-0 + A2-7 2020' 1830'
A2-0 + B2-7 2690' 2435'
B2-0 + 1/4A2-4 1885' 1710'
B2-0 + 1/2A2-6 2100' 1905'
B2-0 + A2-7 (A2-5 at sea level) 2485' 2240'
B2-0 + B2-7 3035' 2760'

It is such a cool rocket. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! This is an extreme rocket for t' low power crowd. It gets 5 points.

Overall...
Bam, it's built. Whoosh, matey, it flies like a champ. It's a crowd pleaser and you have t' love that.

Overall, it gets 5 points.

Other Reviews
  • Apogee Components Super Centrix By David Urbanek

    ( Contributed - by Alan Rognlie)  I wanted to get a sample of Tim Van Milligan's kits, so I included a Centrix and its booster when I ordered some items from Apogee Components. I call this version a "sport" model because it uses a launch lug. For competition (AL14-98?), I'll build an extended one (for tracking powder) without the lug and use a tower for the launch. The ...

Flights

comment Post a Comment