Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Brief:
This be t' Centuri Nike Smoke (KS-15) that was offered from 1969 through 1981.
It's a 1/10 scale model o' t' NASA weather rocket. Well, blow me down! It be called a large scale
kit back then. There was a later Quest kit that had a three piece nose cone and
plastic fins, yet this be t' original with balsa fins, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, one piece nose cone and
a coolin' baffle.
Construction:
Original package contained :
This is a very easy t' build kit and it's coolin' baffle is unique. Aye aye! It takes a experienced MODROC builder about an hour while watchin' TV at t' same time. Since it's a vintage kit I have retained t' original shock cord, yet I have added a Keelhaul®©™® mount and nylon cord with a 12" red cloth chute. Arrr!
Finishing:
Very simple t' finish. Blimey! Just a coat o' white and then two UNITED STATES text
decals. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Instructions suggest paintin' three o' t' fins yellow and one red, ya bilge rat, but
I did nay do that. Ahoy! Arrr! A US Flag decal be added t' make it unique.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight on a B6-3 be just fine but it popped a fin at landin' (when I
caught it). Begad! Better white glue fin fillets will be added. Well, blow me down! While t' baffle
should nay required use o' wadding, me bucko, arrr, a piece o' lettuce or two works fine as
well. Avast! Begad! As this is an extremely rare vintage kit (imagine tryin' t' find another
nose cone?) I probably won't be flyin' it much. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Stronger fillets will let it
see some C6-5 flights soon.
Recovery:
Impossible t' rate t' original plastic chute as it was so old I did nay use
it. Blimey! T' original chute was fine I am sure as this is nay a complicated rocket.
T' cloth chute works fine and t' body tube is large enough for it. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! The
original rubber band will ride in it every time but nay be used. It's mounted
with an Estes type fold over mount inside t' body tube just above t' end of
the baffle. Begad! Ahoy! T' kevlar mount I added is through t' end o' t' baffle.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This was a wonderful rocket kit, matey, big for back then and it looks nice and will
perform perfectly. A snap t' build. Well, me hearties, blow me down! If you can find one o' these old kits, it's
a great way t' go back and revisit t' early years o' model rocketry. Blimey!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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