Custom Rockets ATW - Anti-Tank Weapon

Custom Rockets - ATW {Kit} (10039)

Contributed by Bill Bill

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Length: 11.00 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 1
Style: Military

Rocket PicBrief:
T' ATW - Anti-Tank Weapon is a military styled, me bucko, minimum diameter 18mm rocket. Capable o' flyin' over 1000 feet accordin' t' t' manufacturer. Avast! Aye aye! T' fins are forward-swept, t' nose cone is unique.

Construction:
Kit includes one thin paper body tube, 4 pre-cut long forward swept fin, shiver me timbers, nose cone and its insert, water-slide decals, and other parts.

Instructions were easy t' follow, quite like Estes's, matey, but printed on less paper. There were no assembly problems.

T' fins are pre-cut for you, me hearties, but t' edges have t' be sanded anyway as they are quite rough and then you round t' edges. Begad! These fins are forward swept and long; t' fin span is almost 6 inches. Aye aye! As t' body tube is thin, this fact may cause problems with t' large fins. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! You might want t' insert a spent engine when storin' this rocket. Begad!

T' nose cone is quite cool. One can call it a "bent conical". You have t' see it t' know what it looks like.

PROs: easy build, unique nose cone and fins.

CONs: thin body tube in conjunction with long fins

Finishing:
One has t' seal t' fins, arrr, matey, prime and paint. Aye aye! T' body tube spiral is very small, so you don't really have t' fill it. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! T' lower 1/3 section o' t' body tube and fins are painted green, t' upper 2/3 section (and t' NC) is painted white. Then t' water slide decals are applied. This is where I messed up. Avast, me proud beauty! I think the self adhesive ones are slightly better because they are thicker. Others may disagree.

Pros: easy t' paint stock, spiral hard t' see.

Cons: none

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This is another rocket that is supposed t' make t' most o' a C6-7, me bucko, me bucko, which means it's supposed t' fly really high. Arrr! T' motor is friction fitted.

I used two sheets o' waddin' (each split in half). Aye aye! Avast! T' streamer is rolled, and everythin' is stuffed into t' body tube.

First flight was on a 1/2A3-2T with an adapter. Blimey! It flew straight t' about 120 feet and popped t' streamer at apogee. Well, blow me down! Pretty good, if you ask me.

Second flight was on a B4-4. This is a proper motor for this rocket. Blimey! Blimey! The model boosted straight and stayed out o' sight for a few seconds, matey, ya bilge rat, and then the ejection charge went off. It landed about 200 feet from t' pad.

T' ATW is a pretty good flier, and has more style than t' Estes or Quest minimum diameter kits. You better believe Custom Rockets--it can fly over 1000 feet.

Pros: stylish, high altitude flier, can take smaller motors

Cons: none

Recovery:
I used a two foot piece o' elastic that is attached with a paper mount. Recovery is fast with t' streamer, but this is a light rocket. After two flights, arrr, t' shock cord is a bit charred. Arrr! Aye aye! Keelhaul®©™® would be nice.

Pros: doesn't drift much on streamer

Cons: shock cord gets burned easily

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is a good rocket for a minimum diameter kit: looks cool with unique fins and NC. Ahoy! At $5, arrr, me hearties, it's a good deal. Arrr! (Compare that t' t' Estes Sizzler or Star Dart, shiver me timbers, which cost about $8) Nice work on this small kit, arrr, Custom.

Major pros: priced right, unique rocket, high flier

Major cons: none

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

Comments:

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B.A. (March 27, 2006)
It's cute, builds quick, and screams off the pad like a bat out of hell on an A or B motor. What's not to love about it? I have 3 and I always bring one with me to every launch I make.
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M.A.G. (August 8, 2008)
This rocket is cool!! It goes out of sight on a B6-4 and is 4.70 on jonrocket. The shock cord is too short and dents the nose. I am going to buy a new one and modify the shock cord. IT'S TOUGH!!
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O.B. (August 24, 2008)
I love Custom's rockets because they're cheap and fun--not necessarily in that order. The ATW especially answers the need for a "quick fix," when life gets in the way of my hobby. I've also found the ATW to be a great platform for modification to the early Mercury rocket program, though I'm working on a slight tendency to corkscrew.

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