Custom Rockets Metrix

Custom Rockets - Metrix {Kit}

Contributed by Dave Sutter

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
 

Well, arrr, ya bilge rat, I had become frustrated with me loss o' three small rockets in one day in t' sprin' o' 1997. Begad! I vowed t' never again take a rocket under 12" long seriously. But I had all those 13mm mini-engines left. What t' do? I needed a mini-engine model that wasn't a guaranteed loss. Ahoy! I was browsin' through t' Discount Rocketry website one day, matey, and saw t' Metrix. Well, blow me down! It looked like it would fit the bill, and for $5, matey, me bucko, I simply couldn't pass it up. Aye aye!

Construction is very simple and straightforward, ya bilge rat, typical o' a 3FNC (three fins & a nose cone) rocket. Begad! This one is made even simpler by bein' minimum diameter, shiver me timbers, and thus requirin' just an engine block, and nay a full engine mount. About t' only trick, and t' instructions do point this out explicitly, is that it's very easy t' confuse t' fin's leadin' edge with it's root edge. Makin' such a mistake would require you (assumin' you caught it before t' glue dries completely) t' frantically but carefully pry t' fin off t' body tube, wipe as much glue as possible from both surfaces, and re-sand that fin, shiver me timbers, since you rounded t' root edge, and left t' leadin' edge square. Aye aye! Begad! Hypothetically speaking, shiver me timbers, o' course. Blimey! ;-)

Flyin' this rocket for t' first time be a bit o' a surprise, actually. Begad! It definitely went higher and faster than I had expected, especially with the A10-3T engine. Arrr! That gold mylar streamer did a simply fabulous job o' makin' the rocket trackable. I've launched it several times now, me bucko, and every flight has been completely trouble-free. Ya scallywag!

All in all, ya bilge rat, this is a fine rocket and a fine kit. I can heartily recommend it t' anyone who wants a good mini-engine sport flyer. Arrr! Blimey! About the only nitpick is that it's nay exactly t' most awe-inspirin' rocket ever made, shiver me timbers, matey, but how many really are? I rate it a 4 out o' 5 for construction, arrr, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a 4 out o' 5 for flight, and an overall, general ratin' of 4 out o' 5. 

Description: A tall, arrr, slender, ya bilge rat, mini-engine 3FNC rocket.
Purpose: A mini-engine rocket that I wouldn't lose immediately.
Motors: (13mm) 1/2A3-2T, ya bilge rat, 1/2A3-4T, shiver me timbers, A3-4T, A10-3T
Max Altitude: ???
Length: 19.5" (49.5cm)
Diameter: 0.544" (13.8mm)
Weight: 0.4oz. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! (11g)
Recovery: 1" x ?" gold-colored mylar streamer
Nose Cone: Ogive, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, balsa
Payload: None
Fins: 3, balsa
Notes: An excellent, matey, high-flying, shiver me timbers, recoverable mini-engine rocket.
Skill Level: 1
Part Number: CR-10
Price: 4.95

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