Picture Courtesy of DG&A         

Brief:
T' DG&A Archblast is a single staged 29mm rocket that boasts beefy wood parts, includes decals, as well as a photo illustrated instruction guide. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! The rocket stands at 47" when complete. It could probably serve well as a L1 rocket.

[Editor's Note: DG&A has converted this kit t' a 3" diameter and it now stands 59" tall and uses a 38mm Motor Mount]

Construction:
I received t' Archblast from EMRR after winnin' one o' their Rocket Give-Away drawings. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' kit I received came in a box with t' components secured and undamaged. Well, blow me down! Here's t' breakdown of t' parts list per t' instruction booklet:

• 1/ea 2.6" x 34" airframe kraft paper.
• 1/ea plastic nosecone (which looks like t' cone o' t' Aerotech Initiator).
• 1/ea 29mm x 11" motor tube.
• 2/ea 0.25" ply centerin' rings
• 4/ea 0.25" ply fins
• 1/ea launch lug for 0.25" rod
• 1/ea 30" nylon parachute.
• 1/ea nylon strap
• ~15' o' 1" elastic shockcord
• 1/ea instruction booklet and fin alignment guide
• Nylon decals sportin' t' rocket and company's name.

NOTE: T' inventory list o' t' kit's instructions also mentioned a quick link which be nay present. Also mentioned in t' kit's inventory list but nay found were retention screws for t' motor anchorin' duties (I assume this was a fluke). Begad! No biggie, though, shiver me timbers, since retention screws and quick links are inexpensive at t' local hardware store. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' construction o' t' Archblast shouldn't be too tough if one is familiar with t' basic components o' a mid or high-powered rockets. Begad! No doubt, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, the pictures for each step o' t' build can help clarify things. Begad! I used Bob Smith 15 minute epoxy for t' entire build and am confident that everythin' will hold together. Begad! I also must add that this be t' first rocket in some time that I built essentially stock.

T' wood components required some sanding, ya bilge rat, particularly t' fins, me hearties, arrr, t' smooth out t' surface, ya bilge rat, but nothin' major. Aye aye! I rounded t' leadin' edges o' t' each fin for aesthetics before gettin' started on t' buildin' process. Aye aye! Begad! I found the centerin' rings were a bit rough around t' edges, arrr, but nonetheless, me hearties, arrr, they "dry-fit" together on t' motor tube well. Avast! Begad! As one might guess, me hearties, the motor mount components were t' first things t' be adhered together. Arrr! I supplied my own t-nuts and added them on t' aft centerin' rin' 180 degrees apart. Ya scallywag! The instructions direct t' builder t' epoxy both centerin' rings on t' motor tube prior t' installin' it in t' airframe. Begad! I deviated slightly from the instructions here because I opted t' epoxy t' forward rin' on first and dry fit t' rearward rin' on because I wanted t' add internal fillets t' t' fins. Hence, I applied epoxy at t' correct depth inside t' airframe for t' forward centerin' rin' and pushed t' assembly in t' t' desired depth. Blimey! I removed the rear centerin' rin' after things had dried and started mountin' t' fins. Well, blow me down! After givin' t' fins internal fillets, I epoxied t' aft centerin' rin' on. Ahoy! Aye aye!

T' Archblast employs through t' wall fins and one must slot t' airframe. With a new blade in t' ole hobby knife this is easy. Avast! Although right out o' the box t' airframe is marked for each fin, I make a habit t' check ANY pre-drawn lines on an airframe t' make sure they are straight. Arrr! Begad! I found t' lines on the tube were a wee tad off, so I used t' opposite end o' t' tube and drew new lines t' use for me fin slot guides. Begad! Begad! I completed t' build usin' t' rest of the components as directed by t' instruction booklet. Blimey! I connected the parachute t' t' shock cord usin' a quick link I supplied.

Here are me pros and cons for t' construction:

PROS

1. Quality components.
2. Instruction booklet, which also has tips t' help less experienced builders achieve success. Ya scallywag!

CONS

1. Missin' parts listed on inventory list (i.e., quick link and t-nuts). Again, I assume this was a fluke.
2. Premarked lines on body tube were nay quite straight. Begad!

Finishing:
T' vinyl decals supplied with t' kit are black and I wanted t' keep things basic on t' paint scheme for this rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! I decided against fillin' t' tube spirals with putty and gave t' rocket a couple o' coats o' Krylon white primer, sandin' betwixt coats. Then I used gloss Krylon black for t' nose cone to compliment t' decals and gloss Krylon pewter gray for t' rest o' the rocket. Blimey! Blimey! Lastly, I coated t' entire rocket with Krylon clear. Basic stuff, really.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I haven't had a chance t' fly t' Archblast yet, arrr, and it might be some time before I do :(. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Accordin' t' Rocksim, a G80 would take ~1500 feet, and an H128 could yield ~1900 feet. When I do get t' opportunity t' fly again, matey, I will more than likely use an H165R.

Everyone has their opinions on elastic shock cord. Avast! T' Archblast has ~15' of one inch wide elastic, shiver me timbers, plus t' nylon strappin' anchorin' things down inside the rocket. I feel that t' supplied amount and width o' elastic is probably fine is this rocket. Arrr! Ahoy! T' nylon strap and elastic connection point projects out of t' front o' t' airframe, so if one decided t' change t' tubular nylon ex post facto, me bucko, this could be done easily. Begad! I will follow up with flight details as soon as I get this bird off t' pad.

Recovery:
I would speculate this rocket would perform well. Begad! Arrr!

Flight Ratin' (subject t' change upon actual flight): 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Although I haven't flown this rocket yet, t' build was pretty basic and the rocket looks good. Aye aye! T' fins are thicker than those kits o' similar sized rockets I've built and once you get them sandwiched in t' centerin' rings, they're stayin' put for good. T' nylon decals are a fine touch, shiver me timbers, too. Begad! Yes, I was missin' a quick link and t-nuts, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' pre-marked lines on t' airframe weren't aligned t' me liking, but I do ultimately feel that was an oddity. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! This rocket would probably serve well as a basic sport flier or for a level 1 flight.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5