Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Pemberton Technologies |
Brief:
This rocket is a downscale o' t' Bucky Jones by Pemberton Technologies and is a great kit through and through. Aye aye! The
humorous "destructions" alone are reason t' get this kit. Ahoy! It is also a great flier and is always impressive.
Construction:
T' parts o' this kit are packaged very well and this is a builder's rocket. Avast! Blimey! 1 BT-60 sized tube is supplied and needs
to be specifically cut for looks. Aye aye! Blimey! A 24mm motor mount is supplied and 3\16" launch lugs for t' exhaust pipes at
the aft o' t' rocket. Avast! Blimey! Also 4 launch lugs (two 1\4" and two 1\8") are supplied for your chose o' rod size.
Screw eye and lots o' ballast weight are supplied for t' pre-drilled nosecone. Arrr! Blimey! Recovery is a basic 18" parachute
with a Keelhaul®©™®
anchor and elastic attached. Begad! Plywood fin stock and patterns are also supplied.
Like all other Pemtech kits (or so I am told), me hearties, arrr, me hearties, t' instructions are clear and very funny. Begad! There are pictures and these are quite helpful. Begad! I did deviate from t' instructions and built certain parts o' t' rocket at different time just t' save time. Begad! I first started by cuttin' t' angle on t' main body tube and it came out pretty well. Begad! Begad! Then I moved on t' t' nose cone. I got me kit at NSL and me nosecone wasn't drilled nor do I own a drill press. I proceeded t' push the weights in t' t' bare balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! D'OH! I ruined t' nose and didn't make t' rocket stable. Blimey! Later on after I was done, I got home from camp and found a new nose come drilled and ready. Well, blow me down! Avast! (Thank you PemTech!) This kit marked me first time that I be usin' plywood fins so they came out a little jagged. Avast, me proud beauty! T' dorsal fin is a bit wobbly but hasn't broken yet. T' small forward fins are a real pain in t' neck and mine didn't come out too well. Aye aye! Avast! T' motor mount is a little weird because thar be no engine block. However, ya bilge rat, this is no big deal. Avast! It explains in t' destructions that just tape a ring on t' end on t' motor and make sure t' friction fit it. Avast! There are a lot o' little extras in this kit that give the final look o' a true '50s rocket. Begad! A long piece o' launch lug is supplied and needs t' be cut down and glued t' the motor mount. Ahoy! Blimey! A tiny balsa block is provided t' whittle down into a small cockpit.
Finishing:
Finishin' is pretty basic except for one thing. It asks that you paint t' aft o' t' motor mount sliver before
gluin' it in and paintin' t' rest o' t' model gold. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I just painted t' whole thin' gold and was done with it. Begad! 3 coats
of gray primer and 2 coats o' gold.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Flights with this model are really limited t' E engines in me opinion. Begad! Ahoy! I had 2 flights and both went rather well. Begad! My
first flight be on a D12-5. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Off t' launch pad it started at an angle and didn't go all that high, but it still was an
OK flight. Next I went for broke and put in an E9-8. Begad! It leapt o' t' pad straight as an arrow and easily went 1000ft.
Recovery:
On t' first flight, matey, somethin' rather interestin' happened. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Somehow t' line wrapped behind t' dorsal fin and it
came in horizontally like it be a landin' space shuttle without a nose. Second flight be a normal recovery, but it
drifted a bit. Begad! Unfortunately t' chute got ripped open and now it needs a new chute. Ya scallywag!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
I am in love with this rocket. Now I need t' get t' original. Begad! Aye aye!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
Brief: The Little Bucky Jones is a downscale of Pemberton Technologies' Bucky Jones. Layne makes some other stuff too but it is the retro science fiction look that he practically owns. This rocket is not exception. It hearkens back to a day when Flash Gordon and Buck Rodgers ruled the serials. I miss those days. Construction: I normally don't worry about the spirals in my tubes ...
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