The Launch Pad Krypton AS-17

The Launch Pad - Krypton AS-17 {Kit}

Contributed by Kevin McLaughlin

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: The Launch Pad

Rocket Pic

Brief:
Here's t' verbiage from TLP website: "This be t' first supersonic anti-ship missile t' arm tactical aircraft. Begad! Comparable t' t' ANS missile developed jointly by France and Germany, arrr, "Krypton" employs a solid fuel booster for initial thrust. Once at speed, ya bilge rat, t' ramjets take over. Aye aye! Ahoy! One version has four individual ramjets spaced evenly around t' outside o' t' airframe. Arrr! This version, me hearties, me hearties, t' Kh-31A, ducts t' ramjet intakes into an internal combustion chamber. Begad! "Krypton" is an air-to-surface missile, shiver me timbers, carried by both Su-17M4s and Su-24Ms. Begad! Begad! However, shiver me timbers, an air-to-air, anti-radar version, me bucko, designed for use against AWACS and similar aircraft, is also bein' developed. Here's a challenge for t' most experienced model builder. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Our "Krypton" model features three-piece fairings for t' four ramjet inlet tubes, matey, with realistic inlet nozzles. Aye aye! Begad! Recovery is by our unique 18" by 30" oblong Mylar parachute. Designed for 24mm "E" and "F" motors, this is a distinguished and classy up-to-the-minute addition t' any rocket fleet."

Construction:
This kit comes with two main 2.6" body tube sections, me bucko, shiver me timbers, four 24MM tubes that simulate t' turbine intakes and a 24MM motor tube. Aye aye! Begad! It also comes with all t' paper fairings, shiver me timbers, balsa win' stock, me hearties, and a wood dowel for t' turbine shafts

T' instructions where easy t' follow, ya bilge rat, me bucko, but I found t' followin' discrepancies: T' four 24MM turbine tubes were 1" longer than described in t' instructions. Arrr! I didn't notice this until I put them on, shiver me timbers, but this doesn't seem t' impact flight performance. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' paper fairings at t' bottom o' t' o' t' intake tubes should be a little wider t' allow surface area t' glue t' t' main body tube. After puttin' on t' first one with much difficulty, I found it much easier t' add about 1/8" flair t' t' portion o' t' shroud that mates t' t' main body tube. Begad! Ya scallywag! In general, me bucko, I found that t' fairings around t' bottom o' t' rocket required t' most playin' around t' achieve t' right look.

Finishing:
This is definitely a kit for advanced modelers who can tolerate a lot o' CA glue exposure. Ya scallywag! Begad! All t' cool shroudin' t' achieve t' unique look o' this rocket requires heavy doses o' CA t' harden surface areas. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This rocket takes lots o' surface preparation, sanding, me hearties, arrr, fillin' and primin' before it is ready for final paint. I spent a lot o' time preparin' t' shroud surfaces and intersections with CA, ya bilge rat, matey, filler and sanding. Ahoy! All this adds weight, shiver me timbers, and I estimate that its weighin' in around 12-14 oz. Ya scallywag! Havin' said all that, me bucko, arrr, this is a COOL lookin' rocket, shiver me timbers, and flies surprisingly well. I finished t' rocket with haze grey enamel and sealed with clear gloss Krylon sealer. Arrr! Arrr! T' Launch Pad never provides any decals, me hearties, so I settled for some Russian lookin' vinyl letterin' and some red Soviet stars. I put a black/white checkered band o' laminate paper just below t' bottom fins, me bucko, and put a red/white checkered band near t' nose cone. I also used some black bands out o' laminate at t' base o' t' nose cone.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Rocket PicRocket PicFlight:
I have flown this rocket about 7 times by now on AT RMS E18-4W and once on an F24-4W. Blimey! Flights are awesome, with slow take-off and lots o' noise. Well, blow me down! Begad! I flew it at dusk one night, matey, and got a great kick out o' t' white lightin' exhaust flash. Well, blow me down! Avast! On t' E18's, it probably gets t' about 400' which is plenty. Arrr! Avast! T' F-24 probably took a few hundred feet higher. Blimey! For me money, me bucko, t' E18 is a real crowd pleaser for this rocket. Since t' 'chute is positioned well clear o' t' ejection charge, I usually just put a piece o' aluminum foil on t' tube rin' used t' support t' 'chute, ya bilge rat, arrr, and that has provided adequate protection t' me nylon 31" 'chute.

Recovery:
I have built several Launch Pad kits, and prefer a more rugged construction than is recommended in t' plans: Used Keelhaul®©™®/epoxy shock cord mount in main body tube. Arrr! Attached extra long nylon shock cord. Blimey! Used plastic thru-tube wall mounted fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Added additional weight t' t' nose cone t' compensate for plastic fin and liberal epoxy usage. Used NC20 nose cones instead o' wooden dowel for t' protrudin' engine turbine shafts. Arrr! This looks much better than t' sticks provided in t' kit. Avast! Use 31" nylon parachute

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very interestin' design, ya bilge rat, and it be t' most strikin' rocket in me collection. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' kit gives you a bare bone startin' point for buildin' a solid kit. Well, blow me down! Highly recommend that you take t' time and $ t' ruggedize, and you will get a lot o' great flights out o' this kit.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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