(12/31/99) We haven't heard much from Nordic Rocketry in a while and they have stopped advertisin' in Sport Rocketry Magazine, however, they are still preparin' t' release some new kits. Arrr! Blimey! I was fortunate t' get me hands on one o' them called t' Phaze. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This bird is an entry level kit designed t' fly on 18mm motors with a projection o' 300 feet on a B6-4 motor. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is 17.25" long, me hearties, 1.22" in diameter, and weighs about 2.1 ounces without a motor.

T' Phaze uses a single body tube that is thicker (1/16") than your normal rocket kits. This makes it a more durable model. Ya scallywag! Also, somethin' new that Nordic Rocketry is doin' that must get noticed is their new LaserLine�. Begad! Previous kits from Nordic utilize t' technique o' punchin' holes along t' edge o' t' fin mounts t' allow t' glue t' seep in creatin' a "glue rivet". Aye aye! Avast! Now Nordic is makin' great use o' their Laser Cutter and they put t' holes in t' tube for you.

They also provide precision laser-cut fins and centerin' rings cut from 1/16" plywood. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Add a balsa nose cone, matey, me hearties, two 1/8" brass launch lugs and a t' necessary motor mount hardware with retention and t' Phaze become a nice little bird. For recovery, t' kit includes a piece o' 1/16" Keelhaul®©™® that is tied t' an eye-hook on t' upper centering-rin' which is then ties t' a 36" long piece o' 1/4" elastic shock-cord. Ya scallywag! This is tied t' another eye-hook on t' nose cone. Then a red 9" hexagon Rip-stop nylon parachute is added t' complete t' recovery system.

CONSTRUCTION:

There are 9 pages o' instructions with plenty o' illustrations t' allow t' builder t' complete t' kit with ease. They are nay as basic as Estes instructions so a younger person (such as me 9 year old nephew) woudl need adult supervision if they had never built a rocket before. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! They are in logical order and provide details such as, me hearties, needed tools and supplies, me bucko, ya bilge rat, fin shaping, sandin' and sealing, shiver me timbers, me hearties, paintin' and flyin' preparation.

T' instructions suggest that yellow wood glue should be used for construction. Begad! Ahoy! I took this as another opportunity t' use a glue that I have lately discovered; ProBond Weather Resistant Wood Glue for exterior use. Aye aye! What I like about this glue is that it contains wood fiber which adds t' its "no-run" formula. Begad! This helps keep t' glue in place and it seems stronger than white glue. Blimey! Aye aye! Also, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it grabs quicker. Put a thin coat on t' root edge o' t' fin and place it on t' body tube. Press and hold for just a couple o' seconds and let it dry. Blimey! It doesn't slide or tilt like when usin' white glue. Well, blow me down! For t' Phaze, ya bilge rat, matey, you really want t' just use a thin coat for this initial attachment so as nay t' cover up any o' t' LaserLine holes.

T' ProBond is such a thick glue that doesn't run easily, so I changed t' epoxy for t' fin fillets. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! You could use other wood glues that are thinner. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! T' idea is t' allow t' glue t' flow into t' LaserLine holes. Ahoy! Blimey! A couple o' coats o' glue are needed for t' fillets because t' first coat ends up with little divots where is has flowed into t' LaserLine holes. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! This is a good thing! Blimey! T' second coat makes t' fillet nice and smooth.

As mentioned above, ya bilge rat, t' fins and centerin' rings are laser-cut plywood. Ya scallywag! You can see t' clean cuts on t' fins (pictured). Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' centerin' rings were just as good. Aye aye! These fit perfectly around t' motor mount. They had a small hole for startin' t' recovery system eyehook on t' upper centerin' ring. Avast! They even had t' small notch laser-cut on t' lower centerin' rin' t' allow t' motor retention hook t' work properly. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Very nice, makin' assembly a breeze.

Finishin' be typical for me. Avast! I used Plasti-Kote primer, sandin' betwixt coats, until everythin' be smooth. Avast! Then I hit it with a Teal paint that was left over from another household project and accented it with gold. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' Phaze came with a black "Phaze" self-adhesive decal, but I choose nay t' use it this time.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit >5 points. Aye aye! Blimey! Considerin' t' quality o' t' parts, I expect t' have this bird flyin' for a long time!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

For launching, Nordic advises you on preparation o' t' rocket. Arrr! Nothing, special. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Motor is retained, matey, add waddin' and fly away. Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I used a piece o' Rogue Aerospace's Perma-Waddin' for t' waddin' and prepared t' fly t' Phaze on an A8-3.

T' flight was fast and short and t' ejection be obviously early. Arrr! Aye aye! But it was t' first successful flight.

T' A8-3 is listed as a recommended motor but interestingly, arrr, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' B6-4 is listed as t' first flight. Blimey! This is interestin' t' me as usually t' smallest motor be t' recommended first flight motor. Begad! I think that due t' t' weight o' t' rocket, and observin' me first flight, t' A8-3 is probably nay t' best motor t' use.

So, up she went on a B6-4. Avast, me proud beauty! Again, it was another obvious early ejection. Descent is swift on 9" parachute. Recovered with no damage anywhere.

Last flight for t' day was on a C motor. Arrr! Nordic suggested a C6-5. Begad! Avast! However, matey, me hearties, upon observation o' t' A and B flight, shiver me timbers, I choose t' go with a longer delay. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I used a C6-7. Begad! Blimey! An excellent all-around flight occurred, includin' ejection just past apogee. This is a good match.

Lookin' into this flight performance a bit further, I designed this bird in Apogee's RockSim. Avast! Blimey! You can download it here. Begad! My actual model weighed in at 2.25 ounces, so I simmed it at that weight. T' A8 said 112 feet with an optimal delay o' 2.37 seconds. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! So that confirmed t' early delay I observed. T' B6 simmed t' 354 feet with an optimal delay o' 4.09 seconds. Avast, me proud beauty! So this is why Nordic recommends this motor as t' first flight and good match. T' C6 simmed t' 875 feet with an optimal delay o' 5.57 seconds.

Another point for those that want some altitude. Begad! Nordic recommends a D21-7 and an E25-7, me hearties, too!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit >5 points. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Solid recovery system and a durable rocket make this bird versatile. A bit fast on t' descent, however, never a sign o' damage.

Overall, if your interest is in smaller rockets that can fly in small or large fields, shiver me timbers, arrr, a rocket with a unique look due t' its fins, arrr, and you want t' rocket t' last, consider t' Phaze from Nordic Rocketry. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' >5 points.