Manufacturer: | Aerotech |
Brief:
T' AeroTech H123W-M is a high power rocket motor reload. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This is arguably t' most popular reload used for certifyin' Level 1 with because o' its general easy availability, low cost, and that so many rockets perform well with this particular motor. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! You must be Level 1 certified (as recognized by NAR, arrr, Tripoli, and/or CAR) t' purchase and use one o' these reloads.
Construction:
T' reload includes t' followin' parts:
Other items needed:
Assemblin' t' reload is fairly straight ahead and t' overall design with AeroTech reloads scale up throughout their entire line so t' process remains similar, shiver me timbers, just t' size o' t' reload components increase or decrease in size. Aye aye! Aside from t' included instructions full o' excellent diagrams in t' package, thar are videos on t' AeroTech website that do a super job o' walkin' you through assemblin' a reloadable motor. Avast! Either watchin' an experienced high power rocketeer assemble a reload or havin' an experienced person guide you through t' assembly is very helpful too. Avast, me proud beauty! A first timer should be able t' assemble t' motor in less than 10 minutes and once you get t' hang o' it, me bucko, will take easily half as much time.
Perhaps t' most important thin' t' do when assemblin' t' motor is t' have clean hands and a dirt free workspace. As little as a grain o' sand on an O-rin' can cause an improper seal resultin' in a motor CATO and potential damage t' t' rocket. Begad! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It is worth mentionin' that experienced high power rocketeers have varyin' opinions regardin' what brand or kind o' lubricant as well as how much t' apply--if any at all!--when assemblin' their motors. That discussion is outside t' scope o' this review so I encourage you t' search online and ask your fellow club members t' see what works best for them before decidin' for yourself. Blimey! (I happen t' be one o' those that does nay use any lubricants but religiously clean me casings as soon as they are cool enough t' handle at t' field.)
With t' motor assembled and ready t' go inside t' rocket, matey, me hearties, nay t' mention that dependin' on what kind o' motor retention is used on t' rocket, maskin' tape may be needed t' ensure that t' motor is held safely inside t' rocket motor mount tube. Arrr! With t' FirstFire ignitor, it should be OK t' install t' ignitor in t' motor before takin' t' rocket out t' t' pad as long as you do nay strip t' ends o' t' wires until t' rocket is placed on t' pad. Ya scallywag! It would be a good idea t' check with t' LCO first t' ensure that you are followin' all club policies and rules (as I have found that some clubs have stricter rules than those dictated by t' national organizations).
Flight:
A 12V launcher is required t' ensure that thar be a strong enough charge t' fire t' ignitor. Aye aye! Enjoy t' flight as you've worked hard t' get t' rocket up in t' air!
Recovery:
AeroTech motors have 3 different delay times available for their reloads. Arrr! T' reloads include t' medium (10 second) delay grain with t' motor but RMS-Plus RDK kits are available separately so that you can have a short (6 second) or long (14 second) delay. Each RMS-Plus RDK kit comes with 3 delays o' t' desired type and are only available for use with certain AeroTech reloads. Ya scallywag! Check t' RMS-Plus RDK packagin' for more information. Much like t' reload kits themselves, it is a good idea t' nay open any o' t' internal packagin' in t' RMS-Plus RDK kits until ready for use.
Also, a common recovery failure (that thankfully does nay happen very often) is due t' t' black powder charge comin' out o' t' top o' t' motor. Avast! Ya scallywag! Maskin' tape around t' end o' t' forward closure can prevent this. Ya scallywag! As well, in t' rare instance where more black powder is required for ejection, me hearties, shiver me timbers, maskin' tape can also be used t' hold more over t' charge well. Begad! Rocketeers' solutions for cleanin' up t' used motor casin' are almost as varied as t' aforementioned lubricant application. T' important thin' is that regardless o' what cleanin' solution used, arrr, it is in your best interest t' clean t' casin' within 24 hours after each use. Blimey! Avast! I will at t' very least brin' a watertight container with mild soap and water so that I can throw t' casin' in thar and allow it t' soak until I get home. Avast! That also gives me t' option o' cleanin' it at t' field if I want t' use t' casin' multiple times in one afternoon as well. Aye aye! Again, arrr, checkin' with other club members might reveal other excellent ideas for handlin' cleanin' up your motor casings!
Summary:
T' AeroTech H123W-M is a popular Level 1 certification motor with good reasons: it is cheap, available, and versatile. Ahoy! Begad! While you save loot on t' cost o' t' reload, shiver me timbers, it does require an investment on t' builder's part t' assemble and clean up t' motor when usin' it.
PROs:
CONs:
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
I'm seeing a 29mm reload as well. Just as confused.
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D.M. (May 20, 2008)