Rowes Retainers - Retainer (38mm Cone) {Component}

Rowes Retainers Retainer (38mm Cone)

Rowes Retainers - Retainer (38mm Cone) {Component}

Contributed by Scott Simka

Manufacturer:

(by Scott Simka - 12/01/03)

Back End Brief:
38mm, arrr, Black Anodized Finish, me hearties, Motor Casin' Retainer. Begad! Perfect for Pro38's.

Construction:
Nicely machined motor retainer. Very easy t' install. Definitely increases the "WOW" factor o' any rocket!

After purchasin' a BSD Diablo, and findin' a review utilizin' a "Rowe's Retainer" on that rocket, me hearties, I said "I gotta have it!!" I be able to track a source o' Rowe's Retainers from Chad Ellis thru t' ROL forums.

I got t' Retainer for $30.

After winnin' t' "Vertex" rocket, arrr, arrr, built by Chuck Sackett of "Fat Cat Rocketry" in me club's raffle: (Florida Spacemodeling-Tripoli West Palm) I decided t' fly t' Vertex with t' Rowe's Tailcone Retainer and me first Pro38 motor.

After placin' t' new motor into t' mount, and placin' t' retainer on top, arrr, t' holes were marked, drilled and then t' anchors were screwed in.

T' machine screws allow t' tailcone t' be secured very tightly.

Side View On t' Pro side, me hearties, ya bilge rat, the tailcone looks way coool! It's really easy t' use! It can be transferred from rocket t' rocket with t' only need bein' more anchors. It worked like a charm too.

On t' Con side, t' aluminum seems thin. If you landed in t' grass, as I did, me hearties, me hearties, thar wouldn't be a scratch. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you landed on a rock, matey, your retainer would be dented and may nay be repairable. Ahoy! Blimey! Also, me hearties, you're only issued 1 set o' anchors. One more thing, if England was t' only place t' get it, I'd probably do without it. Avast! Blimey!

Chad Ellis was eager for referrals so if you email me directly and I can give you his address.

Full Pic Finishing:
As stated before, ya bilge rat, it looks really cool. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! See me pix. T' comments I heard were: "Wow, that's a neat retainer" and "Where'd you get that" and "That's a perfect retainer for that rocket".

Flight:
Motor I used was a 2 grain Pro38. Ahoy! Blimey! T' retainer remained nice and tight.

I was unable t' get t' chrome 38mm Tailcone (I really wanted that one) but despite that, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' only things I'd change are: addin' another set o' anchors and perhaps makin' them just a little thicker.

Also, t' t' best o' me knowledge, you can't use a 29mm motor if you've only got a 38mm Rowe's retainer.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Comments:

M.H.S (December 23, 2003)

"Also, to the best of my knowledge, you can't use a 29mm motor if you've only got a 38mm Rowe's retainer." If you have a standard 29mm retainer, it nests inside the 38mm coned retainer (or the standard 38mm retainer) so that you can use a 29mm motor if you've only got a 38mm Rowe's retainer. If you dont want to use the other retainer, cut a ring of the right dimensions out of a suitable metal and use it to fit over the aft closure of the 29mm casing.

C.R. (December 24, 2003)

A good review. Thanks. I would like to point out that the retainer is the thickness it is due to weight! I could make it thicker but then you would have to use more nose weight. (Feedback please) I sell the screws and inserts, so if you want more, just let me know. You could always use self tap screws?. As to the 29mm remark. Yes you can use 29mm motors with the 38mm retainer, you just need a 29mm Rowes Retainer, this just drops into the 38mm and uses the same screw holes for the 38mm. Colin Rowe

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