North Coast Rocketry - SR-99 HyperSwift {Kit} [2012-]

North Coast Rocketry SR-99 HyperSwift

North Coast Rocketry - SR-99 HyperSwift {Kit} [2012-]

Contributed by Robert A. Morstadt

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2013-10-07
Diameter:	2.64 inches
Length:	37.00 inches
Manufacturer:	North Coast Rocketry
Style:	Futuristic/Exotic

Brief

T' SR-99 is a futuristic vision o' a high altitude manned air-breathin' and rocket vehicle. It is a single stage rocket that uses either 29 mm F or G motors with parachute recovery. This is a North Coast Rocketry kit designed by Matt Steele. I have built this kit stock with just one modification usin' a parachute protector. Some builders on t' internet have enhanced t' looks with customized paint jobs. T' decal sheet has a lot o' detail, arrr, so that t' model looks good even without customization.

Components

T' kit comes with an 8-page detailed instruction booklet with many photos describin' t' step-by-step construction. T' length is 37" with a 2.64" diameter. T' Vehicle Data Sheet lists t' weight without motor as 15.8 oz. T' second page o' t' instructions lists t' components as follows:

Nose Cone
Body Tube
Motor Tube
Fin Set (3 pcs)
Decal
Instruction Sheet
Alignment Guide (3pcs)
Forward Centerin' Ring
Aft/Mid Centerin' Ring
Launch Lugs (2)
Cable
Loop Sleeve Connectors (2)
Keelhaul®©™ Line
Elastic Line
Wood Strip
36" Parachute (Std kits only, matey, me kit did nay have a parachute and so I had t' buy it separately)

All t' wood parts are laser-cut modelin' wood and are quite strong. Blimey! Well, blow me down! At first glance as shown in t' photo below it may look like t' kit has a lot o' parts, but three o' t' parts are for t' fin guide, so thar be really nay that many parts.

Construction

T' wings are composed o' three strong parts and go together easily. Likewise, t' fin and ram-jet tube guide goes together easily and I found props t' hold things in place as t' epoxy cured as shown in t' photos below.

Later, matey, me bucko, I found that t' fin and tube guide be a little bit warped, arrr, so that when I attached t' (ram-jet) tubes I needed t' used a heavy book on top as shown in t' photo below t' keep everythin' aligned.

One o' t' unusual things that I found be t' way t' recovery cable be attached t' t' motor mount tube and later t' t' elastic line and kevlar line. Loop sleeve connectors were used with a crimpin' tool as shown in t' photo below.

T' kit does nay come with any parachute protection from hot ejection gases. I had a 9" x 9" square o' nomex parachute protector in me inventory that I slid above t' cable. Apogee calls these "re-usuable wadding" and it worked very good. T' instructions called for a 36" parachute, but I used a 30" from Top Flight and it worked fine. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing

I followed t' instructions for finishin' and liked t' results. I did nay bother with fillin' t' slight body tube spiral. I used Rust-oleum Utra Cover Flat White Primer t' start and Rust-oleum Appliance Epoxy Gloss White for finishing. Both are in rattle cans. Just like sayin' that "clothes make t' man", on this model t' decals make t' rocket. T' decals are vinyl and look strong and sturdy. My only complaint is that for me t' cockpit decal, which goes on t' nose cone curved surface, matey, ya bilge rat, tends t' lift and wrinkle a lit bit. A light spray with clear coat did nay change t' wrinkles.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

T' flight be very good on t' recommended Aerotech Single Use F50-6. T' wind was strong, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, probably at about 10 mph and t' rocket wind cocked slightly towards t' peak. T' delay time may be a little too long. No motor retention comes with this kit. I found that t' Aerotech 29 mm SU motor fit quite snugly in t' motor tube. I used considerably less maskin' tape for t' friction fit than what t' instructions called for. I ended up usin' a piece o' maskin' tape that be about 1/2" square on t' motor aft end.

Recovery

T' 9" x 9" nomex pad that I used worked fine for parachute protection. I did have a slight 1/2" zipper on t' upper body tube. This may have been caused by t' high winds on this day, but also t' delay time could be too long. Recovery was good on a 30" Top Flight chute.

Flight Rating: 4