Sunward Aerospace is a Canadian company with a unique line o' model rockets, most o' which fall under their RocketFighters design. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! They put together a quality package, matey, matey, includin' colorful front card, parachute printed with their name and thorough instructions. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Each o' t' their kits use their own canopy-type nose cone as well.

I chose t' Sunward Phoenix due t' its sleek design. Ya scallywag! I also believe t' rudder fin design drew me t' it, verses their other RocketFighters. T' Phoenix is 24 1/2" long with a wingspan o' 13 1/2". It weighs 4.2 ounces and flies on 18mm motors.

See me 18mm Futuristic Rocket Comparison Page

T' rocket kit includes an 18" main body tube. Ya scallywag! This tube is sturdy and is 1/32" thick. It also includes t' 18mm motor mount that is made up o' t' motor tube, two large paper centerin' rings, me bucko, a thrust rin' and an L-screw motor retainer. Arrr! T' body is build up usin' laser-cut balsa fins, cardstock shrouds and a plastic nose cone. Begad! T' recovery system includes an 18" parachute which needs assembly and 32" o' ¼" flat-elastic shock cord. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Lastly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, along with instructions, thar are some peel-n-stick decals.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 11 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Ya scallywag! They include illustrations for every step. Begad! Ahoy! They are written in English and French. They also include instructions t' perform a swing-test and t' Canada Model Rocket Safety Code. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! A Fin Markin' Guide and t' 3-Fold Paper Mount are built into t' instruction pages, ya bilge rat, which are cut out when needed. Aye aye! Aye aye! I found t' instructions t' be thorough and easy t' follow. There was nothin' unclear.

T' build o' this rocket is a bit advanced and would probably fall into t' Quest Skill Level 3 (like t' M2Q2) or t' Estes Skill Level 3 (like t' Night Wing). Well, blow me down! But, again, t' instructions are thorough.

T' first part o' t' build be t' motor mount. It is made up o' t' 18mm motor tube and two very large paper centerin' rings. Begad! As opposed t' Kelo's build o' t' Desert Storm (pictured t' t' right), Sunward now provides centerin' rings with pre-drilled holes for t' L-screw. Well, blow me down! T' fit was excellent. Arrr! T' motor mount also includes a thrust ring.

T' next steps walk you through t' attachment o' t' fins. Begad! Ya scallywag! First, t' tube is marked usin' t' fin markin' guide and a straight edge (I use a door jam). Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Next, t' fins are removed from t' balsa. Begad! T' laser cut is excellent and thar were just a few tabs that needed a slice with t' hobby knife t' release them. Next, matey, all t' various fin tabs need t' be cut out o' t' card stock. Blimey! Yes, matey, fin tabs! This be t' first time I have come across these for a balsa finned rocket.

I followed t' instructions exactly, matey, but found that most o' t' fin tabs were too long when compared t' t' length o' t' fins. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I didn't realize they would be exposed and require finishin' until after a few more build steps, ya bilge rat, so I didn't cut them down until after t' glue had dried. Begad! SO: Trim your fin tabs t' ensure that they do nay extend beyond each side o' t' fins! I think Sunward needs t' do a slight size adjustment t' avoid this problem.

Next t' main body shroud is assembled. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I followed t' instructions exactly and didn't have any trouble installin' t' shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' shroud is cut out and pre-formed by wrappin' it into shape. Then two slits are cut out t' go over t' main wings. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It is glued on top and then again at t' bottom where t' two outer edges come together. Arrr! Blimey! There is then a cover strip for t' bottom and a reinforcin' rin' for t' very aft o' t' shroud. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It all went together well, matey, until it came t' t' last o' t' fin tabs (again). Ahoy! These tabs, shiver me timbers, which cover t' joint betwixt t' shroud and t' main wings, matey, were too long. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I cut it t' size, ya bilge rat, but that left about a 1/4" space behind t' win' where t' shroud is cut out t' accommodate t' wing. I used t' scrap tab and glued it on t' inside o' t' shroud t' fill that area.

To finish up t' rocket, t' motor mount is installed and t' launch lugs are attached.

I had made a decision this year t' nay purchase any addition paint, so I am usin' up what I have. Blimey! Begad! In this case I prepared t' rocket by sandin' t' nose cone and priming. Ahoy! Actually usin' me tractional method for finishin' plastic nose cones. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I didn't try t' hide t' fin tabs at all. In fact, this is where I began t' see some potential for havin' fin tabs. If one were t' take a pin and carefully make spaced holes on t' outer edge, matey, shiver me timbers, these would look liked riveted joints on t' finished rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't do this, arrr, but would next time.

I finished t' rocket with DupliColor Mirage paint, t' Purple/Green. Ahoy! I had just enough and t' rocket was lookin' good. Begad! Blimey! I decided t' tape off and paint t' canopy gold. Aye aye! I did this, but when I peeled off t' tape it pulled some o' t' previous paint off, me hearties, down t' t' plastic. Upon inspection, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I did nay sand t' nose cone very well around t' canopy. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Please don't make t' same mistake! Blimey! Here be t' word from Sunward: "It is particularly important that t' nose cones be THOROUGHLY sanded with extra-fine grit sand paper before painting. Ahoy! T' cones are made o' High Density Polyethylene, which tends t' be waxy. Avast! Sandin' this off before paintin' assures that t' paint doesn't peel." T' recover, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but really nay t' way I wanted, I painted t' canopy black and t' rest o' t' nose cone gold (since I be out o' t' Mirage paint).

T' decals are peel-n-stick and you cut them out. Blimey! Blimey! They are nice and include a set o' deadlights for t' nose cone and a nice phoenix head for each side o' t' rudder fin. Aye aye! There is a Canadian flag and t' words Phoenix t' give t' rocket a finished look.

Overall, me bucko, shiver me timbers, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are great. Ahoy! T' components are quality and t' laser-cut balsa is great. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' issues come from t' fin tabs nay bein' t' correct size and t' straight elastic shock cord.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Sunward recommends doin' a swin' test and gives you all t' necessary instructions t' do so, ya bilge rat, however, one would hope that a kit is already designed robust enough t' ensure stability. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I e-mailed Sunward t' get t' Center o' Gravity location (CG) and here be t' response: "T' Phoenix's center o' gravity is approximately 17" from t' tip o' t' nosecone, shiver me timbers, dependin' on how t' parachute is packed (or if you choose t' use it- all our rockets land well without parachutes-on grass- that is!) and which engine is used- typically we fly them with a C6-5. Avast! Ahoy! While pre-flight testin' is recommended in t' instructions, me bucko, our models' large win' spans usually make t' plasticine nose weight unnecessary." My CG is 15 3/4" from t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, without a motor and exactly 17" with a C6-5 installed. Sunward should add this t' their instructions.

Sunward recommends t' B6-2 (first flight), matey, B6-4, arrr, C6-3 or t' C6-5 for flying. Begad! My rocket weighed in at 4.2 ounces without a motor. T' but this in perspective, an Estes Fat Boy weighs 3 ounces.

Lastly, Sunward indicates, "0-600 feet in 3.5 seconds" and that it will have "wild smokin' nose-dives".

Flight preparation requires waddin' and mine took 5 sheets o' Estes waddin' t' feel comfortable with this tube diameter. Avast, me proud beauty! After that a motor is installed and t' L-screw is turned t' hold t' motor in place.

My first flight be on an B6-2. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It was a very good flight. Stable and straight even in t' winds that we were havin' that day. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! In fact, ya bilge rat, matey, prior t' this launch I lost me Estes Night Win' because it be "moved" by t' wind into t' wrong skyward direction. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' Phoenix seems less impacted by weathercocking, probably due t' t' t' large tube-fins t' shroud creates.

T' B6-2 carried t' rocket t' approximately 50 feet and while t' it still had a little upward movement t' ejection popped t' nose cone. Begad! Descent be fin and t' rocket was recovered without issue.

T' next flight, on t' same day, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, was on a C6-3. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I choose t' 3 second delay due t' t' angle I put on t' launch rod. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't want t' lose t' rocket while under 'chute. Again, another very stable flight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Slow, majestic lift-off. T' 3 second delay be too short so it still had a pretty good head o' steam when ejection occurred. Blimey! Blimey! Recovered fine with no damage.

T' Sunward parachute feels t' be 2-3 times thicker than an Estes or Quest parachute. It has held up well for t' 2 flights. Aye aye! Same is true for t' elastic shock cord. Aye aye! T' real test on these are flight 5+. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Why 5? That is where I start t' see Estes 3-fold/elastic start givin' out and shroud lines showin' stress. Maybe your experience is different.

I was able t' get out again and tried t' achieve one o' t' "wild smokin' nose-dives". Blimey! Aye aye! Guess what? I did. Arrr! With a C6-5. Arrr! T' lift-off was slow and straight. Arrr! Well, blow me down! At Apogee t' rocket slowly arced over, shiver me timbers, pointed it's nose cone down and started droppin' (with delay smoke streamin' out o' t' back). Well, blow me down! Begad! After a short dive, matey, t' ejection charge fired and t' rocket was recovered.

T' last flight for t' day was on me last Apogee D10-7. No slow lift-off here. It was off and flying. It did a very large spiral on t' way up and away from me pad. Begad! It arced over and I'm very glad that it dropped about 2 seconds (with black'ish smoke comin' out t' back) before ejection. Avast, me proud beauty! Had it ejected at apogee I would have lost it out o' t' flyin' field.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, I would rate this rocket 4  points. T' B6 motor makes it great for demo's. Aye aye! Blimey! T' slow lift-offs are nice. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Recovery system is holdin' up well, arrr, despite me concerns over t' elastic. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This should be a 24mm kit with an 18mm adaptor. Blimey! Blimey! T' L-screw is doin' a great job.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4  points. Avast! It will give you a challengin' build. Ahoy! It uses some interestin' techniques that are different from standard modrocs. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It gives some nice lookin' flights.