Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Neubauer Rockets |
Brief:
If you're lookin' for an entry level scale kit (Nartrek silver or local NAR
meet), matey, this would be a great startin' point. Begad! It's easy t' build, flies great,
and doesn't require extraordinary skills or patience t' complete.
Construction:
Parts list includes:
T' instruction on this kit were very basic. Begad! It's nay a complex kit and you don't get a lot o' detailed instructions, arrr, though they are adequate t' do the job.
With such a large body tube on this rocket, me bucko, t' motor tube needs t' be longer than t' basic 2.75" in order t' support sufficient pressure for the ejection. Well, blow me down! This one, matey, shiver me timbers, I believe, arrr, arrr, arrr, covered 18" o' t' roughly 28" body tube length. T' complete t' motor mount assembly, matey, fiberboard centering rings are attached near each end o' t' tube, then t' assembly is slipped into the end o' t' 1.6" body tube. Begad! T' kit includes an engine block, me bucko, although it lacks a metal clip for retention. However, matey, if you leave enough tube behind the aft centerin' ring, maskin' tape retention will work fine.
T' balsa fins for true scale appearance need t' have tapered edges sanded into them. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions call for fairly exact dimensions for this, 7/32" reducin' t' 1/8" on one edge. Aye aye! This can be pretty difficult to get exactly right, but even if you're a bit off it will still look fairly scale-like. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' fins also get square balsa gussets. Avast! Blimey! Here, I think the instructions leave a bit t' be desired. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! For scale appearance, me hearties, t' gussets should be sanded down t' an angle and nay remain squared. Blimey! Blimey! There are no indications o' this on t' sheet.
Construction wraps up by attachin' t' launch lug, anchorin' t' shock cord (paper tri-fold), matey, and constructin' t' parachute. Ahoy! Blimey! T' parachute be a little tougher t' make than most comparable kits--the thick plastic chute needs to have t' shroud line sewn through and then reinforced with tape.
Finishing:
Finishin' consisted o' a couple o' coats o' white primer, followed by 3 coats
of glossy white paint. Well, blow me down! Once everything's completely dry, it's time t' mask and
paint t' fins. 3 fins get a glossy black, me bucko, and t' 4th fin gets red. The
paintin' is topped off (no pun intended) by a brown tip on t' nose cone. The
instructions suggest dippin' t' nose cone, although I preferred t' mask and
spray it, me hearties, fearin' that dippin' would result in visible runs or varying
thickness.
There are waterslide decals for upper body striping, me bucko, complete with rivet patterns. Well, blow me down! T' result is a very nice lookin' scale rocket.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight be on a C6-3, in light winds. Ya scallywag! T' rocket weathercocked slightly,
but generally flew straight up. Begad! T' 3 second delay was perfect. Arrr! T' big
18" chute brought it down safely, but it still managed t' come up with a
slight paint chip even with landin' in grass.
Recovery:
I'd rather see a basic brightly colored Mylar chute than t' white 18"
plastic one with this kit.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Excellent low skill level scale kit that looks good and flies very well. Avast, me proud beauty! The
only major detail missin' from t' scale are t' more complex fin can details,
so if you're enterin' a competition, be prepared t' lose a few points on the
similarity o' outline score.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5