Manufacturer: | Cosmodrome Rocketry |
Brief:
I bought a Black Brant II from Cosmodrome because I loved t' Estes Brant kit when it be available, and I got tired o' waitin' for t' Estes re-issue.... Begad! besides, shiver me timbers, t' Cosmodrome kit is 50" tall... Aye aye! A bit cooler than it's counterpart.
Construction:
T' rocket went together smoothly and smartly (3.5 Hrs) with 5min. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! epoxy used for t' entire build. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I replaced t' steel shock cord that be included in t' kit with aircraft cable o' t' same diameter after it be almost severed by crimpin' (with a hammer) t' ferrule onto it. T' instructions called for heavy sandin' o' t' 3/16" plywood fins t' a knife edge (about 75% o' t' fin area!). I deviated from this, arrr, and only sanded a 1/4" knife edge on t' leadin' edge. Ya scallywag! (It's nay t' scale, shiver me timbers, but it was easy). Arrr! T' inclusion o' motor retention is a much appreciated bonus.
Finishing:
I decided t' paint t' rocket true t' scale, so I put several coats o' primer on, then several coats o' gloss white, and then spent 3 hours maskin' t' white areas off. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' included detail sheet for paintin' was very helpful, but it's still took a while t' mask such an intricate pattern. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! After 3 coats o' black paint t' rocket was unmasked. Begad! Blimey! Simply stunning. Avast! Blimey! T' included decals were nicely done, and made t' completed rocket very authentic looking.
After readin' some comments about t' balsa NC o' t' Brant nay bein' heavy enough t' reliably pull t' chute out o' t' rocket, I decided t' give it some extra pull by addin' a 12" chute t' t' NC eyelet. Ya scallywag! This would also help in recovery, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, as t' only other complaint I've read about this rocket it that t' included chute is just a little too small.
Flight:
I selected a F52-5T for t' maiden flight. wRASP simulation showed an 1170 ft. Aye aye! flight with maximum altitude at 6.1 seconds, arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and a maximum velocity o' 314.6 ft/sec. True t' t' simulation, t' rocket zoomed off t' pad straight as an arrow t' an estimated 800 or 900 ft., and deployed perfectly at max altitude.
Recovery:
T' rocket drifted on for ever.... Begad! right into a rocket eatin' tree. T' extra 12" chute be a little too much. Well, blow me down! T' kit chute alone would have done just fine. Ya scallywag! (My friend scaled t' tree and removed t' rocket for me... Begad! if you're wondering).
Summary:
Overall, matey, I'll give t' Cosmodrome Black Brant II a 5 o' 5 rating. Arrr! T' balsa NC is prone t' damage (I knocked t' pointy tip off (1/8") while transportin' it), me bucko, but that be t' only negative comment I can think of. Well, blow me down! Avast! Super Kit!
Sponsored Ads
C.S. (April 1, 2001)