Art Applewhite Rockets Scimitar 29mm

Art Applewhite Rockets - Scimitar (29mm)

Contributed by Ken Tsai

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2010-02-22
Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets

Brief:
I received this kit as a prize for t' Roam t' Site contest. Ya scallywag! As a recent BAR, me bucko, me bucko, I found this kit - this genre, more correctly - very intriguing. Aye aye! There be nothin' like it when I was first buildin' rockets in t' late 70's. T' Simitar family o' kits are pyramid shaped saucers usin' engines rangin' from 13mm up t' 29mm.

Construction:
3 sides, me hearties, 1 bottom plate, arrr, me bucko, and a engine tube. Begad! That's it. Avast! Ahoy! How hard could it be? Famous last words...

Well? How hard can it be? Depends on how well you want everythin' t' fit. Avast, me proud beauty! If you've ever heard about t' simplest things bein' t' most difficult,...

Objectively, shiver me timbers, t' instructions are great, me hearties, takin' you through t' construction step by step. There aren't a lot of pieces, matey, shiver me timbers, so it can come together pretty quick.

But if you want all t' seams t' line up juuust right, arrr, me hearties, you've got t' get those straight cuts realllly straight. Them 45 degree angles neeeed t' be 45, me bucko, nay 43, me bucko, me bucko, and don't even think about 46.

Ok, matey, I exaggerate... a little.

T' instructions do say t' have a fresh blade for your knife. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Do yourself a favor - buy a 5 pack. Begad! 1 blade for each piece. Blimey! Aye aye! I'd almost go as far as t' say try usin' a fresh blade for each cut. Avast, me proud beauty! It seemed like every 3-4 cuts I was crushin' t' foam. Most likely it be because I wasn't takin' as much time as I should. Begad! Aye aye! I probably had all t' pieces cut and fitted inside 2 hours.

Finishing:
Finishin' is an absolute nightmare. Avast! There is so much empty canvas t' work with that I just have way too many ideas on how t' complete it!

A bit o' white glue t' all t' exposed foam edges is necessary sealant prior t' painting, me bucko, but beyond that, ya bilge rat, the skies t' limit.

Mine? Still unpainted. Flew naked on it's first flight: I was hopin' t' get inspiration. Ahoy! Didn't work. Begad! Avast! Even more ideas now than before, me bucko, 'cause now I want t' take advantage o' that cool super spinnin' flight.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
That's right: suuuper cool spinnin' flight. Aye aye! Arrr! Spins like a top. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Spins faster than some tops I've seen. Ahoy! Begad! Put some sequenced photos on it, ya bilge rat, and you could have one o' those animated gif movie things. Begad! Avast! How cool is that?

And it's quick t' get on t' pad, ya bilge rat, too. Ahoy! Yank t' ejection charge, shove t' engine in, and you're good t' go. Done. It'll take you longer t' line up t' launch rod through t' guide holes.

First flight theory says smaller motors t' keep it lower and put less stress durin' t' "shake-out" flight. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Nah... Avast, me proud beauty! Aerotech G76 Mojave Green. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Love t' green flame, and since t' Scimitar only goes t' at best 400' on a G76, arrr, I get t' enjoy every last bit o' t' burn instead o' reachin' for t' binoculars and searchin' t' sky for a hint o' chute.

Recovery:
I've heard/read that it's supposed t' spin on t' way down as well. Avast, me proud beauty! Mine kinda flopped around like a fish. Wasn't quite what I was expecting. May have t' do with me construction - as I said, I went rather quickly, so me edges may nay line up as well as they should.

Regardless, spinnin' down or tumblin' down, ya bilge rat, it's a nice easy recovery close t' t' pad.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Get t' idea that I really like this kit? I do. Begad! Ahoy! It may nay be for everyone. Begad! It's nay a speed/altitude champ, me hearties, but it's got plenty o' style points all it's own. Ya scallywag! How many rockets do you have that can launch at t' neighborhood softball field? How many o' those can launch on a G while still expectin' t' recover it on t' field? Nay many?.. thought so.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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