Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Modification |
Style: | Cluster, Futuristic/Exotic |
Brief:
After readin' Chan Stephens' review, ya bilge rat, I decided t' modify t' design t' boost t' power. Ya scallywag! I changed from a single 18mm mount t' dual 24mm mounts. Begad! I also made t' ejection charge t' vent into t' top center tube and eject from t' very top.
Modifications:
After decidin' t' upgrade t' engines, I looked through me parts pile and found appropriate 24mm motor tubes, centerin' rings, and engine hooks. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I had just purchased RockSIM, shiver me timbers, but with t' multiple tubes I smartly discovered this was nay t' first rocket t' attempt t' use RockSIM on. Begad! Blimey! Instead, I figured out t' extra weight I was addin' with t' motor mounts and t' D12 engines so I could add some clay t' t' nose cone t' maintain t' proper balance. Blimey! Blimey! These new 24mm mounts installed into t' t' tubes t' way t' 18mm mount would have installed.
For t' top end, me bucko, I measured t' shoulders o' t' nose cones. Avast! I lined t' top tube with t' 2 lower body tubes and made marks t' see where t' tubes touched. Ahoy! Aye aye! I increased t' overlap o' t' top tube with t' 2 lower body tubes t' give me room t' make me vent slots. Arrr! These I carefully cut about 3/16 in wide and 3/4 in long. Ahoy! When I glued this tube t' t' two lower tubes, I filleted t' joint somewhat heavily t' make sure I did nay have any air leaks.
T' 2 lower nose cones were then glued into place. I angled these slightly for what I felt be t' best look. I went back t' me parts pile t' find another nose cone t' seal t' bottom o' t' top tube. Ahoy! When I glued in t' top fins I set these t' be behind t' new nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This also lowered t' fins a bit which would also help maintain t' stability.
T' tri-fold shock cord mount moved t' t' top tube. As I indicated earlier, I added about an ounce o' clay weight t' t' top nose cone. Arrr! Ahoy! T' 2 D-12 engines could handle t' weight.
Construction:
T' kit came with t' following:
All t' parts were well packed and received without any damage.
Besides me mods, t' rest o' t' build went well and followed Chan's build. Ya scallywag! Arrr! However, some o' t' problems he noted such as t' template were already corrected in me version - nice t' see t' manufacturers listen t' t' review comments. Well, blow me down! I still found t' instructions for t' top fins a bit confusing, shiver me timbers, arrr, but since these were bein' modified anyway it did nay matter t' me.
I primed and painted t' rocket white. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I found Testors had some special tintin' spray for car models t' simulate windshield tinting. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I decided t' try this for t' canopies.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
At NERRF 3, me bucko, I loaded t' parachute into t' top and 2 D12-5 motors. Begad! When launched, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' rocket appeared t' wobble quite a bit, but smartly straightened out and took off fast and high. Arrr! I thought I saw somethin' drop off, matey, but I was concentratin' on trackin' t' rocket too much t' worry. Ahoy! Blimey! T' rocket went several hundred feet and ejected t' parachute and drifted down nicely, although quite a ways down range. Begad! Aye aye! T' vented ejection charge worked without any issues. When I located t' rocket I found one o' t' large, shiver me timbers, main fins be missing. Well, blow me down! I looked around but could nay find it anywhere near t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I walked back and as I passed t' launch control area, thar was me fin on t' table. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I guess that was what dropped off - no wonder it wobbled! Perhaps dual D's versus a single C did add a bit o' thrust. Ahoy! I have repaired t' rocket (and used epoxy t' improve t' joint). Begad! Based on how high this went and drifted, me hearties, matey, ya bilge rat, I do nay have a large enough space where I fly locally t' recover this, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so I will have t' wait for another opportunity where thar be a large field (perhaps NERRF 4?)
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a great lookin' kit, matey, and with t' modifications will fly fast and high. Begad! I love t' scifi and fantasy style kits, arrr, and this one was right on.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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