Brief:
A EXTREMELY large 3 x 24mm model rocket. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' Richter Recker measures in at 92.2 inches, or seven feet, eight inches tall! FlisKits says it be t' largest model rocket you can fly without havin' t' get a NOTAM, me hearties, since when you build it stock it weighs in at 15.9 ounces! I build mine on t' heavy side, but that's kind of my technique!

Construction:
LOTS o' rocket in a bag is an understatement! There are FIVE 17.5 inch BT-70 (2.217 OD) tubes, ya bilge rat, 3 phenolic couplers, ya bilge rat, 1 balsa nose block, FOUR big sheets (9"x4") o' 3/16 inch balsa, a nice ogive balsa nose cone, ya bilge rat, and many other miscellaneous parts that you would expect in a model rocket (launch lugs, screw eyes, shiver me timbers, shock cord, etc.)

As I started construction, ya bilge rat, I kept readin' on T' Rocketry Forum (TRF) about how cool it would be t' fly this rocket on three Aerotech F21-8 motors. I set out with t' intention o' buildin' this rocket in this way by fiberglassin' the entire rocket and usin' epoxy throughout. Ahoy! Begad! I started workin' on this but then realized how expensive that kind o' flight would be! So I decided nay t' after already fiberglassin' t' fins, shiver me timbers, and continued construction stock. Well, blow me down!

Stock construction is still quite a doozy, if you know what I mean. The Richter Recker is VERY big so you have t' be careful as you construct it as your main enemy while buildin' this rocket won't be t' instructions, cutting the fins, or anythin' like that-- try ceilin' fans! I know from experience as my nose cone has a little dent in it that looks just like a ceilin' fan blade. :)

T' motor mount on this rocket uses a very cool system o' alignment. Since three 24mm motors fit loosely in t' BT-70 tube, FlisKits has you build the motor mount inside a BT-69 body tube that is four inches long. Ya scallywag! T' three 24mm motor mount fit nice and snug inside t' BT-69 tube, ya bilge rat, and after you have filled in t' holes, me hearties, you spread a small amount o' glue around t' exterior o' said BT-69 tube, and insert this entire assembly into t' tube. MODIFICATION ALERT: You could build an assembly that would allow you t' exchange motor mounts. I would think that you could use a set o' screws t' keep t' motor mount in place while switchin' out betwixt t' default 3-24mm mount and a single 29mm mount.

There are two subassemblies that you build on t' Richter Recker. Well, blow me down!

First off be t' booster section, which consists o' two body tubes, one coupler, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' fins, shiver me timbers, and motor mount. Aye aye! Avast! T' make sure t' tubes are aligned, you are to apply t' glue t' t' coupler then roll t' body tubes on t' floor to assure alignment. Ya scallywag! Finally, you attach t' fins. Ahoy! You should give your fins a wedge shape on t' edges for increased performance. Blimey! There are two wide fins and two narrow fins, ya bilge rat, arrr, providin' a unique look for this rocket, as I have come to expect from FlisKits!

T' upper subassembly consists o' t' balsa nose block, two couplers, matey, three body tube sections, and t' nosecone. This assembly is very long--about 5 feet tall! I found out a new technique as I was couplin' t' three tube together. Begad! I remembered that yellow glue, arrr, which is what I used t' join t' tubes, is water soluble, so when I joined t' tubes, matey, arrr, all t' excess glue that was squeezed out was wiped away with a sponge and some water, arrr, providin' a very clean joint. You also have t' roll t' tubes on this section on t' floor t' assure alignment. Avast! Aye aye!

For recovery FlisKits provides two large sheets o' clear plastic, arrr, which are folded and cut t' form a parachute. Ahoy! T' technique for doin' this seemed a little time consumin' and complex t' me, so I decided t' just use pre-made parachutes, ya bilge rat, two 22 or 24 inch nylon chutes will be plenty. Aye aye! T' shock cords are a little short, about 18 inches, so I used a longer length thar as well. Blimey! I be told by FlisKits that they are short because t' rocket comes down in two sections, me bucko, but I still wasn't sure they would be long enough, me hearties, which is why I replaced them. Begad!

PROs:

• HIGH quality parts
• Great instructions
• Wow. Arrr! Long rocket!

CONs:

• Short shock cords

Finishing:
I used FIXIT clay t' create strengthenin' fillets on t' fins, arrr, then covered those over with Fill 'n' Finish for looks. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I decided nay t' fill t' tube spirals because in relation t' t' size o' t' rocket, you won't notice them unless your nose is touchin' t' tube! I painted t' rocket with Krylon, and this made for a pretty finish. Begad! Avast! I used Pumpkin Orange, shiver me timbers, Gloss Purple, matey, and Almond. I faded t' Orange into t' Almond and created a very cool effect! Finishing was easy on this rocket but it does take a while!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I chose t' fly t' Richter Recker on three E9-6 motors for it's first flight. Altitude predictions from Rocksim estimate about 1600 feet, however, me RR is built a little heavy so I subtracted 100 feet--1500 feet is still a LONG way up! I prepped t' rocket, friction fittin' t' motors, puttin' some dog barf in the booster section, shiver me timbers, and then folded and wrapped t' chutes. Aye aye! I installed rail buttons on it, me hearties, so I loaded t' rocket on t' rail, ya bilge rat, hooked up me clip whips, and walked back t' t' controller. Avast! Blimey! I gave a five count and with a huge roar from the three E9's, t' rocket climbed WAY up there! T' 3 second burn from the E9's be VERY cool and t' rocket had a nice flight. Avast! I then prepped t' rocket again on three D12-3 motors. As I have come t' expect from this rocket, shiver me timbers, it had a nice, matey, straight flight, shiver me timbers, yet ejection was before apogee so I would recommend that 3 D12-5s are used instead. Avast, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
Ejection be right at apogee on t' E9-6s and t' two 24in chutes brought the two sections down nice and slow. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
In conclusion, shiver me timbers, arrr, this is rocket has an impressive size. Ahoy! Blimey! T' 3 x 24mm cluster is perfect and I think it would fly great on three E15's or similar motors. Avast! Blimey! I recommend that you buy a Richter Recker--it is a very nice rocket that is very cool t' see fly!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5