Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Apogee Components |
Description: Single staged 10.5mm motor (1/4 A through A in Apogee motors) rocket that is a minute scale model o' t' V2. Begad!
Pros and cons o' construction: All parts specified were thar and undamaged. Ahoy! I got t' kit less than a week after I ordered it, me bucko, and it was securely packed in styrofoam popcorn in a strong postal box. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood. T' tail cone is also balsa, with a 10.5mm bore predrilled t' accept t' 10.5mm motor tube. T' body tube and motor tube are spiral wound paper. Blimey! T' launch lug is plastic and is for 1/8 inch rods. Arrr! The streamer is 17 inches o' 1 inch wide plastic. T' fins are die cut balsa.
Instructions are clear, ya bilge rat, illustrated and logical. Well, blow me down! Blimey! You also get a historical essay on t' original V2, and how its capture from t' Germans helped our space program.
Assembly be easy and quick. Ya scallywag! Blimey! You do have t' align t' 4 fins, but that's not hard. Begad! Blimey! T' shock cord is thin Keelhaul®©™®-like strin' o' 20 inches in length. Ahoy! Aye aye! It fits into a plastic bead that glues into t' hole predrilled into t' base o' the nose cone. Me, I prefer screw-eyes, matey, but this seemed t' work fine. Well, blow me down! Also, if you've seen me other reviews, me bucko, then you know that I have a thin' for stretchy shock cords, me bucko, too. Avast! But this one worked without a hitch. I attached it into the forward centerin' rin' in t' motor mount. Blimey! Arrr! White glue was used for assembly, but epoxy was used t' glass up t' fins and make them durable. It was also used to glass and smoothen t' nose cone. Yellow spray paint was used as a primer. Well, blow me down! Avast! I was about t' apply green, when me cat, ya bilge rat, Freeway, me hearties, grabbed t' rocket and ran with it. Begad! Ahoy! I decided, arrr, after findin' it again, t' fly it as is.
Pros and cons o' finishing: A simple paint job is enough. Avast, me proud beauty! I chose t' glass t' fins out o' personal preference. Begad! Aye aye! It's also a habit from high power rocketry. A green camouflage paint job will be applied this week, even though me cat likes it yellow. Begad! Ahoy! Maybe green will make me lose it! At least yellow is easy t' find. Begad!
Ratin' for construction and finishing: 4 out o' 5
Pros and cons about flight: Apogee recommends their 1/4 A through A line, me bucko, me bucko, namely t' 1/4A2-2 or 4, 1/2A2-2 or 4 and t' A2-3 or 5 . T' shorter delays are recommended if it's breezy. Begad! Me, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used an A2-5, as it be a still day t' likes o' which only Phoenix can achieve. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' prep time be just seconds. Begad! A pinch o' worm bed waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motor and it be ready. Avast! And t' Apogee igniters fit right into t' motor. Begad! T' flight was fast. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! A FWIT sound and it was gone, me hearties, high and straight. Good thin' it be yellow or else I'd have lost it for sure. I luckily saw t' streamer. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Maybe an itsy bitsy parachute would increase hang time and help me find it next time. Knowing my luck, though, I'll catch a thermal. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!
Pros and cons about recovery: (17" streamer) It was easy t' assemble. Blimey! It worked just fine, without any damage or burnin' t' the rocket. Aye aye! Arrr!
Ratin' o' flight and recovery: 4 out o' 5
Anythin' this kit taught me: Keep your kits away from your pets. Blimey! Ya scallywag! More seriously, arrr, I learned about t' history o' t' real V2. Arrr! I enjoyed that. Avast, me proud beauty!
Apogee - Micro V2 ( Contributed - by Frank Burke) The kit came bagged nicely with a nice set of instructions. The body and tail tube were a nice quality white tube, but the body tube wasn't cut cleanly. I re-cut the ends and CA'd them for toughness. The tail cone is pre drilled, and other than needing some sanding on the end to square it up, and to make it fit into the body tube, ...