Squirrel Works Cloud Warrior

Squirrel Works - Cloud Warrior {Kit}

Contributed by Chan Stevens

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Length: 24.13 inches
Manufacturer: Squirrel Works
Style: Multi-Stage
Squirrel Works Cloud Warrior

Brief:
A nice-lookin' and easy t' build 2-stage rocket from Squirrel Works. This rocket really screams into t' higher altitudes.

Construction:
I ordered this directly from Squirrel-works.com, and everythin' arrived just a couple o' days later in great shape. Ya scallywag! T' components were o' good quality, especially t' practically seamless body tube and t' water-slide decals.

Parts list includes:

  • BT-50 body tube 18"
  • BT-50 booster tube
  • Balsa nose cone
  • 2 BT-20 motor tubes
  • Tube coupler
  • Balsa fin stock (laser cut)
  • Centerin' rings, shock cord, streamer
  • Water-slide decal

T' instructions on this were well illustrated, me hearties, clearly written (in a relatively large font size--an added plus!), and easy t' follow. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! T' first part of t' construction be t' booster assembly, me hearties, which is a straightforward BT-20 mounted inside a BT-50 usin' a pair o' centerin' rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Everythin' fit very well, no sandin' or trimmin' be necessary. Begad! Blimey! T' tube coupler is then glued into the BT-50, which enables direct stagin' t' t' sustainer.

Squirrel Works Cloud Warrior Fins are then pulled and sanded from t' laser-cut sheets provided. I'm nay sure if this is a gotcha on t' laser-cut fins, t' directions, or my less-than-perfectly-identical sandin' job, shiver me timbers, but t' booster fins are designed to nest snugly against t' sustainer fins, me bucko, givin' t' illusion o' a single-stage rocket on t' pad. Blimey! I didn't catch this until after I'd glued on t' booster fins, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and was tryin' t' make sure t' sustainer fins were aligned (usin' a steel ruler and clothes pins as an alignment jig). My fins had slight gaps, shiver me timbers, for a less than perfect appearance. Well, blow me down! I'd suggest a note in t' instructions prior to sanding, matey, matey, plus an illustration o' t' interlockin' design, arrr, so that t' builder uses caution for best fit.

T' upper stage gets t' same BT-20 motor mount with a pair o' centering rings, matey, plus an engine block centerin' ring. Tack on t' launch lug, matey, glue a screw eye t' t' nose cone, and install t' streamer and you're ready t' prep for paint. Begad! I have t' din' this kit a half a point though, matey, for t' standard modroc weakness o' elastic shock cord and tri-fold paper mount. Avast! Ya scallywag! I really prefer Keelhaul®©™® runnin' from t' motor mount t' t' end o' t' tube, matey, me hearties, followed by elastic, me bucko, and made this modification t' me kit (estimated cost $0.12).

Finishing:
Fillin' t' spirals on this was a breeze, me bucko, ya bilge rat, as t' seams were miniscule. Ahoy! I was able do effectively kill them with a coat o' primer, sanded off with 220 grit. I then followed up with two coats o' primer and two coats o' gloss white Krylon. Avast! T' standard color scheme on this has very appealin' red and yellow accents, matey, which I went with on mine. Begad! Although t' humidity level was up a bit that week, I didn't quite get t' gloss I expected. Still, me hearties, it turned out fairly well. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! After allowin' t' paint t' cure out for a couple o' days, I applied the water-slide decals. Avast! T' color quality o' t' decals be superb, however, matey, arrr, I did manage t' tear a corner o' one o' mine. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! They're pretty fragile, so be careful with them.

One "gotcha" I ran into on t' finishing: I applied a coat of Krylon Gloss clear coat, arrr, which did nay react well t' t' decals. They cracked a little bit and faded significantly. I'd recommend either Testors', Frog Spit, or Future polish t' protect t' finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, I went with a B6-0 t' B6-6. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' two stages are taped together and then loaded into t' upper stage, arrr, with t' boost slipped over the boost motor. I slipped it over t' 1/8" rod and hit t' go button.

T' booster really sent this screaming, matey, shiver me timbers, matey, and it climbed in a real hurry. Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, I didn't get t' upper stage t' light, and t' sustainer came down ballistic from a couple hundred feet. It plugged into soft grass, though in a section o' field over 3-feet high, so I had a long search.

T' damage was minor, considerin' t' fall--about 1/4" o' tube crinkled, and t' motor mount broke loose. Ya scallywag! Repairs won't take more than about 30 minutes, and I'll be ready for a second attempt.

Recovery:
I can't really comment on t' recovery yet, arrr, but I will say t' streamer seems a bit short, only about 2 feet long. Begad! Ahoy! Considerin' t' altitudes this can achieve, a larger streamer would help for spottin' it. Begad! Avast!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I love t' color scheme and decals, liked t' interlockin' fin design (though wish it had been more clearly pointed out in t' instructions), and impressed with t' rocket overall.

I would definitely recommend this 2-stager and would definitely buy from Squirrel Works again.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Squirrel Works Cloud Warrior By James Gartrell

    Excellent 2-stage rocket with tumble recovery for the booster and with the sustainer recovering on a gold mylar streamer; beautiful flights on B/B, B/C or C/C motor combinations. The kit contains: BT-50 sustainer and booster tubes 2 laser cut mated balsa 3 fin sets each for both booster and sustainer 4 CR-2050 cardboard centering rings 2 standard BT-20 motor mount cardboard ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
D.M. (June 22, 2008)
First, it's "Cloud Warrior" not "Cloud Warrier" Second, the upper and lower stage fins do nest into each other. Step 6 of the instructions tell you to check the fit before gluing them to the body tube.

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