Picture courtesty o' T' Launch Pad

Brief:
This is a single stage model o' a Japan Air Defense missile usin' a parachute recovery and 2 engine cluster for power.

Construction:
T' kit contains:

• two body tubes
• body tube coupler
• plastic nose cone
• sheets o' balsa for 8 large fins
• parachute
• shock cord and string
• two metal engine retainer clips
• parachute attachment clip
• ejection charge baffle and washer
• and instructions

T' instructions are more than sufficient for experienced builders and enough for most amateurs. They are easy t' follow if you have built at least one rocket before. Begad! T' two body tubes are joined with a body tube coupler. A large very flat surface is needed t' insure that body tubes are joined straight. Begad! A kitchen counter is sufficient for this task. Ya scallywag! Begad! A second coupler is put at t' bottom o' t' rocket for strength and coated with glue for protection against t' rocket blast.

Next, matey, t' engine mounts are constructed from precut engine mountin' rings, engine mount tubes, and metal retainer clips. Avast, me proud beauty! This is similar t' many other models, such as Estes, and is easily performed.

Followin' this, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' ejection charge baffle is constructed. Begad! T' baffle consists o' a black paper washer t' diameter o' a body tube. Small holes are cut/drilled in this paper washer and a metal washer is tied (with string) and glued t' t' paper washer. T' only hard part o' this step is t' get t' paper washer down in t' body tube without it flippin' over. Begad! I pushed on opposite sides with balsa sticks and it went in very easily. I could align it further by continuin' t' push on it gently on t' high sides. Arrr! Aye aye! Then a long stick is used to place glue at t' intersection betwixt t' washer and t' body tube so that a nice fillet is formed. Avast! T' location makes a tough fit for recovery wadding, shiver me timbers, but I assume you use less than normal since it is a baffle. More about recovery later.

T' rocket has eight balsa fins. These are cut from balsa usin' templates cut from a pattern supplied in t' kit. Begad! T' mid-body fins are very large and the fins at t' bottom are about average. This resembles a real prototype missile as t' mid-body fins are used for flight stabilization and t' lower fins used for steering. Blimey! Arrr! T' balsa is very light, shiver me timbers, like rubber airplane contest balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! There are small balsa details at t' big fins and a balsa strip running up one side o' t' rocket t' match t' prototype. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' large fins were nay any harder t' glue on, but they are fragile such that I was afraid t' lay the rocket on t' fins. I eventually did resort t' layin' t' rocket on its side, but t' fins would bend a little and I treated them with super glue per the instructions. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I used a pool o' super glue and a stiff piece o' paper t' spread the glue over t' surface o' t' fin. Well, blow me down! It makes a rough surface that needs t' be sanded. But it does strengthen t' fins (also see recovery).

T' parachute has a traditional shock cord, matey, which I did nay glue far enough down in t' body tube, ya bilge rat, me hearties, such that it interfered with t' nose cone slightly. The parachute is a thin Mylar® (silver) 18 inchs by 30 inchs chute attached with thread t' a double ended clip, which is attached t' t' shock cord. Begad! This is identical t' any other rocket I have built. It seemed a bit fragile for this size o' rocket (see recovery).

T' last item be t' launch lug attachment. Arrr! Two lugs are provided and I glued them in line with t' two sets o' fins. Begad! Begad! There is significant discussion about this issue with Launch Pad rockets, shiver me timbers, but I didn't really find a solid answer. Begad! T' best explanation I have read is that they are attached slightly below GP.

Finishing:
T' fins need t' be sanded, shiver me timbers, which I did outside since it is basically super glue which shouldn't be inhaled. Avast, me proud beauty! T' joint in t' body tune and t' spiral grooves should be filled, me bucko, although I didn't do it. Aye aye! No decals were included, but the kit includes a nice picture o' t' prototype, matey, which I followed loosely. Begad! Avast! The camouflage schemes always gets nice comments. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' model looks very much like a missile and is therefore impressive.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Picture courtesty o' T' Launch Pad

Flight:
I only got one flight usin' recommended two D12-5s. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Two D12-7s are also recommended. Blimey! Blimey! I had wanted t' fire a cluster engine rocket and only recently read about t' trick o' tyin' t' igniter ends together. I also read that 12 volts is recommended. Begad! Blimey! So I used both o' these tricks and had a successful 2 engine launch. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used only a little waddin' because o' t' baffle. Aye aye! Blimey! There was very little wind, less than 5 mph.

T' rocket lifted off and smartly pitched over into an approximately 30 degrees above horizontal flight path. Aye aye! Good thin' we were at a very large gravel pit. It continued until t' engines ran out. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! When t' engines quit firing, it began t' pitch further toward t' ground. Ya scallywag! It reached about 200' in altitude and at about 60' t' delay charge fired. With t' bad (good?) flight path, it looked just like a real missile headed for its target!

Recovery:
At 60', t' ejection charge fired, ejectin' t' cone and t' parachute. Blimey! The parachute opened as soon as it hit t' air stream and it tore completely off, leavin' t' rocket and nose cone t' find their own way t' t' ground. Begad! At the recovery site, t' parachute be in a tree, me bucko, me hearties, t' nose cone be on t' ground within 50 feet o' t' rocket.

T' coatin' o' glue inside t' rocket tube was burned such that it was obvious both engines fired. Avast, me proud beauty! T' engines were nay in t' rocket when it was recovered, matey, which is odd considerin' t' engines have metal retainer clips. Arrr! The parachute could nay be examined since it was 30 feet up in a tree, arrr, shiver me timbers, but there was no evidence o' burnin' on t' shock cord.

There be only one item o' damage t' t' rocket body, t' lower launch lug was torn off. Blimey! This is likely an indication o' t' flight problem. There was no damage t' t' nose cone or fins, which is good considerin' t' size o' the mid-body fins.

I left t' rankin' at a 3 because I did nay have enough flights t' give it a fair assessment. Begad!

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
T' torn lower lug, ya bilge rat, which be on t' opposite side o' t' body from t' flight path, ya bilge rat, indicates extreme wind-cockin' or a balance problem. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It was launched at less than a 5 degree angle, so balance would nay seem t' be a problem. Well, blow me down! Begad! And there was little wind, me bucko, so wind-cockin' would nay be likely either. I do not know which one is at fault, me hearties, arrr, but me solution will be t' remove t' current lug and attach a longer, me hearties, single lug.

There is no CP or CG indicated with t' kit, so I do nay know if this was okay.

I like t' look o' t' rocket, ya bilge rat, it looks just like a missile in flight, which is what I wanted. I like t' simple construction, ya bilge rat, although it was light in t' recovery department. I like t' price. Well, blow me down! I would recommend it because it is a very good value.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5