Centuri Mach 10 (Clone)

Centuri - Mach 10 {Plan}

Contributed by Bob Hvarven

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Published: 2010-08-17
Manufacturer: Centuri

Brief:
Mig 15 lookin' Boost-Glider with a Streamer recovery nose cone that is jettisoned and Glider recovery o' main rocket. Ya scallywag! Made by Century around 1972.

 

Construction:
Construction had some "Guesses" associated with it as t' plans were nay for scratch buildin' but, came as an instruction sheet for a factory kit with all tubes cut t' length and ready for assembly. T' sheets came with a template o' t' wings and tail assembly that helped some. Aye aye! There was a few measurements mentioned and t' rest was guesswork.

Rocket PicRocket PicRocket Pic

T' rocket was easy t' build and quite a bit o' fun. I hate that today's kits are so "Pre-Fab". Begad! It takes a lot o' t' fun out o' buildin' a rocket. Everythin' is pretty straight forward in construction, and t' designers did a good job in t' sturdiness area as well. Ahoy! No surprises, shiver me timbers, and no "Special Tools" needed. Ahoy! Exacto, sandpaper, glue, shiver me timbers, matey, ya bilge rat, a BT 60 and some other stray pieces most o' us have layin' around. Need a package o' those little NC20 nose cones, and two o' t' small ones like used on t' Mosquito for t' belly tank.

Finishing:
I didn't use any finish on me rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! T' plans say t' NOT use fillers if you do plan t' paint. Avast! I painted t' nose cones orange t' see them better.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended motors are t' A and B short delays 2-3 sec. Arrr! Preparation is like any other rocket, me bucko, placin' t' motor in t' small inside tube and puttin' in an ignitor. Arrr! T' motor tube uses a standard Estes style motor retainer clip. Since t' small internal nose cone comes out, t' tube needs waddin' and a streamer for recovery. Arrr! Arrr! T' plans call this nose cone t' "Target Marker" - I call it "Hard T' Find".

Rocket PicRocket PicRocket Pic

First launch be fairly straight. Ya scallywag! Second be a little interesting. Begad! T' rocket needs t' be launched with some rod angle due t' t' vertical fin configuration which is very "Draggey" and wants t' pull t' rocket like an elevator on a real airplane. Begad! Aye aye! At burnout t' nose cone is ejected, matey, and t' rest has a "Type" o' glide. Ya scallywag! Arrr! It is fairly fast and nay a duration glider. It took three flights t' get t' nose weight right and once it glides well - leave it alone. Tryin' t' remove weight t' slow glide and increase duration will only make it worse, nay better. Begad! It will! take some adjusting.

Recovery:
Recovery is a fast glide for rocket with streamer recovery for nose cone. Avast! It is very durable and it takes a lickin' and comes back for more. Begad! I did break off t' vertical fin on one flight when it hit me metal shed. Begad! A little glue and it be flyin' again. Blimey! Glide is fairly straight and when I used a C with 3 Sec. delay it went about 1/16 o' a mile (Away from me) After nearly a dozen flights, me bucko, me bucko, you can't see any noticeable wear. Arrr! It should last a long time.

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
Rocket is easy t' build, yet fun. I liked t' buildin' o' t' rocket, and t' fact it is nay a straight tube with fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! It looks neat, and is a real attention getter. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is well designed for durability, and easy t' fix if damaged. Arrr! Blimey! It would be nice if t' glide be a little slower and you could trim for a circlin' flight.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

 

 

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