Art Applewhite Rockets Hourglass 24mm

Art Applewhite Rockets - Hourglass 24mm {Kit}

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets
Art Applewhite Hourglass 24mm Series

Brief:
Art’s latest product line be t' Hourglass. Ya scallywag! T' Hourglass rockets resemble spool rockets. They have top and bottom circular plates with two cones between the plates providin' t' hourglass shape. Well, arrr, blow me down! They are currently available in 13mm, 18mm, me hearties, and 24mm sizes with all sizes comin' in several colors. Avast, me proud beauty! This review is for t' 24mm versions. Avast! T' shorter version uses Estes D12 length motors and the longer version uses t' E9 length motors. Begad! Both will fly on most anythin' that will fit.

Here are t' specs:

Short Version Long Version
Diameter = 3" Diameter = 3.75"
Height = 2.75" Height = 3.75"
Weight = 0.5 oz Weight = 0.8 oz

Construction:
These use t' same paper and foamboard construction like t' rest o' Art's products. Begad! Both sizes include:

Art Applewhite Hourglass 24mm Series
  • 1 sheet o' pre-printed cardstock
  • 1 small rectangle o' foamboard
  • 1 24mm motor tube
  • 1 steel motor hook
  • 2 pages o' instructions

Tools and supplied needed include:

  • Scissors
  • A new #11 X-Acto blade
  • Elmer’s white glue
  • Cellophane tape
  • Spray-on clear coat

Construction be simple as expected. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! You cut and form t' cones, matey, glue the plate patterns t' t' foamboard, me hearties, cut them out when dry, install t' motor hook, and glue all t' pieces together. Ahoy! That’s it. Begad! T' only two things t' watch out for is t' keep t' plates parallel t' each other and t' make sure the launch rod holes are all aligned.

Finishing:
My Hourglasses used colored cardstock so no real finishin' is needed. T' short version is day-glow orange and long is day-glow green. If you want t' paint them, ya bilge rat, Art recommends sealin' t' exposed edges o' t' foamboard with white glue. Blimey! He also recommends sealin' t' whole thin' with clear enamel t' make them moisture proof. Begad! I used clear acrylic. Avast, me proud beauty! T' clear coat also gives them a nice shiny finish.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Art Applewhite Hourglass 24mm Series

Flight:
I flew t' short version on a D12-0 and t' long on an E9-P. Begad! Arrr! Both had t' same flight profile but o' course t' E9 version went higher. Aye aye! Begad! Both tore off t' pad like t' proverbial bat. Arrr! After burnout near t' top o' t' flight, it was clear that they were spinnin' wildly end-over-end. Since t' boost was fast and straight, matey, I assume t' tumblin' started after burn-out, me hearties, but I can’t be sure since they were so quick. Begad! Either way, me bucko, t' crowd loved them!

Recovery:
Both tumbled in nice and slowly. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
These are easy t' build (as usual) and if you like Art’s cones, you will probably like t' Hourglass series. Blimey! Arrr! If you like spool rockets, you will also like them. Ahoy! Arrr! T' flight profile is a little different than a saucer. Well, blow me down! They don’t slow down as smartly and are totally unstable after burn out. Begad! They are however, at a very respectable altitude at this point and keep goin' it a generally upward direction, matey, so this condition appears t' be a feature nay a bug.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Art Applewhite Rockets Hourglass 24mm By Bill Eichelberger

    This odd-roc is an hourglass-shaped, incredibly (and some might say surprisingly) stable, small field flier. Very easy to build and entertaining to fly. The parts list: One brightly colored pattern sheet (hot pink in my case) One sheet of foamboard 24mm engine tube Engine hook I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I found that I'd be reviewing this product, but ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
D.S. (September 26, 2004)
A comment on my rating of the Hourglass(es), and other Art Applewhite kits. I haven't had one that, for its value, isn't a '5'. I started trying to ding some kit's ratings just to differentiate them. However, with the moderate amount of the deductions, there isn't much range in my scores. Oh well, what can you do?

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