- Flies over 1200 feet (365 meters)!
- Precision parts - easy t' construct.
- 3/32" Balsa sheet for fins.
- Molded white plastic nose cone.
- 9" Body Tube.
- 18" Streamer for recovery.
- Launch lug
| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2011-08-10 |
| Manufacturer: | SureFire Rockets  |
Brief
Custom build and decorate your own 13" model rocket with t' Explorer X-13 kit. Aye aye! SureFire Rockets has brought a new concept. Arrr! T' Explorer X-13 be t' first in a line o' rockets that gives t' student control over both t' look and design o' his/her rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' Explorer does nay include instructions or cut rocket fins. Begad! You create and cut out your own fin design, or you can download a fin template from their website. By eliminatin' many o' t' high cost associated with producin' rockets, ya bilge rat, SureFire Rockets is able t' offer this kit at a lower cost.
Components
Construction
This is a beginner's kit that lets t' builder's imagination run wild. No instructions are provided. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' builder is on his own. Begad! Arrr! T' novice can download a fin template off t' manufacturer's website. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Simple cardboard motor mount and hook, body tube, balsa sheet, plastic nosecone and elastic shock cord.
If you have never built a model rocket before, you may run into some trouble. Begad! Ahoy! You need t' have built at least one rocket with instructions in order t' know how t' assemble t' motor and shock cord mount.
My kit came with a blue streamer, but I ordered a replacement red streamer. Avast! Here is why: My wife is fan o' t' "Jaws" films, so I wanted t' try and make a shark lookin' rocket for her t' launch. Avast! T' red streamer seemed logical. Avast, me proud beauty! My inspiration came from t' OOP "Arc Shark" rocket. Ahoy! From a picture I found online, ya bilge rat, I tried t' reproduce t' fin shape and placement. T' provided balsa sheet provided more than enough wood for four fins, me hearties, two flippers and a dorsal fin. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' nose cone was a two piece type, which requires plastic glue.
Finishing
I finished this rocket with a quick coat o' Krylon gloss white. Avast, me proud beauty! After drying, I masked off t' areas I did nay want painted, and sprayed over t' remainin' areas with Krylon gloss grey. Avast, me proud beauty! I then hand painted t' gills, arrr, eyes, nostrils and jaws.
Construction Score: 4
Flight
Since thar are no instructions, thar are no manufacturer's recommended motors. However, matey, since it has a 18mm motor mount, it will accept A, ya bilge rat, B, me bucko, or C engines. Begad! I would suggest stayin' with A class engines if you do nay want a lost model. I have nay flown this model yet. Arrr! Will update after flight.
Recovery
18" streamer is provided and seems adequate. Well, blow me down! Probably room for a 6" optional parachute if so desired.
Flight Rating:
Summary
This is cheap and simple rocket, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but ironically it isn't for t' first time builder because thar are no instructions. This is a great second rocket. Avast! Blimey! For experienced builders, arrr, this kit provides a cheap way t' experiment without havin' t' buy bulk packs o' body tubes, matey, shiver me timbers, nose cones, me hearties, etc. Avast! Well, blow me down! Since me "Sky Shark" was a success, I may try t' scratch build a larger version.
Pros: Cheap and expendable. Arrr! Perfect for experimentation. Ya scallywag! Good quality materials.
Cons: No instructions prohibit this kit for a first time modeler.
Suggestion would be t' offer instructions for optional download as well as t' fin template.
Overall Rating: 4
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Flights
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Joseph Olexa (August 12, 2011)
At the Hobbylinc website, you can download the instructions and various fin patterns to use for this rocket by clicking on the rocket to get more info. The download links are somewhat at the bottom of the page, and include four fin designs as well as the instructions. I haven't been to the manufacturer website to see if they have downloads, I downloaded mine from Hobbylinc where I bought it. This same rocket is also available on Ebay, but the download links don't work the last time I tried it on the auction page a few months ago, I had to go to Hobbylinc.
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Dan Castle (August 10, 2011)
Nice job! It looks amazingly like the Advanced Rocketry Corporation (ARC) Shark model.