Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | The Launch Pad |
However, ya bilge rat, Bein' a bit o' a construction rebel, arrr, I am never happy with a Plain Jane construction process. Avast! Blimey! T' Actual Nike Ajax flew as a staged missile, and I wanted mine to mimic t' actual vehicle as close as possible. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Therefore, me hearties, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, mine will be a stagin' project with a three motor booster and a single motor sustainer. Begad! Blimey! The sustainer ignition will be accomplished with a PerfectFlite Mini Timer, and all chute deployments will be accomplished by motor ejection.
Finally, me bucko, I would have t' add that one should nay expect t' be able to contact t' manufacturer for any assistance on this or any Launch Pad kit. Conversation amongst various rocketry communities and retailers often begin with; Is T' Launch Pad still in business? Several attempts to contact t' manufacturer concernin' construction questions always resulted in no response. Blimey!
Construction:
Packagin' is typical Launch Pad: soft plastic bag. Blimey! I have no complaints. Begad! Begad! All
parts were present and in good shape.
A part inventory is nay included so I will try t' provide me best recollection o' what is included. Begad! Plus parts needed for me staging modification.
Manufacturer included parts are:
Interstage coupler |
Lookin' into t' Interstage Coupler. Blimey! Blimey! Sustainer Motor Mount and Baffle is on its left. |
Makin' and sandin' t' wirin' tunnels is a tedious task. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I decided t' best approach be t' cement t' tunnel ends together and sand them as a assembled unit. Avast! Blimey! That way t' 45 degree chamfered edge is uniform.
Finishing:
I finished me rocket with three coats o' Blitz primer. Ahoy! This sealed remaining
wood grains and tube spirals. I then followed t' booster up with three coats
of Krylon Satin Green, t' interstage received three coats o' Gloss Gray, and
sustainer received three coats o' Gloss White. No tapin' was required since I
painted each section as a separate unit. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Since mine was staged this is easy to
do. Begad! If you choose nay t' stage, shiver me timbers, I think you could still paint in this method by
holdin' off on gluin' t' interstage in place till after t' paintin' is
finished.
No Decals are included in any Launch Pad Kit that I am aware of. Ahoy! This did not impose any problem. For t' less ambitious assembly, me hearties, one can make the minimum decal markings with relatively inexpensive press-on adhesive lettering. This is actually mentioned in t' instructions. Avast! Since I be after realism I visited Jim Balls Scale Data web site and downloaded t' drawings illustratin' t' actual markings. I then purchased some water-slide ink-jet decal paper and printed me own decals. Well, blow me down! For those interested in t' actual markings I used, see Jim Balls Scale data web site.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight/Recovery:
Moments after liftoff on a three motor cluster o' Estes E9-4 motors. |
Preparation o' t' stock kit requires waddin' in t' sustainer t' protect your Mylar chutes. Since me staged version incorporated a baffle in the sustainer, I only required waddin' in t' booster (see pictures).
I used t' included Estes style motor clips and then wrapped one windin' of maskin' tape around t' motor and clip for security.
Moments after stagin' is completed. Blimey! Blimey! Booster be t' other light smoke trail to left o' sustainer's smoke trail. |
I thought with all that lumber hangin' off t' sustainer and booster somethin' would certainly break off. Blimey! Ahoy! I believe t' Mylar supplied chutes barely meet t' recovery demands of such a big rocket with so much fin area. Aye aye! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Since I recovered in stages with big Nylon chutes, shiver me timbers, everythin' came back pristine.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
Overall, shiver me timbers, arrr, this rocket is pricey, me bucko, (sorry Launch Pad). I dont believe the
parts should command a $53.99 retail price. Ahoy! However, this is probably my
favorite kit t' date. Blimey! I also believe that it is a fairly easy kit t' scratch
build. Ahoy! In t' survival durability area, arrr, shiver me timbers, I cant stress enough the
importance t' follow t' instructions on applyin' CA t' t' fin material. The
payoffs are big when you have that much lumber hangin' from such a tall rocket.
Ratings:
A Strong 4+
I like this kit and would give it a 5 except for three areas I believe it cries
for change in. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! First, me hearties, shiver me timbers, this kit needs t' be staged! Second, at this price a
decal package should be included. Aye aye! Finally, Manufacturer support o' some sort
would be nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty!
PerfectFlite Mini Timer Assembly and six cell, matey, AAA, NiMH battery pack. Complete assembly is mounted in t' nose cone area and serves as ballast. Aye aye! Ahoy! Thus no further ballast is needed. |
T' followin' excerpt is
from "Sport Rocketry". Blimey! T' intention is t' allow guests t' get a
basic feelin' about a kit. Blimey! We strongly suggest that you get a copy o' the
referenced Sport Rocketry and read t' entire article. Avast! Well, blow me down! Inside you will find
many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. Begad! Avast! For
more information, use t' two links above.
"Top notch computer generated instructions, arrr, laser cut discs,
pre-cut tubing, me hearties, shiver me timbers, engine clips, me hearties, me bucko, Mylar parachutes, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, fabric shock cord, ya bilge rat, fin
templates, and first rate balsa combine t' make a detailed, me bucko, challenging, matey, and
rewardin' kit."
"Fin installation is critical on all model rockets, but this Ajax, having
fifteen fins t' install and align, requires extra patience and
care."
"My biggest problem was makin' t' wirin' tunnels."
"T' Ajax kit uses three 18 inch diameter metallized Mylar parachutes that
are complete with color-coordinated shroud lines and snap and barrel
swivels."
"Usin' two D12-5's and one D12-0 in t' booster and one D12-5 in the
missile . Aye aye! . Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Blimey! ."
". Begad! . Avast, me proud beauty! . Ya scallywag! Avast! t' Missile/booster combination flew dead straight, and the
staging, matey, parachute ejection, matey, and recovery were perfect."
". Well, blow me down! . Begad! . Aye aye! it is great fun t' build, t' instructions are excellent, shiver me timbers, and the
final product is well worth t' time spent."
T' entire article gives t' impression is that it is a nice scale model for t' experienced, patient modeler.
* SPECIAL NOTE off o' RMR from Chuck Barndt, President o' T' Launch Pad
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R.W. (May 1, 2000)