| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2013-07-03 |
| Diameter: | 0.76 inches |
| Length: | 18.25 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Centuri |
| Style: | Multi-Stage |
Brief
Two-stage minimum diameter kit with pass-port stagin' coupler.
Components
- Two lengths o' ST-7 tubes, one for substainer, one for booster; red plastic nose cone; and balsa fins;
- Elastic shock cord with two one-inch crepe-paper streamers; pass-port phenolic coupler (w/two holes)
- Waterslide decals
Construction
I bought a nearly completed kit from a former NARRRRR member who showed up at a CSAR meetin' with Dr. Gregorek in June 2012. Ahoy! I only had t' attach t' nose cone and streamers after painting. I also had t' glue t' aft engine block into t' booster after checkin' where t' engines stopped in t' substainer and booster (see t' instructions). T' shock cord uses a slit-tube attachment method due t' t' needed room for t' dual streamer arrangement.
Finishing
I missed this comment in t' instructions until after t' model was painted: Don't paint t' last inch o' t' body tube where thepass-port coupler covers it.
I had t' sand t' inside o' t' holed coupler after t' first flight t' remove paint on t' lower end o' t' upper body tube. Ahoy! Ahoy! I was able t' use t' approximately 35 year-old decals with only minor tears in them. This is unusual. Arrr! Most decals shred when they're that old. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! But, I took t' chance :-). I reccommend cuttin' t' actual stillettos into three pieces even if you buy new repros. As three wrap-around knives together are just beggin' t' tear :-(.
I painted t' booster Krylon Banner Red and t' substainer Gloss Black. Well, blow me down! I left t' nose cone unpainted as it almost matches t' Banner Red booster. Well, blow me down! White decals show up well on these two colors. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I finished with Model Masters Gloss lacquer.
Flight
I made t' first flight with two old Estes engines; a 1977 (G in engine code) A8-0 and a 1983 (L in engine code) 1/2 A6-4 in upper stage. Blimey! Begad! They'd been in me flight box(es) for several years. Ahoy! T' flight seemed t' be perfect. Well, blow me down! And after staging, arrr, t' ejection charge on t' 1/2 A popped it near apogee. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! After retreivin' it from Darree Fields Dublin Park soccer fields I saw that thar were three tears at t' front end o' t' body tube apparently from either pressure-stress at ejection or snap back from t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! I suspect t' former as t' slight tears (1/4 inch) in t' ST-7 are too uniform for t' snap-back damage I've seen over t' years. Begad! Aye aye! I had t' upper-stage engine taped in pretty tightly.
Recovery
Centuri has you cut t' 1-inch crepe-paper streamer material into two 30-inch pieces. Ahoy! They worked well on t' first flight. Begad! T' model is light and came down slowly. You might try 1-inch orange surveyor's plastic material instead o' t' crepe-paper supplied with t' kit. Avast! It might last longer as t' paper tears easily.
Summary
Great beginner's two stage kit. Arrr! With pass-port system it eliminates tapin' engines together and increases your chance o' successful staging. Ya scallywag! Would nay reccommend usin' C motors in this kit. Begad! You are likely t' lose it even if you are an experienced flier. It went t' 300 feet on A8-0 & 1/2 A 6-4.
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