Apogee Components Hydra

Apogee Components - Hydra {Kit}

Contributed by Moira Jean Whitlock

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 0.95 inches
Manufacturer: Apogee Components
Style: Cluster, Payload

[Rocket Pict]Brief:  This is a three finned egglofter designed for NARRRRR eggloftin' competitions.

Construction: Everythin' arrived undamaged and all t' parts were there. T' fins are precut balsa. Blimey! T' fins are precut balsa. Begad! Aye aye! T' body tube is spiral wound paper as be t' motor tube and two sets o' centerin' rings. Begad!   There is a balsa launch lug offset, as t' nose cone is much wider than t' body. Ya scallywag! T' launch lug is 1/8 inch, thin plastic, shiver me timbers, matey, like a drinkin' straw. T' parachute is 24 inches in diameter and is thin black plastic. Aye aye! Its six shroud lines are nylon thread and are affixed t' t' chute via adhesive paper donut shaped reinforcements. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' nose cone is thin hollow plastic with a groove in t' middle t' allow cutting, t' open it and place in cargo. Aye aye! Arrr! T' nose cone fits into t' body tube with two centerin' rings around its neck. Avast, me proud beauty! One o' t' rings also serves t' anchor t' shock cord and chute.

Finishing: There were no decals, matey, so I finished it with green Monokote and silver craft paper available from many hobby stores.   T' nose cone is black, me bucko, me hearties, and I left it unpainted. Begad! I spray painted t' fins and balsa offset yellow. Avast, me proud beauty! It looks unusual t' say t' least. Begad!   There are two complete aft ends with fins and engine mounts and blocks.   They have t' same fin design each, matey, only t' one with 3 engines uses wedge fin attachment like me LOC 4-29SS does. Ya scallywag! With couplers and tape, shiver me timbers, t' ends are interchangeable and will stay in place.  

Construction Rating: 4

Flight: I flew t' rocket first with t' 18mm choice, ya bilge rat, and used an Estes A8-3 and no payload. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It flew straight and recovered smoothly, but unloaded, ya bilge rat, it nearly drifted out o' reach, comin' t' rest in a tree. I had t' climb up and get it. Begad! Blimey!  

Apogee recommends this engine as well as t' A6-4, shiver me timbers, B4-4, matey, B6-4, C4-5, C6-3, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and C10-4 for loaded use, but unloaded use a C6-5, arrr, C10-7, me hearties, and D3-5.   For t' cluster mount, me bucko, use three 1/2A2-2, me bucko, A2-3, and B2-3 loaded, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and unloaded, matey, arrr, use B2-5 and B2-7. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I haven't flown it loaded yet, arrr, but suspect that t' weight will make recovery shorter and nay treeward! 

I used a couple pinches o' worm bed wadding. Avast! Begad! If you don't know what this is, it's dry recycled newspaper cellulose puffs that are great t' breed nightcrawlers in, hence its name. Ahoy! This stuff is better than paper sheets in protectin' plastic chutes. T' chute here is unburnt.   Tape bands are sufficient t' retain t' engines. Blimey! I use black electrical tape t' close t' nose cone because it matches t' color and looks good.

Recovery: T' shock cord is 18 inches o' Keelhaul®©™ threading, affixed inside t' body tube with a folded paper mount. Ya scallywag! It be easy t' assemble.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary: Unusual looks, easy t' assemble, choice o' usin' one or three engines.

Overall Rating: 4

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