| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2014-01-06 |
| Manufacturer: | Rocketarium |
| Style: | Scale |
Brief
Great lookin' rocket with eight fins and a boat tail. Arrr! It also has a unique cable tunnel balsa piece that attaches t' t' body tube.
Components
T' kit comes with two (3?) pieces o' 1/8" balsa wood. Aye aye! T' wood is sturdy though soft. Also included are several templates: fins (4 large forward fins, me bucko, and 4 smaller aft fins), a fin guide for fin placement on t' body tube, arrr, t' cable tunnel assembly, shiver me timbers, and t' boat tail cone. T' kit has an elastic shock cord, shiver me timbers, a plastic nose cone, arrr, ya bilge rat, a 15" plastic parachute, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and a large block o' clay/putty. Ya scallywag! T' directions are thorough and straight forward. Ahoy! A large picture o' t' completed rocket provides a backup for any misguided parts assembly.
Construction
I enjoyed buildin' this kit. Ahoy! T' instructions are good and clear. No special tools are required. Arrr! You need t' be careful before cuttin' t' balsa that you have laid out t' templates t' fit on t' wood. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I mistakenly forgot t' cut t' cable tunnel assembly from t' stock and had t' use some extra balsa from an Estes Designer kit. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I also used a stiffer card board (#110) for t' boat tail shroud. Arrr! T' shock cord is attached usin' an Estes-type attachment. Aye aye! Arrr! Make sure t' cord attachment is at least 2" inside t' body tube t' allow for t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! No problems here.
Finishing
In order t' balance t' kit, all o' t' clay/putty provided should be put into t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! I did this and covered it with West systems epoxy. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Given t' plastic nose cone, arrr, arrr, me hearties, I think epoxy should be used, arrr, but 5 minute epoxy is likely fine. Ahoy! T' nose cone feels pretty heavy after all this, but I checked t' CG and CP after completin' construction and t' weight appears right. Blimey!
I finished t' fins by paperin' them usin' techniques I saw on t' Rocketry Forum. (http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?42250-Balsa-technique-question&highlight=double+glue+joints). Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This adds strength and acts as a filler/finish for painting. As I mentioned, matey, t' balsa was soft though thick, matey, ya bilge rat, so paperin' these fins be very useful. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Paperin' is a technique I like... Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! t' me it's easier than Elmer's wood filler, and I don't get t' warpin' I usually get from t' filler. Ahoy! Blimey!
After paperin' and addin' t' cable tunnel assembly piece, I glued everyin' together with Titebond wood glue. Then I paint a first coat with Rustoleum gray filler primer. Blimey! After this I sand with 400 grit paper. Begad! I paint again with Rustoleum white flat primer, and wet sand with 400 grit paper. Well, blow me down! Begad! Finally, me bucko, I painted it forest green body, black fins, and red cable tunnel. I'll post a picture when complete.
Flight
I cut t' parachute usin' t' 12" template rather than t' suggested 15". Blimey! Begad! I also cut a 2" spill hole. This be a good idea, shiver me timbers, me bucko, as t' first flight occurred on a somewhat windy day. Avast! Arrr! Usin' a D12-5, ya bilge rat, t' flight was flawless, descended smartly and landed close t' t' pad. Avast! Blimey! There be no damage t' t' rocket.
Summary
A great rocket with a unique profile. Begad! Blimey!
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