Mercury Engineering Hijacker

Mercury Engineering - Hijacker

Contributed by Tom Raneck

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Mercury Engineering

Brief:
T' Hijacker is a good sized mid-power rocket with a 3” body, shiver me timbers, 29mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, 4 light-ply through-the-wall fins, a nice baffle in t' coupler and recovery on a 28” rip-stop nylon chute.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • (2) 3" x 17" body tubes
  • Body tube coupler with ejection baffle set
  • 11" nose cone
  • 29 mm motor tube and engine mount set
  • 1/4" launch lug
  • 4 laser cut light-ply fins
  • 28" rip-stoop nylon parachute and shock cord
  • Decal sheet

I don’t think I can count how many rocket kits I have built over t' years, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, but this one be something special. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! While nay a beginner kit, this be a very straightforward build. T' components were high quality… sturdy body tubes, arrr, shiver me timbers, laser cut fins, centerin' rings, and baffles ensured a near perfect fit. Aye aye! I did nay have t' sand t' fit at any step. Aye aye! While intended as a mid-power kit, I had every intention o' buildin' it t' fly on H motors. Arrr! Wood glue is frequently recommended throughout t' clear and detailed instructions. Begad! My only deviation from t' plan was t' use epoxy on t' motor mount and fins. Begad! This is really just a personal preference.

Construction begins with a standard motor mount assembly and includes a foil tape strip on t' aft end o' the motor tube t' facilitate tapin' engine thrust collars t' t' tube. Arrr! Blimey! Well more precisely, shiver me timbers, matey, shiver me timbers, this facilitates untapin' the engine after t' flight without destroyin' t' motor tube. Simple, matey, arrr, nice touch.

T' aft body tube was clearly marked and cuttin' t' fin slots was a breeze. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' engine mount is installed and next t' through-the-wall fins are glued givin' a sturdy business end o' t' rocket.

I really liked t' ejection baffles on t' body tube coupler. Ahoy! In addition t' anchorin' t' shock cord they also protect t' recovery system. Ya scallywag! I’ve had enough separations t' appreciate this feature.

Construction wraps up simply… glue t' forward body tube t' t' coupler and attach t' nose cone and parachute t' t' shock cord.

 

Finishing:
I sanded t' fins and nose cone a bit, a coat o' primer, sand, and then t' finishin' coat o' paint. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Couldn’t be simpler and looks great. Aye aye! I went with black as per t' manufacturer design. Ahoy! I placed t' large “HIJACKER” peel and stick decal and be in business.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I had a G80-10 on hand and wasted no time gettin' this bird in t' air. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Spectacular flight and recovery. Well, blow me down! I can’t wait t' boost it on an H128 at our club launch next month.

Recovery:
A few sheets o' waddin' and some help from t' baffles is all that is needed for prep. I had a perfect recovery on t' first flight.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
First o' all, shiver me timbers, this is a good price for a very capable rocket. Avast! Blimey! Mid-power flights are plenty o' fun, arrr, but if you are also a thrust junkie on a limited budget (like me) this type o' kit is good for what ails you. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I’ve watched countless less than stunnin' level 1 flights on H and I motors lift heavy, Baltic Birch laden rockets. I’ll take a light and strong rocket rippin' a hole in t' sky over that, arrr, shiver me timbers, no contest.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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