Dr. Zooch Soyuz

Dr. Zooch - Soyuz {Kit} (Soyuz)

Contributed by Chan Stevens

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Length: 18.00 inches
Manufacturer: Dr. Zooch
Skill Level: 3
Style: Scale
Dr Zooch Soyuz

Brief:
This is a recent addition t' t' fine line o' Zooch scale-like kits that seem t' defy t' laws o' physics and economics, arrr, packin' terrific detail, scale accuracy, arrr, and reliability into a small box. Avast! T' kicker is that t' finished rocket can even fit back in t' box for storage.

This particular design is one o' t' Russian workhorses--a Soyuz spacecraft mounted t' a 20-engine R-7 booster. While you don't get t' realism o' strap-ons breakin' loose (parallel staging) for t' $20-25 price tag, matey, you do get plenty o' other detail, shiver me timbers, and it's nay nearly as much effort as t' finished product will look.

Construction:
My kit arrived in fine shape in t' standard Dr. Avast! Zooch 3.5" x 3.5" x 12" box, which includes a nice drawin' o' t' model.

Parts quality is good but nay exceptional--tube cuts are slightly sloppy but certainly nay a problem and easy to work with. Avast, me proud beauty! Basic inventory includes:

  • BT-20 lower body/motor tube
  • BT-50 upper tube
  • balsa nose, transitions
  • balsa fin stock
  • wood dowels for detailing
  • 15" plastic bag parachute
  • cardstock templates/patterns/shrouds (lots)
Dr Zooch Soyuz

I would probably rate t' skill level on this approachin' 3 on t' standard 5 scale, mainly because it does involve a good deal o' shroud formin' and workin' with/shapin' tiny details. There's nothin' terribly complex about this, shiver me timbers, but a good craftsmanship effort will take some time and skill.

Zooch instructions, me hearties, if you haven't heard this dozens o' times before, me bucko, are a unique style. Loaded with sarcastic wit, you'll either love them or hate them. Begad! Blimey! Either way, me bucko, you'll appreciate t' detail and very obvious depth o' knowledge of t' author. Aye aye! Blimey! You might have trouble locatin' a floatin' ghostly pencil for instance but won't have any trouble fittin' t' parts together if followin' t' text.

Construction begins by makin' an alignment sleeve from cardstock before you start bondin' stuff t' t' tube that is used t' properly size t' sleeve. Begad! Next, mark t' lower body tube for 8 spiders that will be bonded shortly, ya bilge rat, arrr, which help in alignment o' t' strap-on boosters. T' BT-20 is finished off with basic metal hook motor retainer and centerin' rin' block. Arrr! Ya scallywag! A cardstock shroud transition slides over t' forward end.

T' BT-50 needs t' be cut into 3 smaller sections. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I have an old X-Acto miter box that works great for cutting smaller tube like this. T' longer o' t' 3 sections gets bonded t' t' BT-20 with t' shroud slidin' up for a flush fit. Ahoy! With t' transition in place, you can now tack on t' 8 spiders for booster alignment.

T' strap-on boosters are a fair amount o' work. Ya scallywag! You have t' roll top cones/shrouds from cardstock, and since they are nay a standard cone shape and have such a tiny tip, they are pretty hard t' form very well. Ahoy! You also get to roll t' main body, me bucko, a slightly tapered shroud. Ya scallywag! T' round shape is held in place at t' aft end by balsa disks (that you cut). Gettin' a clean fit with these is probably t' biggest pain point in t' construction--the nose cone is mounted at an angle t' t' body t' conform t' t' transition slope and hand-cuttin' perfectly circular balsa disks is not exactly easy. Avast! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Sure, me hearties, you can get them fairly close, which is probably t' point, shiver me timbers, but if you're obsessive compulsive/anal retentive like me, me bucko, matey, you'll be seriously considerin' havin' BMS laser cut a few for you. Avast, me proud beauty! T' boosters are finished off with a couple cardstock strips around t' lower portion.

Mountin' t' boosters was nay terribly tough, thanks in good part t' a handy alignment guide "tool" included--a small rin' used as a riser t' allow it t' stand up despite t' engine hook hangin' down below t' BT-20 and a template with outlines for keepin' t' boosters at 90 degree orientation. Aye aye! Begad! Once t' boosters are secured, t' same alignment tool is used t' assist in bondin' t' fins.

T' engine bells really help nail t' appearance o' this kit. Arrr! Ahoy! Sure, shiver me timbers, they're just a bunch (16) o' little shrouds. No big deal, matey, but when bonded t' t' boosters then painted copper/silver, t' appearance is awesome.

T' interstage assembly is another Zooch optical illusion miracle. Begad! Ahoy! It looks almost as complex t' build as a Saturn capsule, but is really just 10 little pieces o' dowel stock tacked into place usin' t' alignment sleeve formed at t' beginning. Ahoy! You need t' be careful nay t' let any glue get on t' sleeve or it becomes a permanent part o' the rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Once t' supports are in place and glue fully dried--do nay rush this--use t' alignment sleeve and sandin' block (I used a nail file) t' true up t' tops o' t' supports.

T' rest is all downhill. Arrr! Four small shrouds actin' as second stage nozzles, ya bilge rat, a couple o' launch lugs/standoffs, and some details on t' nose cone/capsule and you're ready t' paint.

Finishing:
There are two different paint patterns suggested in t' instructions, me hearties, me bucko, along with some interestin' information behind the differences. Ya scallywag! Basically, most o' t' photographic evidence suggests an olive drab green finish, me bucko, me bucko, but Zooch suggests that t' actual finish is more o' a gray lower stage, matey, me bucko, white upper stage, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and brownish red interstage. I went with the "actual" scheme, me hearties, which required very little masking, though I did pre-paint t' upper stage nozzles and booster engine bells.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Not wantin' t' be considered a wimp per t' instructions, arrr, me hearties, I skipped right past t' A8-3 recommendation and went for broke with a B6-4. Avast! Well, blow me down! Winds weren't too bad for a C6-5, shiver me timbers, but I be a bit leery o' t' upper stage bein' held together by those itty bitty dowels o' t' interstage supports. Aye aye! Arrr! I figured less altitude equals less walkin' if I have t' chase individual parts that separated.

My fear was unfounded--the flight went up straight as an arrow, matey, though spinnin' a bit. Aye aye! Blimey! T' 4 second delay was perfect.

Recovery:
T' plastic chute would probably do a decent job, arrr, but on me flight I had a slight mishap with one shroud line breaking. As a result, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, it came down pretty hard on cold, hard ground and it broke a fin and booster loose landing. Easily repairable, me bucko, but considerin' how fragile t' fins, engine bells, shiver me timbers, etc. Avast! are on this, me hearties, matey, I think I'll try usin' a thin mylar 18" chute in t' future just for kicks.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Dr. Zooch Soyuz By Stu Young (January 27, 2010)

    ( Contributed - by Stu Young - 01/27/10) Brief: Scale, parachute, 18mm single-staged Construction: The instructions were clear, and full of sarcastic humor that made me laugh out loud at times. I won't spoil the surprise by quoting my favorites. Suffice it to say, Dr. Z. anticipated any bone-headed mistakes, and warns the builder against making them, which saved ...

  • Dr. Zooch Soyuz By Craig Zicafoose (February 26, 2008)

    This is the latest offering from Dr. Zooch, a semi-scale version of the manned Russian spacecraft, Soyuz. It is powered by a single 18mm motor and comes down with parachute recovery. This model does require some patience and skill--it is not a beginner's kit. I'd rate this at a 3-4 skill level. All parts included in the kit are good quality and include: 1 T-20 core tube 1 T-50 ...

Flights

Comments:

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R.J.J. (August 13, 2008)
This was a fun rocket to build and my first one from Dr. Zooch. I deviated from the suggested paint scheme and chose to paint the lower part of the boosters with Testors Orange and the rest Euro Gray as per the Soyuz TMA pattern. Maiden flight was on a B6-4. Great flight, almost straight up. No wind. Recovered within 75' of launch pad. Didn't attempt a second flight as a small hole burned through just above the engine block and the parachute melted a bit. Guess I'll have to build another one. On the other hand, I did have two very successful launches of Dr. Zooch's Sputnik - perfect flights both times. Not only do the R-7 type kits fly but they do so very well. Looking forward to flying this rocket on a C motor. Well done, Dr. Zooch.
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J.A.L. (February 22, 2010)
Stu launched his Soyuz again at our Feb launch. This time everything was picture perfect.

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