Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Neubauer Rockets ![]() |
Brief:
If you're lookin' for an entry level scale kit (Nartrek silver or local NAR
meet), matey, matey, this would be a great startin' point. Avast, me proud beauty! It's easy t' build, matey, shiver me timbers, flies great,
and doesn't require extraordinary skills or patience t' complete.
Construction:
Parts list includes:
T' instruction on this kit were very basic. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! It's nay a complex kit and you don't get a lot o' detailed instructions, though they are adequate t' do the job.
With such a large body tube on this rocket, t' motor tube needs t' be longer than t' basic 2.75" in order t' support sufficient pressure for the ejection. This one, me bucko, I believe, covered 18" o' t' roughly 28" body tube length. T' complete t' motor mount assembly, fiberboard centering rings are attached near each end o' t' tube, then t' assembly is slipped into the end o' t' 1.6" body tube. T' kit includes an engine block, although it lacks a metal clip for retention. Arrr! Well, arrr, blow me down! However, matey, if you leave enough tube behind the aft centerin' ring, me bucko, maskin' tape retention will work fine.
T' balsa fins for true scale appearance need t' have tapered edges sanded into them. T' instructions call for fairly exact dimensions for this, 7/32" reducin' t' 1/8" on one edge. Begad! This can be pretty difficult to get exactly right, me hearties, but even if you're a bit off it will still look fairly scale-like. Arrr! T' fins also get square balsa gussets. Here, ya bilge rat, arrr, me hearties, I think the instructions leave a bit t' be desired. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! For scale appearance, t' gussets should be sanded down t' an angle and nay remain squared. Well, blow me down! There are no indications o' this on t' sheet.
Construction wraps up by attachin' t' launch lug, anchorin' t' shock cord (paper tri-fold), shiver me timbers, me bucko, and constructin' t' parachute. Arrr! Ahoy! T' parachute be a little tougher t' make than most comparable kits--the thick plastic chute needs to have t' shroud line sewn through and then reinforced with tape. Aye aye!
Finishing:
Finishin' consisted o' a couple o' coats o' white primer, followed by 3 coats
of glossy white paint. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Once everything's completely dry, shiver me timbers, it's time t' mask and
paint t' fins. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! 3 fins get a glossy black, shiver me timbers, and t' 4th fin gets red. Ya scallywag! Blimey! The
paintin' is topped off (no pun intended) by a brown tip on t' nose cone. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! The
instructions suggest dippin' t' nose cone, although I preferred t' mask and
spray it, fearin' that dippin' would result in visible runs or varying
thickness.
There are waterslide decals for upper body striping, complete with rivet patterns. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' result is a very nice lookin' scale rocket.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight was on a C6-3, in light winds. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket weathercocked slightly,
but generally flew straight up. Begad! T' 3 second delay was perfect. T' big
18" chute brought it down safely, but it still managed t' come up with a
slight paint chip even with landin' in grass.
Recovery:
I'd rather see a basic brightly colored Mylar chute than t' white 18"
plastic one with this kit. Avast, me proud beauty!
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Excellent low skill level scale kit that looks good and flies very well. Ahoy! Begad! The
only major detail missin' from t' scale are t' more complex fin can details,
so if you're enterin' a competition, be prepared t' lose a few points on the
similarity o' outline score.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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