Manufacturer: | Public Enemy |
Brief:
T' Predator is a nice lookin' large rocket. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! It is an upscale o' t' old Estes
Rampage. Blimey! It came with a single 38mm motor mount, arrr, arrr, but a 3 motor cluster is
available. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey!
Construction:
All o' t' parts were in good order. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It came with long 38mm motor mount,
4" body tube and payload section. Aye aye! Blimey! T' fins are 1/4" plywood and the
centerin' rings are pressed particle board. Aye aye! Blimey! T' launch lugs are 1/2"
copper tubing.
T' shock cord is a 15' nylon strap. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' nose cone is a well made and all of t' parts fit together very nicely.
T' instructions were sparse at best. Arrr! You need t' have some experience with high power rockets t' build this one.
I did nay like t' method for attachin' t' shock cord.
T' instructions wanted me t' epoxy t' cord t' t' motor tube. Avast! Blimey! I chose to install an eye bolt in t' top centerin' rin' and attach t' nylon strap with a quick link. Avast! Blimey! T' payload section is attached t' t' shock cord with an eybolt as well.
T' 38mm motor mount tube is a very tight fit for t' motors. Begad! Arrr! It might need some sanding.
T' kit did nay come with motor retention. Begad! I added some T-nuts and hooks on the bottom centerin' rin' t' add retention.
T' parts are very well made and fit very well. Begad! T' strong fins are glued to t' motor mount and two centerin' rings. This makes for very strong contruction.
Finishing:
T' rocket is easy t' finish. T' fins and body tube sand well and finished up
nicely. Avast!
T' kit came with one "Predator" decal. I chose red, black and silver for t' paint and t' rocket looks pretty nice.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' website tells you t' fly t' Predator on an H242. Avast, me proud beauty! I could nay get a short
delay for me H242, so I chose an H180 with a short delay.
T' preparation was easy. Ahoy! Avast! I added recovery waddin' t' t' body tube, folded the parachute and friction fitted t' nose cone t' t' payload section.
I did wrap t' shock cord with maskin' tape after every fold o' t' nylon strap. This hopefully would absorb some o' t' shock.
I set t' rocket on t' 1/2" rod and a few minutes later t' H180 roared t' life and sailed t' about 1000'. Blimey! Begad! T' short delay be just about right and t' rocket floated back t' earth.
Recovery:
T' decent seemed a little fast, matey, matey, but t' rocket be recovered with no damage. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I
want t' add some additional shock cord. T' 15' just seems t' short.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Pros.
Good design and quality parts. Avast, me proud beauty! T' construcion is strong and t' price is pretty good too.
Cons.
No motor retention and t' shock cord attachment was changed. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! The instructions are nay t' best in t' world.
Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5
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