Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Binder Design |
Photo courtesy o' Binder Designs
Brief:
T' Binder Design Jaguar is a single-stage, shiver me timbers, level one rocket, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, with a sleek, skinny appearance. Begad! Begad! It's sport features make it very versatile on t' field, as it can be altered t' complete a variety o' different tasks. A 30. Begad! Arrr! parachute handles recovery.
Construction:
T' components included in t' kit are all parts t' complete t' basic rocket, along with detailed instructions and a parachute. Blimey! T' airframe is made o' phenolic tubing, arrr, fins o' 1/8" Ply, me bucko, matey, Plastic PML-Style NC, me bucko, and birch centerin' rings with a 38mm mount. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Recovery parts include all materials used for a motor-ejection recovery, with additional instructions for electronic recovery as well. Ahoy! T' shock cord is elastic banded Keelhaul®©™ material, however nay as thick. T' rocket measures 80 inches in height, me bucko, (composed o' three separate coupled tubes) and 3.0" diameter.
Instructions: T' diagrams included in this kit are very well done. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' detailed instructions made by Binder Design show how t' make t' rocket different ways t' handle different types o' flight, ya bilge rat, (ie- Different motor mount sizes and electronics recovery) Large black and white diagrams show each step in complete detail, arrr, arrr, so thar be no confusion as t' how t' finish a certain step.
Ease o' Build: T' Jaguar is a very easy kit t' build, me hearties, and construction wise would be a great kit for anyone t' certify L1. T' construction teaches t' basics o' makin' a high-power rocket, shiver me timbers, and for me was a nice change from Aerotech-class. Avast! Pros about t' construction were t' nice fit o' all parts, arrr, and t' rings bein' accurately cut t' t' motor mount tube, and t' nose cone fittin' nice and tight t' t' airframe. Begad! T' couplers also fit well against t' airframes, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, makin' this joinin' job a much easier task. Begad! Avast! T' Gotcha t' all o' this is that t' airframe is nay pre-slotted for t' fins, me bucko, and that can mean disaster t' t' airframe if you do nay have t' right materials t' complete a slottin' task. After properly slottin' t' tubes (I used a Dremel.) t' fins seem t' align quite nicely. Once t' motor mount is constructed and inserted into t' airframe, me bucko, and t' fins are glassed and put in, ya bilge rat, an epoxy filler with fiberglass along t' fin joints makes things very strong. (By t' way,! make sure t' throw a glass layer or two on t' airframe) Unless you want t' use electronics, me hearties, that's about all thar be t' buildin' this rocket except for t' coupler section for t' parachute, arrr, which is much like an inverted "Anti-Zipper" Design. Avast! Begad! However, zipperin' is possible, so be careful. Ahoy! (T' rocket separates at t' middle for ejection, nay at t' NC) I used 15-min. Well, blow me down! Mid-Set Epoxy on all t' joints, and 30-min on t' fins and fiberglass, me hearties, creatin' a tall and sturdy rocket.
Finishing:
T' nice thin' about this rocket, matey, matey, is that thar are no special finishin' techniques you have t' use t' make it look nice. Avast! After properly sandin' t' airframe smooth, matey, four t' five coats o' forest green spray paint gloss it smooth (After primer!), and it goes well with t' large vinyl decal on t' side o' t' rocket, matey, which is included with t' kit. Avast! On t' scale, shiver me timbers, I give this kit a 4.5 out o' 5, arrr, matey, because I think it is more o' a beginners high-power rocket, and requirin' beginners t' slot their own airframe can mean suicide. Avast, me proud beauty! Other than that, t' kit is perfect t' build!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Flight: I don't remember what all t' recommended motors for this rocket were, arrr, arrr, but I believe t' rocket flies best on either a H78J, or a H-123W. Ya scallywag! Blimey! (123W bein' t' best o' t' two there) T' first flight o' this rocket be on a G-80, arrr, just t' test things out, ya bilge rat, then a 38mm H-123W was used. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' rocket flew great! Blimey! A straight-as-an-arrow flight t' 2000 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Recovery never fails with such a great motor, and t' 30" chute brought t' rocket down about one mile from t' pad. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket sported a nice flame and lots o' smoke, as it turned in flight
Recovery:
T' recovery o' t' Jaguar could have been slightly better. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! As I stated earlier, t' rocket drifted in a five mile-per-hour wind about one mile or so from t' pad on each flight. Arrr! Begad! Nay a fun walk, considerin' t' scenery o' a cornfield. An altimeter on this rocket would probably make it perfect, as I used t' KISS method and based me personal JAG on a motor charge. Never fails. Ya scallywag! 4 more great performance flights that day. What a great flier.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
My overall thought o' this rocket is, matey, that it is great because it is reliable and can be used for many different things. Cameras, shiver me timbers, electronics, me bucko, other payloads can be carried as t' lightweight and sleek design make it a great field-performer as well. Avast! Ahoy! Also, arrr, t' great range o' motors that can be used is impressive as well, me bucko, but goin' anythin' past an I might be a bad idea, me bucko, it can still shred despite such a reliable performance.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
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C.R. (April 19, 2005)