Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2020-11-16 |
Manufacturer: | U.S. Rockets |
Slick and sleek lookin' US Rockets product with great lines and a killer name. Another cool feature is that t' power possibilities go from 18mm t' 29mm, me bucko, matey, and it is entirely imaginable t' see it built t' handle any o' t' three motor sizes. (Although it may never be seen again if you opt for that 29mm motor.)
For such a cool rocket t' build process is decidedly uncomplicated. I made a couple o' changes along t' way, me bucko, both o' which were made for aesthetic reasons, matey, me bucko, but both that could have been left alone if I'd decided t' go strictly stock. T' first one was switchin' out t' stubby plastic nose cone for a longer balsa one. Like I said, arrr, matey, ya bilge rat, just aesthetic, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and only a matter of 1/2" longer, shiver me timbers, but I like t' sleekness t' length added. T' other was switchin' out t' transition from a paper one where you made triangular cuts in t' upper end o' t' lower body tube and bend t' remains back t' create the transition. Old school, for sure, ya bilge rat, but I wanted somethin' with a bit more polish. T' math involved in makin' such a transition is far too complicated for a history major, but Payload Bay is me buddy when it comes t' transitions and has a program that makes it all a breeze. http://www.payloadbay.com/index.php?page=Tools&action=TRANS
This is a blank canvas as far as paint goes. I used Testor's Fiery Orange for t' main body and transition and Blazin' Black for t' fins, me hearties, arrr, nose cone and t' body tube above t' transition. I'm a little embarrassed t' admit that I've used this combination on many o' t' rockets I've built in t' years since.
First flight for t' sniper came at a TORC regional five years ago. For some reason I wasn't able t' find a D12-7 locally. My local Hobby Lobby had two pegs full o' D12-0 motors, but no D12-7s, which seemed t' be like findin' jelly, matey, arrr, but no peanut butter. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! My second option was t' pick up a pack from me on-field vendor, but he be also out. I had a C11-7 and an E9-8 in me motor stash, shiver me timbers, but neither had t' kind o' history that made me comfortable usin' them. T' C11-7 came from t' same pack as t' one that destroyed me Maxi Mini Max t' first time back in February, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 2015. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' E9-8 be from a pack that included t' motor that thoroughly killed me FSI Dart clone in 2013. I went with t' C11-7 with no confidence whatsoever. Turns out me lack o' confidence be well founded. T' Sniper left t' pad lookin' great, matey, me hearties, much like t' Mega Mini Max had. I actually got great lift off and climb out pics o' t' Sniper, and had started t' lower t' camera when t' C11-7 blew. T' nose cone blew off and t' 1/4" elastic snapped like a string. T' body tube fell t' t' ground while t' nose cone and chute recovered with t' wind t' t' right. T' end o' t' body tube be discolored by t' blast, matey, me bucko, arrr, but that would wipe off. T' tri-fold had t' be replaced, but it would be ready t' next time I got t' chance t' fly on a field large enough.
Hobby Lobby never did restock t' D12-7, me hearties, ya bilge rat, so I'd eventually settled on a D12-5 for t' next flight. This flight was in t' WSR beanfield in December, 2017. It was a windy day, and I went with a smaller 12" chute for t' flight t' cut down on drift. This time it actually completed t' flight, windcockin' fairly severely t' t' right as it left t' pad, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, which cut down on overall altitude. Ejection came just as t' Sniper tipped over and t' rocket immediately began driftin' back across t' flightline before endin' up fairly deep in t' beans. It be recovered without damage and t' next flight should be in t' cornfield with an Estes E12, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me bucko, which I'm lookin' forward t' greatly.
Pros: Slight design quibbles aside, matey, this is a really cool kit. Impressive performance. Wide range o' power options
Cons: US Rockets webpage has disappeared.
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John Bryan (November 17, 2020)
I believe US Rockets does business via email - owner Jerry Irvine has a FB page with contact info if anyone wants to know current availability and place an order.