Sunward Aerospace Maverick

Sunward Aerospace - Maverick {Kit}

Contributed by Peter Chestna

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Sunward Aerospace

Sunward Maverick PartsBrief:
This kit is a fantasy sport scale plane called T' Maverick by Sunward Model Aerospace. Avast, me proud beauty! It is single stage and uses an 18" parachute for recovery.

Construction:

T' kit came with:

  • 2 sheets o' laser-cut balsa fins
  • 1 paper printed with duct pattern and win' reenforcement tabs
  • Body Tube
  • 18" plastic parachute
  • 18mm motor tube w/thrust & centerin' rings
  • Elastic shock cord
  • Plastic nose cone
  • Launch lug
  • Self stick decals

There are many things that I really liked about t' design o' this rocket and a few that were sub-standard. On t' plus side, I'll describe t' fin installation. Aye aye! Blimey! There is a body wrap that gets applied t' make t' jet intakes. T' top o' t' wrap provides a platform on which t' glue t' large wings. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This provides for an incredible amount o' surface area and durability. Aye aye! Blimey! There are also tabs that overlap t' wings and secure them t' t' body tube. This combination is better than even through t' body attachment. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' intakes also provide a measure o' stability t' t' rocket in flight. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' tail fin is attached similarly t' t' wings by usin' two tabs that are first glued t' the sides o' t' fin and then t' t' body tube.

As for t' down side, ya bilge rat, t' motor retention is sub par. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' manufacturer provides a hook that screws into t' centerin' rin' o' t' motor mount. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This is probably t' worst design I have seen for motor retention. This problem was solved properly for model rockets years ago. Arrr! If they didn't want t' provide an Estes style motor hook, arrr, they should have recommended friction retention. I wouldn't feel comfortable flyin' with it so I replaced it with an Estes motor hook. Aye aye! Lastly they provide an old Estes style elastic shock cord. Begad! These don't tend t' age very well and I replaced it as well.

Overall, ya bilge rat, construction o' this level 3 kit was smooth and straight forward. T' few minor nits I have are far outwieghed by t' excellent design o' this kit.

Sunward Maverick AssembledFinishing:

T' drawback o' t' tabs is encountered when tryin' t' finish t' model. Quite a bit o' fillin' is necessary t' make t' model look good. This is not hard, me bucko, me hearties, just time consuming.

Once I finished with filling, I primed and painted. Ahoy! T' manufacturer recommends sandin' t' nose cone t' make sure that t' paint will adhere properly. Arrr! Ahoy! T' kit artwork show a camo paint scheme. Begad! Aye aye! I am nay that ambitious and so chose a standard military gray.

T' self stick decals made completion a breeze. Avast, me proud beauty! I finished up with clear coat.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5


Rocket PicFlight and Recovery:
Flights on C's were excellent. Ahoy! T' rocket lept off t' pad and flew straight as an arrow. Ahoy! T' 18" parachute be more than adequate for a damage free recovery. Aye aye! Begad! This rocket should fly problem free for years.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall, matey, I love this kit. Aye aye! It is durable and looks great on or off t' launch pad.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Sunward Aerospace Maverick By Ray King (November 24, 2007)

    ( Contributed - by Ray King - 11/24/07) Brief: My entry for the EMRR's Uniquely Designed Finish Contest is the Sunward Maverick. This design was inspired by NASCAR's #9 Kasey Kahne. Kahne is sponsored by Dodge and my son's favorite driver. Construction and Finishing: I modified the design slightly by filling the wing-tube interface to make the rocket look more realistic. The ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
A.H. (July 22, 2004)
The review was well done although the reviewer mentions that the wings are glued to the wrap platform. Actually the wings are glued to the intakes, as the wrap "platform" becomes the bottom of the rocket, I found the wrap to be a little tricky to get square ,I also installed a 24mm motor mount after seeing one go up on an E9,, the flight was very Impressive! and the finished rocket is pretty sizeable. A very good subject for a 24mm upgrade !

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