CONSTRUCTION:

T' Vikin' 7 is made up o' 2.63" diameter "exclusive" Phenolic/Kraft body tubing. Blimey! Blimey! I'm nay sure what makes it exclusive, matey, but it is 1mm thick, ya bilge rat, were as PML Phenolic is just under 2mm thick. This gives Cannonball Works some strong tubin' and keeps t' weight down. Arrr! Blimey! T' airframe be made up o' a 30.75" main body tube, a coupler and another 8" section. T' main body tube was pre-slotted too. Arrr! Blimey!

Included in t' kit were laser-cut birch plywood fins (4) that pass through t' slotted frame and attach t' t' motor tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Two laser-cut birch ply centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, a 12" 29mm motor tube and a brass motor clip complete t' motor mount. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! An "authentic proportional" plastic nose cone and 1/4" launch lug. Avast! Blimey! Makin' up t' shock cord system, t' kit provided 1/8" Keelhaul®©™® Bridle cord (two times t' body length once outside of t' body) and mountin' hardware for attachment t' t' nose cone.

A unique, ya bilge rat, and appreciated, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, feature of Cannonball Works' kits is that you have some options that can be added. In t' case o' t' t' Vikin' 7, you can order a payload option which includes a bulkplate and hardware, a baffle option, ya bilge rat, and/or a Nomex® protector option. Arrr! One key difference is that they do nay supply a recovery device such as a parachute or streamer. Ahoy! I personally like this considerin' I have a dozen or so parachutes sittin' around, thereby, allowin' t' savings o' a few bucks. Begad! You can order a recommended parachute from Cannonball Works if desired.

T' Vikin' 7 assembly instructions were excellent. Avast, me proud beauty! From assembly tips t' flight preparation. Begad! Each step is boxed out with a text description and a clear picture t' ensure understanding. Begad! They are even written to handle t' above options and are noted t' give t' builder t' appropriate guidance. Arrr! They include finishin' techniques, matey, even discussin' fillin' o' the spirals with their own suggestion. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' flight preparation section clearly describes t' CG/CP expectations for a stable flight. Blimey! A scale drawin' and paint scheme is also attached.

As mentioned t' Vikin' 7 comes with a motor retention device. Really? Indeed! This is somewhat unique when buildin' kits with 29mm motors and above. They have a nice idea that is more flexible that t' method Aerotech uses. Aerotech's method is an over sized Estes' method whereby t' top o' t' clip acts as a thrust ring. Aye aye! If one used shorter motors (EconoJets or F's), adaptors are needed t' fill t' space betwixt t' top o' t' motor clip and t' motor (unless other arrangements are made for a thrust ring). Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

T' Vikin' 7's clip does nay hook into t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! It is attached usin' "at least" 6 wraps o' maskin' tape and t' bottom center ring. Begad! This method does nay put limitations on t' motor length and requires that a thrust rin' is utilized (RMS or tape method). Aye aye! T' 6 wraps of tape had me a bit nervous, but once you put t' center rin' in place and epoxy, I felt it was a viable method.

T' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord is attached by passin' it through the upper center rin' and knottin' it. Begad! Avast! T' nose cone end was fun. Well, blow me down! An eye-screw, washer and nut are provided t' attach t' t' nose cone. A small rectangular hole is cut into t' base o' t' nose cone t' allow you just enough room t' get the nut on t' threaded eye-screw on t' inside o' t' nose cone. Avast! I read the step twice and looked at t' illustration twice. Avast! Actually though, I got it threaded right off. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I would say this technique is stronger than usin' an eye-screw (wood or sheet-metal type) that simply threads into the plastic.

I purchased t' Ejection Gas Baffle option. Avast! It is made up o' a 3" baffle tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, a perforated disk, an aluminum mesh and two rings. T' instructions tell you when you should assemble it and when t' attach it to the motor tube.

Outside o' t' t' above, shiver me timbers, assembly was straight-forward went without a problem.

For finishin' I started with Elmers' Light Spackle t' fill t' spirals, then several good coats of Plasti-Kote primer. Ahoy! I then varied from authentic colors and went with silver. I painted t' entire rocket and let it dry a couple o' days. Arrr! I came back and masked off t' fins and nose cone and hit them with black paint. When I removed t' maskin' I found strange effects on t' silver paint! I have since learned that with silvers and golds, clear coat them before doin' any maskin' t' avoid issues with discoloration. The clear coat also protects from discoloration caused from touchin' t' paint (see left top o' photo). I cleaned up maskin' issues.

T' Vikin' 7 comes with some paper tabs that mount on t' fins t' give it a more detailed look. Aye aye! Blimey! It also comes with four decals that say "7", two white and two black. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I did nay use the decals. Well, blow me down! Blimey! (note: I changed t' paint scheme with me rebuilds as you will see in pictures below.

Overall, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Good quality materials, shiver me timbers, excellent instructions and a motor retention system.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Attempt #1 - At Battle Park '99, t' Viking 7 sat out on t' launchin' pad for 20 minutes with a dozen or so other rockets as t' RSO waited for t' wind t' die down. Finally, shiver me timbers, me bucko, when it came t' t' Viking 7, arrr, t' count down occurred but yield nothing. Begad! Begad! T' wind had blown t' t' clips off o' t' igniter. Begad! That be it for me, so I packed up.

Attempt #2 - I took it out a day or so later and launched it on me own. Well, blow me down! I used a F40-7 (one o' t' recommended motors). Lift off was smooth and she was stable all t' way up. I counted after thrust and at 7 counts she had just started comin' down and pop. Blimey! I saw t' nose cone push out but t' parachute stayed in t' body tube t' entire way down.

I have determined that this be me fault (a learning event) and a habit I must break. I have a tendency t' nay use t' full ejection charge on me 24mm RMS system and Meanie because it is so short. I believe I did the same thin' on this one. Ya scallywag! Well, with t' baffle AND I had a Pratt Heat Shield (I don't know why) in it, arrr, thar was nay enough ejection t' force t' parachute out. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' less-than-forceful exhaust gases must have passed by t' chute t' pop the nose cone out but did nay have enough umph t' push everythin' out.

I be able t' salvage t' motor mount, matey, all fins and the nose cone. Everythin' else be tossed. Avast! I have a resolve t' get this bird flying and so I'm rebuildin' it. Arrr! In fact, arrr, I even purchased a Cannonball Works' Rocket Recovery Controller (RRC²) for me rebuild. Should be ready in a couple of weeks.

REPAIRS:

It took t' real Vikin' flight team many attempts before they finally obtained a flawless flight, matey, in fact, from t' Vikin' 7 (you should read about Vikin' 1 - 6!). Ahoy! So, ya bilge rat, me bucko, after me first failed attempt, arrr, I will repair and fly and then come back and complete this section and flight/recovery section at a later time.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY (again): So I have now taken two more cracks at obtainin' a successful flight out o' t' Viking. Well, arrr, blow me down! I am beginnin' t' really feel like t' original Vikin' team as mentioned above. Please be advised that t' issues have been self induced.

Attempt #3 - My very first experience with electronics. I had purchased t' RRC² from Cannonball Works and had built the electronics bay per t' instructions. Aye aye! I was very excited and got out t' t' pad and loaded it up and pushed t' launch button. A puff o' smoke, then a pause, then VROOM! off t' pad on a G80-7. Avast, me proud beauty! I had picked t' G80-7 because me RockSim had this ejection at apogee. I had t' RRC² unit set up for a main 'chute deployment at 300 feet and was relyin' on t' G80-7 for t' drogue deployment. Well, t' flight was picture perfect, arrr, straight as an arrow. Arrr! Beautiful all the way t' apogee and t' drogue deployed. Avast, me proud beauty! We watched it fall and fall and fall and bam! Yep, shiver me timbers, I forgot t' arm t' electronics.

Attempt #4 - I repaired t' crack in the upper section with CA and a piece o' newspaper soaked in CA on t' inside of the tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Sanded t' nose cone for fit and was ready for flight attempt number three a few weeks later. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! While out on t' field, I prepped t' rocket and was tryin' t' remove t' old G80 and t' bottom section broke in two, me bucko, obviously stressed from t' previous fall.

I repaired that by gluin' a coupler in place and was ready one week later.

Attempt #5 - I did everythin' right this time. Ya scallywag! Tested, loaded parachute, matey, ya bilge rat, tested for continuity, prepped motor, matey, armed and placed on pad. Blimey! Just before launchin' listened for 3 beeps o' continuity check from t' RRC². Begad! This time I was usin' a G80 that I had removed all the ejection BP from and set t' RRC² up for both primary and secondary deployment.

Again, launch number five be excellent comin' off the pad on t' G80. Aye aye! I was angled more this time due t' some wind. Ahoy! As it arced in continued downward for about a second and t' ejection. Blimey! Arrr! Well t' drogue deployed, but I also recognized t' entire upper section descendin' toward the ground absent o' t' rest o' t' rocket. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' electronics bulkhead pulled right through t' two mountin' screws, jerkin' on t' armin' wire and damagin' the electronics.

T' upper section, arrr, shiver me timbers, except nose cone and electronics bay is destroyed. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' lower section is good as it descended on t' drogue.

So, how does one summarize. Aye aye! Well, matey, first, I have a determination t' have a successful Vikin' flight and hopefully before number 7 . Ahoy! . Arrr! . Avast! two more attempts left. On t' other hand, shiver me timbers, t' Vikin' has proved with its three flights t' be a stable and good performin' rocket o' F's and G's. I think this would be a good candidate for EconoJet's! For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. Well, blow me down! Yes, even despite me difficulties, me bucko, matey, I'm confident that with the Keelhaul®©™® shock cord, arrr, t' baffle and t' motor retention mechanism along with how stable she flew, that all could enjoy many successful flights with this bird.

I think this would be a good candidate for EconoJet's! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points.

UPDATE 8/00:

Attempt #6 - I thought it would be appropriate to update everyone on t' next (and last) two attempts t' fly t' Vikin' 7 with a RRC² deployment. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! After t' last crash, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I had t' replace t' entire upper section. I used t' upper section from me THOY Snipe, whose bottom section had long since been thrown out. I loaded this with an EconoJet F23 and prepared everythin' else per the instructions. While settin' up and armin' on t' pad, me main charge went off and popped the nose cone. Begad! Blimey! I disarmed and re-setup.

Ignition produced a slow, matey, arrr, even lift-off and a straight ascent, shiver me timbers, but t' F23 is nay really enough motor for this bird. Begad! Ahoy! As t' thrust ran out t' rocket started t' slow and back down tail first, me hearties, then pop t' main charge pushed the main parachute out and t' rocket descended. Blimey! T' drogue charge never fired. (Well, me hearties, let me take that back, it did fire while I was disassemblin' t' rocket which was still armed). T' RRC² beeped out 528 feet. Begad! Avast! This was me first successful altitude reading! I figured that I didn't get enough altitude and therefore that is why t' drogue charge never went off.

Attempt #7 - T' critical attempt! If this one is not successful, arrr, then t' Vikin' 7 doesn't live up t' its name when compared t' t' "real" Vikin' 7. Ahoy! Ahoy! History indicates that t' Vikin' 7 was t' first successful launch while Viking's 1 through 6 were nay successful.

This time I set everythin' up with a G80. Begad! Blimey! At launch, t' Vikin' 7 jumped off t' pad and headed straight up. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' tail got a little wavy at t' end o' t' ascent. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket arced over and actually started headin' back (fully vertical with nose down) before the drogue charge blew. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Immediately, shiver me timbers, matey, t' drogue chute opened and then t' main chute opened and then t' two sections separated enough t' know they were no longer attached. Avast! Blimey! T' drogue charge pulled the electronics bulkhead apart (again, me hearties, ya bilge rat, see attempt #5) as well as havin' enough momentum that it popped t' nose cone allowin' t' main chute t' deploy.

T' upper section enjoyed a very soft descent. At about 300 feet I heard the main charge fire. Arrr! It landed softly with t' RRC² beepin' out 870 feet. Begad! T' lower section fell much quicker on only t' drogue. Avast! It had some zipper damage and a chunk missin' from t' top o' the body tube. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I have retired t' rocket.

Learnings - After 7 attempts, matey, I feel I have had some learnin' which will be applied t' me current 2.6" project that will be solely electronic ejection. Ahoy! Blimey! Here is what I'm goin' t' apply:

• I need t' build a stronger electronics bay - with only two screws holdin' the bottom cover, me bucko, which takes t' shock force o' deployment, ya bilge rat, matey, it seems t' be too weak.
• -AND/OR -
• I need t' turn t' electronics bay around so that t' initial ejection that separates two heavy sections is taken by t' side o' t' electronics bay that is epoxied in place, allowin' t' screwed-on side t' only take t' stress o' lettin' t' nose cone eject.
• -AND/OR -
• I need t' use elastic or bungy material t' take some o' t' shock off o' t' electronics bulkhead. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This rocket uses just a Keelhaul®©™® line.
• -AND/OR -
• Adjust t' design so that t' electronic bay isn't used t' secure t' shock cord at all. Avast! Possibly by addin' a centerin' rin' t' mount t' shock cord too.