DG&A High Power Rocketry Armageddon

DG&A High Power Rocketry - Armageddon {Kit}

Contributed by Casey Smith

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: DG&A High Power Rocketry

Photos courtesy o' DG&A  

Rocket PicBrief:
Anyone heard o' BSD? Well this kit is equal t' t' quality o' that now popular company. Avast! Danny Cantu, shiver me timbers, t' owner, ya bilge rat, has designed a line somewhat challengin' t' build and extremely fun t' fly kits, from t' 29mm Predator up t' t' special edition limited production Armageddon and Sonic Blast (3 K1100's no problem). Ahoy! This kit is designed for a 38mm I161-J570. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It has standard parachute deployment on t' main body and t' sustainer section as well. Ya scallywag! This is a solid kit with clearly illustrated directions with pictures and t' most important thin' o' all, Danny's phone number if you have problems. Begad! I have opted t' make a few modifications in t' kit from normal, but really does nay effect t' overall design.

Construction:
This is a 4 inch kit that comes with a parts list o' t' main components. Ya scallywag! They are t' 34" booster tube, me bucko, 24" airframe tube, shiver me timbers, 10" payload bay, and 34" 38 mm motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I extended t' motor mount due t' me recovery design. Ahoy! It has a 4 inch nose cone. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It also comes with t' main fins, me hearties, upper canard fins, arrr, 4 centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, 1 bulkhead, me hearties, 8 nozzle fins and 8 win' supports. Avast! All are 1/4 inch plywood, very beefy. Arrr! This kit has a shock cord strap which you attach t' shock cord to, shiver me timbers, and has t' hardware for t' standard eyebolt attachments. Aye aye! It also comes with 1/2" launch lugs, but I have opted t' use rail guides instead, ya bilge rat, since I have a rail.

Rocket PicT' instructions are very easy t' follow with pictures. T' only gotcha I found be t' parachute attachment method. Aye aye! I did nay quite understand t' directions. Ya scallywag! Begad! I am incorporatin' Stu Barrets' anti-zipper design, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, so I have me own plans. Blimey! Go t' InfoCentral at ROL under construction and you will see Stu's article on this. Avast! I also added tubular nylon for t' shock cord, me hearties, about 18 feet o' it. Blimey! All I had t' add t' t' kit for this was 1 extra coupler and 1 extra 12" payload section I got with t' kit from Danny. T' assembly directions are straight forward. Arrr! Lots o' sandin' on those huge wings. Arrr! Danny includes pre-marked tubes for t' fins and alignment guides, matey, plus a wrap around win' guide for t' nozzle. This kit is extremely sturdy and constructed o' high grade components. I opted only t' fiberglass t' payload section, just for a little added strength. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I used t' basic 30 minute epoxy from me hobby store. You can use 5 minute epoxy on a few steps, but I prefer t' stronger 30 minute.

Rocket PicFinishing:
T' fins require some fillin' in t' grain, shiver me timbers, and since they are so big, arrr, I used Duplicolor auto paint. Begad! Epoxy primer would be better, but I don't have a spray gun. Ahoy! Begad! Kilz also works good too. Well, blow me down! Begad! Those fins have over 16' o' fillets, shiver me timbers, go slow and get them right. Avast, me proud beauty! Makes PML's Pterodactyl look like a baby on fillets. Begad! Ya scallywag! I chose t' bevel t' fins somewhat. Ahoy! This kit should fly great even in a little wind with those big fillets. Arrr! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Very nice lookin' rocket! This kit comes with its own decals. Blimey! Blimey! This kit has a basic 2 color paint scheme but you can design your own if you wish.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This kit goes great on I161's. Avast, me proud beauty! I estimate about 1200-1500 feet. Begad! I use 1 chute with t' long shock cord. Blimey! I use me PML 55 inch chute I have, arrr, matey, works great, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, settles it down softly. Begad! Danny's 2 parachutes that are included in t' kit will work great also. Ya scallywag! I added blind nuts t' t' aft centerin' ring, arrr, matey, just in front o' t' nozzle. Blimey! I use extra long screws t' screw into them, me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, and cover t' screw with a pre-cut launch lug so I know how far t' screw needs t' go in. Do this before you glue t' motor mount into t' main tube. Positive motor retention works.

Recovery:
I used medium delays for t' lower flights, and plan t' use long delay's on t' J350 or J570 flights. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' fins are plywood, me bucko, me bucko, but a little layer o' glass on t' edges may help. Begad! If it needs that, I will make t' edges a different color t' set it off. Aye aye! Wind does nay effect those big fins.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PRO-strong kit, shiver me timbers, good for t' middle experience modeler, matey, people who have nay had t' cut tubes for fin placement may get a little lost, me hearties, but t' great directions will tell you how t' do it right. Begad! Nice big fins, great futuristic lookin' rocket. Well, blow me down! CON-I would switch t' birch plywood t' increase t' ease o' finishin' t' fins.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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