BSD High Power Rocketry Thor

BSD High Power Rocketry - Thor {Kit}

Contributed by Allan Trau

Manufacturer: BSD High Power Rocketry
Rating
(by Allan Trau - 07/01/02)

Rocket PicBrief:
Single stage, ya bilge rat, dual deployment capable, arrr, three split-fin design.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

  • 3 body tubes, me hearties, me hearties, 34" aft, 10" electronics payload, 24" forward
  • 2 coupler tubes
  • 3 plywood centerin' rings
  • 3 aft 3/16" plywood fins
  • 3 fore 3/16" plywood fins
  • plastic nose cone
  • 45" nylon chute
  • 20' elastic shock cord
  • Quick links
  • eyebolts
  • rail buttons
  • plastic rivets
  • motor retention system
  • vinyl graphic decals

Instructions a excellent, me hearties, easy t' read and follow. Pictures are included with most steps. Begad! Diagrams o' t' rocket are provided for dual deployment. Begad! A fin alignment template is included.

T' materials are o' high quality and fit with minimal sanding. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket is solid when completed. Addition o' finishin' epoxy plus some sandin' t' the couplers makes t' payload sections a snug fit.

Finishing:
When applied properly, arrr, t' vinyl decals look like paint. If you've never applied this type o' decal before, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, it's a piece o' cake and t' outcome will surprise you. Blimey! Avast! I can't get over how good they look.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Have only flown it once so far, but t' motor selection for t' Thor includes a wide range. Arrr! I flew it on an Aerotech J420 Redline.

Waddin' is suggested, matey, arrr, but I replaced it with leather chute protectors. Begad! The motor retention system provided are two blind nuts, arrr, screws, me hearties, and clips. Simple and effective.

T' rocket flew straight as an arrow, did nay notice any spin.

Recovery:
Shock cord is a braided nylon strap and 20' o' elastic shock cord. I added another nylon strap for dual deployment. Arrr! T' chute provides a quick decent, not fast or anything, shiver me timbers, but t' sturdy design o' t' rocket can withstand the landing. Avast! Upsize t' chute for harder surfaces. Blimey! I encountered no damage at all.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
A pleasure t' build - really fun. T' instructions are excellent, arrr, arrr, materials are excellent, design is great. Avast! Blimey! T' screws with t' motor retention system have a shoulder, me hearties, arrr, so they can't be tightened all t' way, but easily replaced with some from t' hardware store. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' plastic rivets ensure you do nay separate at locations on t' rocket nay intended.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
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    ( Contributed - by Chuck Pierce - 04/01/03) Mark Saunders, of BSD High Power Rocketry, graciously donated a 4" Thor kit for a raffle prize, for the Huntsville Area Rocketry Association's (HARA) Rocket City Blastoff (RCBO), October 2002. I was the lucky winner of this kit, and as such, would like to reward Mark's generosity by posting this review to RMR. I approached Mark during ...

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  • BSD High Power Rocketry Thor By Allan Trau

    When I purchased my BSD Thor, I knew I would also need to purchase new motor hardware. So I also purchased a 38mm set with a 38-240, 360 and 480 case. I also purchased a PML 54mm to 38mm adaptor to allow me to fly the 54mm-based Thor on my new hardware. So needless to say, this was a large outflow of money to venture into the largest rocket I have built. Is it the tallest I've built? No, the ...

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