Apogee Components Super Centrix

Apogee Components - Super Centrix {Kit}

Contributed by David Urbanek

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Apogee Components

Introduction
This be t' first rocket me buddy, Greg Vose, me hearties, built. Blimey! I looked at it and thought he was goin' t' be greatly disappointed. We'd go t' t' launch and he'd watch F, arrr, G and H motors and then slap this dinky rocket on t' pad with a 1/2 A motor and feel . . Blimey! Begad! . Avast! Ya scallywag! tiny.

Well, me bucko, me hearties, t' experience be anythin' but disappointing. Ahoy! It's a tiny rocket, sure, matey, but it flies straight and true and really gets goin' even on t' 1/2 A motors. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Everyone got a real kick out o' watchin' it fly. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' B motors kick it up out o' sight, I'm nay kidding. Begad! I'm really sold on t' Apogee micro motors.

T' rocket is nay sold as a two stager. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! It's sold as a stand alone rocket, me hearties, and you can buy t' booster seperate. Ya scallywag! It's standard light weight fare: paper tube, ya bilge rat, balsa fins and nose cone with streamer recovery. It goes together nicely and finishes just as nicely. Paint it a very bright color. Well, blow me down! Greg's is dayglo red for a reason: so we can find it after he flies it two staged with a B2-0 stagin' t' a B2-7.

If you've heard that t' Apogee motors are hard t' ignite, it's hogwash. Begad! We did 5 fine flights over 2 days and only once did t' motor fail t' ignite. Blimey! A little care is all that is needed so you don't short out t' igniter. Aye aye! Aye aye! We leave t' toothpick in t' motor nozzle. Well, blow me down! It keeps t' igniter secure and provides a small stand-off.

Real, arrr, real, shiver me timbers, arrr, small.
This is a really tiny rocket. However, ya bilge rat, as they say, it nay t' size o' t' boat but t' motion o' t' briny deep that counts. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! For all it's diminutive size, it flies like a champ. Ya scallywag! It gets some o' t' same exclamations left for much larger rockets. Especially if you fly it with t' B2-7 motor. Ya scallywag! It just keeps on going.

Construction...
What's thar t' screw up with this rocket? It's a body tube, matey, shiver me timbers, three die cut fins, me hearties, a nose cone, an engine block, a piece o' Keelhaul®©™, shiver me timbers, a little bead. Well, blow me down! That's it. Glue t' fins on, glue in t' engine block and t' body's done. Begad! T' bead holds t' Keelhaul®©™ t' t' nose cone with a drop o' CA. Begad! Tie on a streamer and your ready t' fly. Well almost. Ya scallywag! Paint it Day-Glo something. Arrr! This is a very small, matey, shiver me timbers, very high flyer. If your NARRRRR club ever has an altitude event, ya bilge rat, this rocket stands a good chance o' placin' in t' top 4.

T' Super Centrix adds a booster. It's a bit trickier because you have t' cut t' vent holes and add little balsa reinforcers made from left over balas. Ahoy! It is gap staged. T' throat o' t' Apogee micro motors is so small, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, though, ya bilge rat, that you'll need a 'stagin' igniter'. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! You have t' order these separate from Apogee, matey, shiver me timbers, but do buy them. Ya scallywag! Otherwise you'll never get t' sustainer t' ignite. Begad! Arrr! T' stagin' igniter is a bit o' fast fuse that gets poked in t' sustainer's engine. Blimey! Ahoy! T' booster is tumble recovered. Avast! If your NARRRRR section is havin' a C altitude event, this rocket will take it (if t' trackers can see it at apogee).

Materials get 5 points (on a scale o' 1 t' 5).

Flight & Recovery...
Like I said, me hearties, it's a great flyer. Blimey! T' micro motors burn so long and this rocket is so light it just screams higher and higher. It's a crowd pleaser. Begad! If thar's much wind, me bucko, matey, you'll need a good recovery crew. Well, blow me down! I'd keep it low on windy days. Arrr! Begad! On t' days where t' wind is calm and t' sky is clear, shiver me timbers, then let her rip with t' B motors.

Here's t' performance you can expect from t' Centrix (single staged):

Motor 4300' elevation Sea Level
1/4A2-4 410' 390'
1/2A2-6 875' 815'
A2-7 1485' 1340'
B2-7 2300' 2085'

Now if you fly it two stage, you're gonna get serious altitude. Well, blow me down! This rocket will nay be visible about 2000'. T' motor's smoke will be. Use trackin' powder. Ahoy! Brin' binoculars.

Motor 4300' elevation Sea Level
A2-0 + 1/4A2-4 1330' 1210'
A2-0 + 1/2A2-6 1580' 1435'
A2-0 + A2-7 2020' 1830'
A2-0 + B2-7 2690' 2435'
B2-0 + 1/4A2-4 1885' 1710'
B2-0 + 1/2A2-6 2100' 1905'
B2-0 + A2-7 (A2-5 at sea level) 2485' 2240'
B2-0 + B2-7 3035' 2760'

It is such a cool rocket. Avast! This is an extreme rocket for t' low power crowd. Well, blow me down! It gets 5 points.

Overall...
Bam, it's built. Avast! Whoosh, it flies like a champ. Avast, me proud beauty! It's a crowd pleaser and you have t' love that.

Overall, it gets 5 points.

Other Reviews
  • Apogee Components Super Centrix By David Urbanek

    ( Contributed - by Alan Rognlie)  I wanted to get a sample of Tim Van Milligan's kits, so I included a Centrix and its booster when I ordered some items from Apogee Components. I call this version a "sport" model because it uses a launch lug. For competition (AL14-98?), I'll build an extended one (for tracking powder) without the lug and use a tower for the launch. The ...

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