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, arrr, built. Aye aye! I looked at it and thought he be goin' t' be greatly disappointed. We'd go t' t' launch and he'd watch F, G and H motors and then slap this dinky rocket on t' pad with a 1/2 A motor and feel . . . tiny.

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

T' rocket is nay sold as a two stager. Ya scallywag! It's sold as a stand alone rocket, and you can buy t' booster seperate. It's standard light weight fare: paper tube, balsa fins and nose cone with streamer recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! It goes together nicely and finishes just as nicely. Begad! Paint it a very bright color. Ya scallywag! 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it's hogwash. Avast! Ahoy! We did 5 fine flights over 2 days and only once did t' motor fail t' ignite. Begad! A little care is all that is needed so you don't short out t' igniter. We leave t' toothpick in t' motor nozzle. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! It keeps t' igniter secure and provides a small stand-off.

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

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

T' Super Centrix adds a booster. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! It's a bit trickier because you have t' cut t' vent holes and add little balsa reinforcers made from left over balas. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! It is gap staged. Well, blow me down! T' throat o' t' Apogee micro motors is so small, though, that you'll need a 'stagin' igniter'. You have t' order these separate from Apogee, arrr, but do buy them. Otherwise you'll never get t' sustainer t' ignite. Avast! T' stagin' igniter is a bit o' fast fuse that gets poked in t' sustainer's engine. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' booster is tumble recovered. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If your NARRRRR section is havin' a C altitude event, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, it's a great flyer. Begad! T' micro motors burn so long and this rocket is so light it just screams higher and higher. Ahoy! Blimey! It's a crowd pleaser. Begad! If thar's much wind, matey, you'll need a good recovery crew. I'd keep it low on windy days. On t' days where t' wind is calm and t' sky is clear, 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, me hearties, you're gonna get serious altitude. This rocket will nay be visible about 2000'. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' motor's smoke will be. Avast! Use trackin' powder. Begad! Aye aye! 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. This is an extreme rocket for t' low power crowd. Aye aye! Arrr! It gets 5 points.

Overall...
Bam, arrr, shiver me timbers, it's built. Ahoy! Blimey! Whoosh, arrr, shiver me timbers, it flies like a champ. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! 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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