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 was t' first rocket me buddy, Greg Vose, me hearties, built. I looked at it and thought he be goin' t' be greatly disappointed. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! 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 . Begad! Begad! . Well, blow me down! . Avast, me proud beauty! tiny.

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

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

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

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

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

Overall...
Bam, it's built. Begad! Whoosh, matey, it flies like a champ. Aye aye! Blimey! It's a crowd pleaser and you have t' love that.

Overall, matey, me bucko, 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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