(10/01/04) U.S. Ahoy! Aye aye! Rockets states that t' "Fire & Forget be t' reference model rocket for U.S. Rockets. It is a near minimal diameter rocket in 24mm mode and a minimal diameter rocket in 29mm mode. Avast! T' maximum 29mm motor length is 9" (H120-12). Ahoy! Aerospace specification airframe tubin' is used t' assure high performance and high strength."

What caught me attention was "reference model". Begad! This is interesting, me hearties, me bucko, because used in this fashion it would indicate that t' Fire & Forget would "furnish as a reference" or "provide proof o' a person's [or thing's] character, arrr, abilities, etc." or "somethin' for which a name or designation stands" accordin' t' Random House. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! So, this would mean t' me, that t' Fire & Forget would typify what one could expect from U.S. Well, blow me down! Rockets' other kits.

T' Fire & Forget is me first U.S. Begad! Rockets kit. It is considered a Level 1 kit by U.S. Blimey! Rockets.

T' kit includes two 12" body tubes and a 3.5" balsa nose cone t' make up t' 27.5" total length. Ya scallywag! There is a 2" coupler t' join t' two body tubes, a 1/4"-wide elastic shockcord, and a 3"x36" plastic streamer. Avast, me proud beauty! Also included were three pre-cut 1/16" plywood fins, shiver me timbers, a single 1/4" launch lug, and a decal sheet. Arrr! Arrr! Lastly, thar as a 24mm adapter (Interchangeable™ mount).

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on a single page (both sides) o' 8½ x 11" paper (orange, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, if that matters). Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! There are a number o' diagrams t' assist in buildin' t' kit. Aye aye! Begad! A tube markin' guide is in t' instructions. There are some optional construction ideas as well.

T' Fire & Forget is simply a three-fin-nose-cone (3FNC) rocket and is very easy t' assemble. Ya scallywag! I will highlight a few points o' t' construction o' it:

First, it should be noted that t' 29mm tubes are thicker than what you would get from an Estes-like kit. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! This makes for a strong, rigid rocket, which if t' flier were t' use up t' t' "H" motor, would need.

T' tube markin' guide be t' kind that t' body tube is placed on (flat surface) and then mark with hash marks. Begad! These lines are extended usin' t' "door frame" method. This is just a good as a wrap-around type o' fin markin' guide t' me, when you are dealin' with simple three or four fin rockets.

T' three pre-cut plywood fins are definitely nay laser-cut. Avast, me proud beauty! In fact, matey, shiver me timbers, they were quite ragged. Ahoy! Ahoy! It will make t' builder question t' quality. After they are airfoiled, shiver me timbers, me bucko, thar be some improvement, me hearties, so fillin' is necessary when finishin' t' rocket. I "filled" them usin' wood glue t' start with, me bucko, ya bilge rat, matey, then relied on primer for t' rest.

After t' fins were attached, I made good fin fillets with 5-Minute epoxy.

T' 1/4" elastic is glued into t' bottom body tube o' t' rocket. Ahoy! T' other end is glued into t' upper body tube. Blimey! T' coupler is then glued into t' bottom body tube. Well, blow me down! It really quite loose, but if t' elastic is sandwiched betwixt t' body tube and coupler it is snug. Begad! T' instructions suggest usin' tape t' make it a snug fit into t' upper body tube (this makes t' ejection point mid-rocket). Ahoy! T' streamer is taped t' elastic shock cord.

T' instructions say t' friction fit t' nose cone, but I chose t' glue me nose cone in place.

T' ¼" launch lug is cut "in half with scissors". Begad! I did this at a 45 degree angle and glued in place.

T' 24mm adapter is made. Begad! It is a nice addition t' t' kit. Begad! Begad! There are also instructions for makin' an 18mm adapter.

Some o' t' optional ideas include: 1) havin' nose cone ejection verses middle ejection (which after flyin' this rocket, I would recommend), arrr, matey, and 2) permanent 24mm mount with through-the-wall fins.

U.S. Ahoy! Rockets does give finishin' guidance includin' usin' sandin' sealer on t' wood parts, sanding, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, and repeatin' until smooth. They suggest paintin' t' rocket gloss white with a single black fin.

I used me typical multiple coats o' Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Begad! I then used Walmart Flat White paint (additional comments about Walmart paint). Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! After waitin' 1 week, I then painted t' rocket with Krylon Fluorescent Orange. Avast, me proud beauty! Lastly I added t' peel-n-stick decals.

Overall, me hearties, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Arrr! Blimey! T' instructions are adequate and do provide some nice alternate build ideas. Although, arrr, shiver me timbers, me hearties, nay a significant build impact, t' ragged edges on t' plywood fins was disappointing. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Was pleased t' have a 24mm adaptor provided and t' peel-n-stick decals added t' t' finish.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' list o' motors that U.S. Avast! Rockets recommends is impressive. It ranges from 24mm D12's t' 29mm H120's. Begad! T' provided altitudes were from 66 feet (usin' an A8-3 (not in recommended motors since it is an 18mm motor) t' 7109 feet on a H60.

U.S. Rockets gives a bunch o' stats on t' rocket, shiver me timbers, but I personally think t' most important is where t' CP is supposed t' be: 22.5" from t' nose cone. Why important? With t' range o' motors that can be used in this rocket, shiver me timbers, arrr, one may need t' add nose weight t' maintain t' U.S. Rockets' desired stability o' 1.5 calibers (CG at 20.65").

U.S. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Rockets does nay provide a thrust rin' nor motor retention since they don't want t' limit any motor selection. Well, blow me down! Begad! They give instruction on usin' fiction-fit and tape-wrap retention.

I do plan on usin' t' rocket for it "to experience its namesake" usin' a G25 or G125, arrr, but first I decided t' fly it on a C11-5. Arrr! Begad! Blimey!

I stuffed in four sheets o' Estes wadding, friction-fit t' C11-5 into t' 24mm adapter then friction-fit t' adapter into t' rocket.

T' flight was straight as an arrow flight and it was fairly high (RockSIM says around 650 feet). Arrr! Blimey! Even at this relatively low altitude, compared t' what t' Fire & Forget could do, shiver me timbers, it was hard t' track because it is a smaller rocket. T' streamer ejected right at apogee and t' rocket descended fast and hard. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I spent about 10 minutes lookin' for it in t' tall grass, shiver me timbers, but found it.

Upon inspection thar was damage t' t' coupler and upper tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! At first I thought this was due t' t' speed that it descended, arrr, but later determined that it was definitely an Estes-dent (U.S. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Rockets dent?) caused by t' shortness o' t' elastic shock cord. Arrr! Arrr! I will bend this damage outward and go again.

T' next flight was long-in-coming, arrr, but I be able t' load it up with a AT G25-10. I was very excited, shiver me timbers, because this would soon become me highest flyin' rocket... Ahoy! t' just under 1 mile.

Everythin' was ready and t' count down began. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! When t' button was pushed, arrr, t' ignitor popped, t' motor chuffed, chuffed, ya bilge rat, 3...2...1, varoom! It only went t' about 50 feet and did a loop. Aye aye! Went up another 50 feet and did a loop and a loop and another. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Then, when thrust stopped in pointed down and fell t' t' ground. After a couple o' seconds it ejected.

A young man that was visitin' t' rocket launch for t' first time be lookin' for it with me. Avast! Ya scallywag! We found it. Damage report: Melted paint around t' motor, arrr, one broken fin, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and one very melted streamer. Begad!

After lookin' it over, I handed it t' this young man and told him he could have it. Interestingly, after about an hour, matey, he came back t' me and showed me that he had glued (CA'd) t' fin back on and installed a parachute. Well, blow me down! Remember, matey, he had never flown rockets before. Blimey! He got his supplies from another club member.

Well, arrr, me bucko, I was impressed, but I didn't have another 29mm motor t' let he use. So, shiver me timbers, instead, shiver me timbers, I took an Estes E9-6 and wrapped it with enough maskin' tap t' adapt it t' t' 29mm mount. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I installed an ignitor and handed it t' him. Well, blow me down! He took it and presented it for launchin' and within 10 minutes, he had launched his first rocket!

T' flight? Excellent, shiver me timbers, straight, stable and very high! With t' parachute it drifted quite a bit, arrr, but he recovered it. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I'm amazed.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 points. T' rocket, arrr, as built is very stable and versatile. Begad! T' variety o' motors makes it impressive. Ya scallywag! T' short elastic shock cord caused damage on just t' first test flight, but perhaps if you are goin' t' fly it in "Fire & Forget" mode, arrr, you don't care. Begad! Ahoy! I would recommend buildin' it, me bucko, as optionally described, ya bilge rat, with nose cone ejection (but you will need t' add an eye-screw). Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' friction-fit and tape-wrap retention doesn't concern me for this type o' rocket, me hearties, but if it is nay goin' t' be "Fire & Forget", shiver me timbers, matey, I like hooks and thrust rings.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Ya scallywag! T' rocket can be assembled in about 1 hour. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It can be flown in small fields or pushed t' fly over a mile high. T' thick body tubes give it a steadiness that if nay lost would make t' body hold up t' a lot o' abuse. Nay thrilled with t' elastic shock cord system, nor t' "look" o' t' pre-cut fins. All-in-all, I'm glad I built it.