Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Brief:
This rocket combines t' Fliskits 3 Micromaxx motor cluster and t' Semroc Triton rocket. Begad! T' cluster component fits t' BT-20 body tube o' t' Triton perfectly. Arrr! T' Triton be built so that it could recover with t' use o' a streamer.
Construction:
In order t' build this rocket, ya bilge rat, you need t' FlisKits EMK3-6-30 Engine Mount Kit and a Semroc Triton kit.
T' Fliskits cluster mount comes with:
T' Semroc Triton comes with:
T' only other addition I added t' t' rocket was a screw eye, shiver me timbers, shock cord and mylar streamer material. Avast! T' original Triton is tumble recovery since t' nose cone is glued in place. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! My version has t' nose cone blow off like your typical 3FNC rocket.
I first began with buildin' t' motor cluster. As with all FlisKits products, shiver me timbers, t' quality o' parts was superb and t' instructions were exceptional. I removed t' laser cut centerin' rings and t' thrust rings from t' card stock. Avast, me proud beauty! I then glued t' three body tubes together as indicated. I added t' tiny thrust rings, which are great quality by t' way! This is just like buildin' a regular motor mount, ya bilge rat, only on a tiny scale. Aye aye! Before placin' t' centerin' rings on, I tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! Then I added t' fore and aft centerin' rings and glued them into place at t' appropriate locations on t' cluster mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I set this aside t' dry and began workin' on t' Triton.
T' Triton is an extremely simple rocket. I removed t' laser cut fins from t' sheet, ya bilge rat, me bucko, sanded them down, arrr, and shaped t' fins. I marked t' body tube (4 sides) then added t' fins one by one, makin' sure that they were on straight. Arrr! I covered t' nose cone with a few coats o' yellow glue and sanded it down for a smooth finish. Well, blow me down! I then added t' launch lug t' t' rocket. Normally, I would have glued t' nose cone in (for an "authentic" Triton build), but since this rocket was bein' converted into a cluster rocket, matey, I kept t' nose cone separate. Avast! I screwed in a screw eye, removed it, and then added a little CA glue. Begad! Ahoy! Then I screwed t' screw eye back into t' nose cone for a nice fit.
Next step was t' add t' cluster mount t' t' Triton. Arrr! This was very easy. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! All I had t' do be slide t' Keelhaul®©™® up through t' rocket, add some glue t' t' bottom o' t' BT-20, and then push t' cluster mount in so that t' bottom o' t' cluster mount was flush with t' bottom o' t' Triton body tube. Blimey! I tied a short piece o' shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® and then tied t' shock cord t' t' screw eye on t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! I cut a piece o' streamer from mylar and fold/taped it onto t' shock cord.
Finishing:
Finishin' t' rocket is very easy. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' balsa fins are straightforward t' prime, me bucko, sand and paint. Begad! T' body tube is good quality and t' nose cone, although balsa, me hearties, is o' very high quality. Aye aye! Avast! It needed very little fillin' compared t' balsa nose cone from other companies. Ahoy! Begad! T' Triton is featured on t' cover art with an all yellow paint scheme. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I airbrushed t' rocket a few times and gave it a somewhat glowin' yellow color. Avast, me proud beauty! I am nay totally satisfied with t' plain yellow and will probably add a little black later.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
There is really only one motor choice available: T' Quest Micromaxx motors. Ya scallywag! T' Micromaxx I motors are hard t' come by. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! I used t' more prevalent Micromaxx II motors. Avast, me proud beauty! I also used t' new Quest Q2 igniters. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! They fit easily inside t' nozzle o' t' Micromaxx motors. I held them in place with slivers o' balsa as plugs. I twisted t' igniter wires into two bundles. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket is prepped with a bit o' waddin' t' protect t' streamer.
First flight was terrific with a quick boost. Ya scallywag! Since t' rocket is very sizable for a Micromaxx rocket, I be able t' watch t' entire flight profile. Avast! Due t' t' motors' short delays, ya bilge rat, t' rocket be still in t' "nose up" position when t' streamer deployed. Still it was a very cool flight.
T' second flight was prepped identically t' t' first. Avast! On this flight, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, only 2 motors ignited. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' rocket still had a nice boost, me hearties, although definitely nay as high as t' original flight. T' rocket be in t' nose up position when t' streamer deployed. Ahoy! T' flight be still quite straight and certainly nay underpowered.
Recovery:
Both recoveries with t' streamer were flawless. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' rocket shows no real signs o' wear. Ahoy! T' shock cord materials and streamer work fine.
T' only real con t' this rocket is preppin' Micromaxx motors for clusters. Ahoy! Begad! It is certainly a greater challenge than preppin' 13mm or 18mm clusters. You need steady hands and everythin' has t' be done gently. Blimey! Aye aye! There is a certain art t' it. Arrr! Igniters can be a problem. Begad! What I like about Micromaxx motors is that t' builder/flyer has t' improvise and develop his own supplies and techniques t' make it work. Blimey! I often create me own igniters and igniter plugs. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I had t' build me own Micromaxx launch pad, as t' Quest Silo Launcher is entirely incapable o' allowin' for cluster launches.
T' pros are t' rewards t' get from makin' a Triton cluster-capable.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
If you are lookin' for a real challenge without havin' t' spend a lot o' dough, matey, try t' Triton/Fliskits cluster conversion. Blimey! Blimey! I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I have.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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