Manufacturer: | Cosmodrome Rocketry ![]() |
Brief:
I bought a Black Brant II from Cosmodrome because I loved t' Estes Brant kit when it was available, me bucko, and I got tired o' waitin' for t' Estes re-issue.... Avast! Avast! besides, t' Cosmodrome kit is 50" tall... A bit cooler than it's counterpart.
Construction:
T' rocket went together smoothly and smartly (3.5 Hrs) with 5min. Ahoy! epoxy used for t' entire build. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I replaced t' steel shock cord that was included in t' kit with aircraft cable o' t' same diameter after it was almost severed by crimpin' (with a hammer) t' ferrule onto it. Well, blow me down! T' instructions called for heavy sandin' o' t' 3/16" plywood fins t' a knife edge (about 75% o' t' fin area!). Aye aye! I deviated from this, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and only sanded a 1/4" knife edge on t' leadin' edge. (It's nay t' scale, but it was easy). Avast! Begad! T' inclusion o' motor retention is a much appreciated bonus.
Finishing:
I decided t' paint t' rocket true t' scale, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so I put several coats o' primer on, then several coats o' gloss white, me bucko, me hearties, and then spent 3 hours maskin' t' white areas off. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' included detail sheet for paintin' be very helpful, arrr, but it's still took a while t' mask such an intricate pattern. Ahoy! After 3 coats o' black paint t' rocket was unmasked. Blimey! Blimey! Simply stunning. Arrr! T' included decals were nicely done, and made t' completed rocket very authentic looking.
After readin' some comments about t' balsa NC o' t' Brant nay bein' heavy enough t' reliably pull t' chute out o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, I decided t' give it some extra pull by addin' a 12" chute t' t' NC eyelet. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This would also help in recovery, as t' only other complaint I've read about this rocket it that t' included chute is just a little too small.
Flight:
I selected a F52-5T for t' maiden flight. Blimey! Avast! wRASP simulation showed an 1170 ft. Ya scallywag! Well, arrr, blow me down! flight with maximum altitude at 6.1 seconds, me bucko, me bucko, and a maximum velocity o' 314.6 ft/sec. True t' t' simulation, arrr, t' rocket zoomed off t' pad straight as an arrow t' an estimated 800 or 900 ft., shiver me timbers, and deployed perfectly at max altitude.
Recovery:
T' rocket drifted on for ever.... right into a rocket eatin' tree. T' extra 12" chute be a little too much. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit chute alone would have done just fine. Ahoy! (My friend scaled t' tree and removed t' rocket for me... Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! if you're wondering).
Summary:
Overall, arrr, I'll give t' Cosmodrome Black Brant II a 5 o' 5 rating. Aye aye! T' balsa NC is prone t' damage (I knocked t' pointy tip off (1/8") while transportin' it), but that be t' only negative comment I can think of. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Super Kit!
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C.S. (April 1, 2001)