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