(05/10/03) Caveman Rocketry asked me to beta-test a new idea they had called CCD (Cut Cost Down). Well, blow me down! T' thought is that instead o' shippin' t' whole rocket kit from t' Netherlands t' U.S., they would only ship t' unique parts and t' modeler would purchase t' remainder parts from local sources. Aye aye! Ahoy! It would be cheaper, me bucko, because Caveman uses parts that come of t' U.S. Aye aye! Ahoy! and have t' pass on t' shippin' costs t' get them t' t' Netherlands and then have t' turn-around and charge you shippin' charges again t' get them back t' you. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! For modelers it can be a bitter-sweet experience. Well, blow me down! Begad! Bitter because we have t' buy parts from someone here locally t' make up a "kit". Ahoy! Sweet because we can save loot - OR - use parts we may already have. Avast! That is what I did.

Picture Courtesy of Caveman Rocketry

T' SuperG is accordin' t' Caveman Rocketry, "This rocket is made o' a simple but durable construction, me hearties, t' simple construction makes it a high performin' rocket that can be flown on any type of 29 mm rocket engine, t' cap'n advises you nay t' use rocket engines higher than a G, me bucko, unless you don't mind t' land yours on t' moon this rocket will exceed 4000 feet on a G80 engine.". Ya scallywag! As designed it should weigh in at about 5.3 ounces, so you could fly this SuperG on as small o' a motor as a D12-3.

T' CCD kit came with:

• (2) laser-cut plywood centerin' rings
• (3) plywood fins
• (1) Aluminum Muffler with Eyebolt
• (1) Wire Mesh
• (1) Neon Green Shockcord (special cord used to make power kites)
• (1) 24" Caveman Ready-made Rip-stop Nylon Parachute
• (1) SuperG sticker

Caveman indicates that you need t' provide the followin' Aerotech parts:

• Body Tube - 1.9 in Slot / 3-Fin 22.75 in p/n -48365-
• Nose Cone - 1.9 in 5/1 Ogive p/n -48381-
• Motor Mount 29mm x 12 inch Motor Mount Tube p/n -50338-

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions provided with t' beta-test kit are the same ones provided with t' full SuperG kit. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I provided feedback on how these should be adjusted for t' CCD kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' instructions are brief and have a few illustrations. Well, blow me down! Overall, they can get t' builder through if it is an experienced builder, arrr, otherwise, they need t' be spruced up and improved in format.

T' SuperG is a very straight forward rocket to build. Aye aye! I'm only goin' t' highlight a couple o' unique areas in the build.

To get started, I didn't go buy t' exact Aerotech parts listed. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! I already had t' Aerotech nose cone. I also had the Aerotech non-slotted version o' t' body tube, so I slotted me own. Aye aye! I use a hobby knife and several passes when slottin' tubes. Avast! It works. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! Lastly, I had a 12" motor tube, but mine be phenolic so I had t' sand t' centerin' rings (a lot) t' get them t' fit around t' motor tube. Begad! Begad! Blimey! This also added a bit of weight t' me rocket.

A unique feature o' t' SuperG is Caveman's "Muffler". Ahoy! It is a aluminum disk with 4 exhaust ports cut into it and an eye-screw is screwed into t' center. This is glued into t' top o' t' motor tube. T' eye-screw is screw in and then t' shockcord is attached t' the eye-screw. Avast, me proud beauty! This is a very "beefy" system. T' complete the "Muffler", a wire mesh is inserted into t' bottom o' t' motor mount so that it is above t' motor and below t' "Muffler". Avast, me proud beauty! This makes the rocket "wadless".

T' fins are through-the-wall as you have probably already gathered. Begad! Blimey! I had t' sand them a lot t' accommodate t' phenolic tube I used. Begad! Blimey! This is nay Caveman's problem since I strayed from t' recommended motor tube.

Caveman's instructions tell you where your Center o' Gravity should be. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I had t' add about 1.2 ounces o' clay t' t' nose cone t' get mine t' balance correctly. I'm sure this amount be needed due to the phenolic motor tube and t' epoxy fillets. Arrr! Blimey! My overall, unfinished, me bucko, ya bilge rat, weight was 8.67 ounces.

And that, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, folks, ya bilge rat, me bucko, is pretty much it!

I didn't even finish me rocket as I wanted to get out thar and fly it as soon as possible. Aye aye! T' kit did come with a SuperG sticker (as seen in t' picture above).

Overall, ya bilge rat, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Ahoy! T' quality o' t' components, matey, especially the "Muffler" is outstanding. T' instructions need a bit o' work t' make the kit complete and thar needs t' be attention t' t' illustrations. Remember though this be a beta-kit for t' CCD program (although these were the released instructions for t' SuperG kit). T' kit does nay come with motor retention.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Even at me finished weight, shiver me timbers, it RockSim'd fine on a D12-3. Begad! I choose t' use a 24mm adaptor and try it on some new Estes' E9-4's. T' 4 second delay sim'd short and a 5 second delay would be better, but Estes sells E9-4's!

I decided nay t' use t' parachute and install a B2 3" streamer. Blimey! Blimey! I friction fit t' 24mm adaptor and friction fit the E9-4 into t' motor mount. No waddin' is needed with the "Muffler" system.

First flight was straight as an arrow. T' E9 is a very nice match for this rocket. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Even t' 4 second delay be okay. Arrr! T' E9 has a chug-chug high-tech sound t' it. I really like it. T' B2 Streamer came out and recovery was excellent.

Let's do it again!

When I pulled out t' spent E9 small chunks of clay came out that had been trapped by t' wire mesh. I shook t' rocket and tapped it a bit t' get t' remainder out, shiver me timbers, then loaded a second E9-4.

Another nice and straight flight. Avast! This time the ejection only popped t' nose cone and t' streamer stayed stuck in the body tube. Avast! Avast! I watched it fall into a young (but tall) tree. Well, blow me down! She still sits there today after numerous attempts t' get her with me rope and hook. Begad! Avast! Oh, arrr, by t' way, my rope and hook are stuck in t' tree now too because t' hook got wedged in the tree joint!

T' rocket is a nice size for those D12 and E9 flights, but will be out-of-sight on 29mm motors. Blimey! It will "exceed 4000 feet on a G80 engine". Ya scallywag! Mine sims a bit less due t' t' added weight.

T' wadless system is nice and t' wire mesh is easy t' get out (not built into any tube). Ahoy! Blimey! Just reach up into t' motor tube with a hook and pull it out. Easy t' clean.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, me hearties, matey, I would rate this kit 5 points. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Although I only have two flights and it is now stuck in a tree, the straight flight, versatility o' motor selection, wadless "Muffler" system, me bucko, and easy t' remove/clean wire mesh make this a very nice rocket. Blimey! Blimey! Accordin' t' Caveman, "... we have had several drag races with t' original kit and we swept t' floor with all t' Aerotech kits we raced. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' only time we lost t' race we blew out t' igniter and t' engine took 3 second t' come t' pressure."

SUMMARY:

I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points. Avast, me proud beauty! It was a beta-kit, so thar are some obvious areas that need to be corrected for production. I have pointed these out t' a very receptive Caveman Rocketry. Well, blow me down! T' rocket's size and versatility should make it attractive to those that are interested in gettin' in mid-power rocketry.

T' idea o' CCD is unique and may have a market. Best wishes t' Caveman on this. Begad! I feel t' make t' CCD kits MORE attractive, t' fins need t' be unique shapes and t' parachute has t' be an option. T' reason I feel this way is because t' SuperG fins would nay take me too much t' make, but somethin' with more complicated cuts and such would.

In addition, arrr, for a CCD kit, t' instructions may need t' be enhanced t' address some common variations. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! For example they might say, "You may choose t' use an unslotted, me hearties, ya bilge rat, 1.9" tube. If you do you need t' do this......." or "You may choose t' use a non-Aerotech 29mm tube. Well, me bucko, blow me down! If you do you need t' do this......".