(05/10/03) Caveman Rocketry asked me to beta-test a new idea they had called CCD (Cut Cost Down). Ya scallywag! 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! Blimey! It would be cheaper, ya bilge rat, because Caveman uses parts that come of t' U.S. Avast! Blimey! 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. For modelers it can be a bitter-sweet experience. Avast! Avast! Blimey! Bitter because we have t' buy parts from someone here locally t' make up a "kit". Aye aye! Sweet because we can save loot - OR - use parts we may already have. 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, matey, arrr, 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, unless you don't mind t' land yours on t' moon this rocket will exceed 4000 feet on a G80 engine.". Aye aye! As designed it should weigh in at about 5.3 ounces, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 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. I provided feedback on how these should be adjusted for t' CCD kit. Ya scallywag! T' instructions are brief and have a few illustrations. Ahoy! Overall, matey, arrr, they can get t' builder through if it is an experienced builder, shiver me timbers, otherwise, they need t' be spruced up and improved in format.

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

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

A unique feature o' t' SuperG is Caveman's "Muffler". It is a aluminum disk with 4 exhaust ports cut into it and an eye-screw is screwed into t' center. Well, blow me down! Begad! This is glued into t' top o' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! T' eye-screw is screw in and then t' shockcord is attached t' the eye-screw. Ya scallywag! This is a very "beefy" system. T' complete the "Muffler", arrr, shiver me timbers, 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! Ahoy! This makes the rocket "wadless".

T' fins are through-the-wall as you have probably already gathered. Avast! Ya scallywag! I had t' sand them a lot t' accommodate t' phenolic tube I used. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Aye aye! I had t' add about 1.2 ounces o' clay t' t' nose cone t' get mine t' balance correctly. Begad! I'm sure this amount be needed due to the phenolic motor tube and t' epoxy fillets. Blimey! My overall, me bucko, unfinished, ya bilge rat, arrr, weight was 8.67 ounces.

And that, folks, ya bilge rat, 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. Blimey! Ya scallywag! T' kit did come with a SuperG sticker (as seen in t' picture above).

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' quality o' t' components, 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. Avast! Blimey! Remember though this was a beta-kit for t' CCD program (although these were the released instructions for t' SuperG kit). Begad! Blimey! T' kit does nay come with motor retention.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Even at me finished weight, me bucko, it RockSim'd fine on a D12-3. Avast! I choose t' use a 24mm adaptor and try it on some new Estes' E9-4's. Begad! Begad! 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. 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. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' E9 is a very nice match for this rocket. Arrr! Blimey! Even t' 4 second delay be okay. Arrr! Blimey! T' E9 has a chug-chug high-tech sound t' it. I really like it. Avast! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' B2 Streamer came out and recovery be 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. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I shook t' rocket and tapped it a bit t' get t' remainder out, then loaded a second E9-4.

Another nice and straight flight. Ahoy! This time the ejection only popped t' nose cone and t' streamer stayed stuck in the body tube. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I watched it fall into a young (but tall) tree. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! She still sits there today after numerous attempts t' get her with me rope and hook. Oh, 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, shiver me timbers, arrr, but will be out-of-sight on 29mm motors. Arrr! Blimey! It will "exceed 4000 feet on a G80 engine". 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). Just reach up into t' motor tube with a hook and pull it out. Well, blow me down! Begad! Easy t' clean.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, matey, I would rate this kit 5 points. Blimey! Although I only have two flights and it is now stuck in a tree, the straight flight, shiver me timbers, versatility o' motor selection, matey, arrr, wadless "Muffler" system, me bucko, and easy t' remove/clean wire mesh make this a very nice rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Accordin' t' Caveman, me bucko, me bucko, "... Aye aye! we have had several drag races with t' original kit and we swept t' floor with all t' Aerotech kits we raced. Begad! 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. It was a beta-kit, matey, matey, so thar are some obvious areas that need to be corrected for production. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I have pointed these out t' a very receptive Caveman Rocketry. 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. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Best wishes t' Caveman on this. I feel t' make t' CCD kits MORE attractive, shiver me timbers, t' fins need t' be unique shapes and t' parachute has t' be an option. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' reason I feel this way is because t' SuperG fins would nay take me too much t' make, matey, but somethin' with more complicated cuts and such would.

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