Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Rebel Rocketry |
Brief:
Mid t' High Power rocket with inverted fins that leads t' plenty o' ribbin' from your fellow rocketeers until they
see how well it flies!
Construction:
T' Wolf 2.1 is a kit from European high power rocket vendor Rebel Rocketry. Although English is a second language
for t' vendor, t' instructions are well-written, easy t' follow, and included many photographs t' help guide in the
rocket's construction. Begad! T' rocket's construction required no special supplies or tools, arrr, although a Dremel tool always
makes construction chores much easier. Ahoy! Other than t' unique fin design for this rocket, it is a basic mid t' high
power design that goes together with 15 or 30 minute epoxy. As for me, matey, I wanted this rocket t' last, so I beefed up the
airframe by glassin' t' Public Missiles (PML) phenolic airframe with two wraps o' two ounce fiberglass cloth.
T' kit comes with a 54mm PML phenolic airframe, a plastic nosecone, shiver me timbers, two 54/38mm centerin' rings, a 12 inch 38mm phenolic motor tube, me bucko, three 0.062 inch fiberglass fins that look inverted, three fiberglass cutter fins, ya bilge rat, tubular nylon shock cord, a 24 inch parachute, arrr, ya bilge rat, and a fin alignment guide. After construction, me hearties, arrr, matey, especially with t' reinforced airframe, this thin' was rock solid.
Finishing:
I finished it with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy Paint and painted t' upper half o' t' rocket white and t' bottom half
black. Arrr! Begad! Epoxy paint is very strong and withstands scratches quite well.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
I used a Cesaroni H153 for her maiden flight in t' belief that t' glassed rocket would be a little heavier than
normal. Ya scallywag! Instead o' wadding, I used LOC/Precision Keelhaul®©™®
cloth for small body tubes. Begad! I also had a Radio Shack personal alarm in t' rocket attached t' t' recovery harness to
help find t' rocket on t' ground.
As I approached t' RSO, ya bilge rat, everyone teased me about t' inverted fins. Well, blow me down! Well, arrr, blow me down! So be prepared for people t' continually show how clever they think they are by commentin' on your buildin' skills every time you fly this rocket.
Once t' countdown reached zero, shiver me timbers, t' Wolf 2.1 took off like a bat out o' hell and streaked into t' sky. It definitely went above 3000 feet on that motor and flew beautifully. Begad! However, recovery took it a good half mile away and it be a long trek through t' sage at Brothers, ya bilge rat, Oregon t' find it.
Durin' its second flight, I used an AeroTech G64-7 White Lightnin' motor and t' rocket flew beautifully on that little motor, arrr, matey, me hearties, too. Avast! In fact, a lot o' t' fliers thought thar was an H motor in t' rocket due t' how smartly it lifted off t' pad. Avast! So even with t' extra reinforcement o' t' fiberglassed airframe, this rocket does well on G motors and will knock your socks off on an H motor. Arrr! Arrr! Although it could take an I motor, you run a substantial risk, me hearties, even with a personal alarm in it, matey, o' losin' it. Puttin' a J motor in it is really livin' dangerously!
Recovery:
I used t' 24 inch parachute for recovery and 1/2 inch Keelhaul®©™®
strap for t' shock cord. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' rocket uses motor ejection and recovered well on both occasions. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! After t' second flight,
one o' t' cutter fins fell off. Blimey! I cut a replacement from some fin stock I had around and glued it on with JB Weld.
Hopefully, that will keep it from comin' off in t' future. Arrr! Other than that, t' rocket landed without a scratch and
was ready t' fly with very little prepping.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
I promised Rebel Rocketry's owner, arrr, arrr, Frank De Brower, that I wouldn't include a RockSim file or be specific about the
measurements in order t' protect his ability t' avoid havin' clones made o' his rocket. However, ya bilge rat, even with t' exchange
rate differential, t' price and shippin' costs for this rocket aren't bad and I feel that it's a good deal considering
this vendor's fabulous service and t' impressive performance o' this rocket.
If you're lookin' for a nice, easy-to-build and easy-to-prep high performance rocket that can fly on 29-38mm F-J motors with a unique, eye-catchin' look t' it, matey, then buy a Wolf 2.1 and become a Rebel!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5