The Launch Pad ASRAAM

The Launch Pad - ASRAAM {Kit} (K003)

Contributed by Larry Brand

Diameter: 2.60 inches
Manufacturer: The Launch Pad
Skill Level: 3
Style: Scale

Rocket PicBrief:
ASRAAM is a scale kit by T' Launch Pad that models a prototype o' a thrust-vectored air-to-air missile. Avast! Well, blow me down! As such, it sports a set o' dinky fins that suggest nay too much o' a stability margin. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! In fact, ASRAAM is nay only exceptionally stable in flight, matey, but is an excellent, easy-buildin' sport flyer, and a good choice for a first cluster model (it uses a pair o' 24mm motors). Surprisingly, flight is acceptable with only a single D12 firing, and this further recommends ASRAAM as a "starter" cluster model.

Construction:
T' model construction is straight-forward, me hearties, me bucko, 4FNC. Well, blow me down! I decided from t' outset t' build it as a sport-flyer rather than scale, so I made a number o' changes, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' main one bein' t' extend t' 24 mm motor tubes t' accommodate a pair o' E9-6's or (with a spacer) t' intended D12's. Arrr! Because o' t' added weight o' t' former, matey, I determined that 35g nose weight would be needed when E9's are flown. In t' event, me bucko, I found ASRAAM t' fly so well on D12-7's that I haven't gotten around t' tryin' t' E9's. Simulation indicates an altitude o' 1200-1300' on E9-6's.


Rocket Pic

T' other changes I made for sport flyin' (see photo) are t' following:

  1. A added 1/64 inch plywood doublers t' one side o' each o' t' 4 fins cut out from t' rather soft balsa provided.
  2. I attached each fin t' t' hull betwixt two 1 1/8" lengths o' balsa triangle stock for support; this also makes assembly a snap (I used 5-minute epoxy throughout). Ahoy! Begad!
  3. I mounted t' aft centerin' rin' flush with t' end o' t' body tube (in t' "normal" fashion), instead o' recessin' it an inch and a half forward as t' plans call for. Aye aye! Begad! This can only improve performance.
  4. I skipped t' baffle provided with t' kit, ya bilge rat, because I don't like baffles. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!
  5. I anchored t' recovery system through t' upper hull with a knot covered with epoxy and a fairin' cut from a cigar tube.
  6. I used a 14" LOC chute on 8' o' para cord as t' recovery system (photo).

Finishing:
Since this be a sport model, I finished it simply with one coat o' flat gray aircraft primer, after coatin' t' fins with balsa sealer.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Rocket PicFlight:
Thus far, ya bilge rat, I have flown ASRAAM exclusively on Estes D12-7's. Avast, me proud beauty! This is nay t' delay recommended by t' manufacturer, but that is what I have used, and ejection is right at apogee, me hearties, about 700' or so.

On t' third flight, only one D12-7 lit, and t' climb was still so straight that I didn't realize immediately that somethin' was wrong. Avast, me proud beauty! Acceleration was slower, me bucko, with a slight wobble, ya bilge rat, with apogee at about 350-400'.

ASRAAM wallowed on its side momentarily, me bucko, and descended in a slow flat spin, with chute ejection at a good 150' off t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! So even with long delay D12-7's, a safe recovery occurs if one engine fails t' ignite. Ahoy! This be t' mark o' a good cluster design. Avast! I expect a similar happy result would be less likely with E9 power, me bucko, so I've stuck with D12's.

Recovery:
For our island launch site, matey, we tend t' use t' smallest chute possible, but even with t' 14" LOC system, no damage has occurred on landing.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, ya bilge rat, this is a great flyin' kit, contrary t' what its odd appearance (the dinky fins) might suggest. All t' parts are thar and work, and t' t' changes I made were really done with an eye toward sport flyin' vs. Arrr! Ya scallywag! scale. Ahoy! Performance is outstanding, especially on a single motor. Ya scallywag! Begad! My recommendation for power be t' D12-7, arrr, at least with t' modifications I made.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • The Launch Pad ASRAAM By Joe Cacciatore (June 1, 2011)

    Brief: Dual "D" engine scale model of the UK/Germany Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM). This Launch Pad rocket is exactly like all the other TLP kits. The Kit contains: Plastic nose cone Cardboard body tubes (2) Balsa fins Shock cord attachment & engine mounting the same as the older Estes rockets. Parachute is purple mylar. The quality of the parts ...

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