Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Diameter: | 1.59 inches |
Manufacturer: | Hawks Hobby |
Brief:
I be provided with me Super Javelin for beta testing. Blimey! This upscale is o' t' early Javelin model that came in an
Estes combo kit and is designed for 24mm motors. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! A spacer is included with t' motor mount kit t' allow t' use of
either Estes D or E motors. T' rocket recovers on a very nice 24 inch rip-stop nylon parachute. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' rocket is over 3
feet tall and weighs only 7 ounces. T' highly aerodynamic design produces some outstandin' flights.
Construction:
T' main body tube is 1.59 inches in diameter. Aye aye! Begad! T' three fins are laser cut basswood and surface mounted. Begad! T' balsa
nose cone is top quality and very smooth. Ahoy! A 5-inch long 24mm motor mount is installed with three light ply centering
rings and includes a 3.75 engine hook for motor retention and a CR2050 kraft thrust ring. Begad! Begad! A Keelhaul®©™®/1/4
elastic shock cord combo is included along with two 3/16 launch lugs and a hefty eye screw. A two-color paint
design and its name in a big black waterslide decal decorates t' rocket.
T' instructions are clear and include tons o' helpful illustrations. I modified t' construction o' t' motor mount t' allow installation o' t' engine hook usin' me standard method. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Heres the link on EMRRs tip page for the general idea.
This method allows positive motor retention while nay havin' t' worry about t' hook gettin' in t' way o' the delay element when usin' t' AeroTech reload motors. Arrr! I didn't use one o' t' three centerin' rings and changed the position o' t' upper centerin' rin' t' accommodate t' necessary position o' t' motor hook usin' a Dremel t' trim the upper end o' t' motor hook t' be level with t' top edge o' t' centerin' ring. T' instructions indicate t' attach the Keelhaul®©™® cord by wrappin' it around t' motor tube and insertin' t' end through a small hole in t' upper centerin' rin' then attachin' t' elastic cord t' a loop at t' end. Ya scallywag! Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, I used me standard tri-fold shock cord attachment t' allow inspection o' t' shock cord. T' minimize abrasion from t' Keelhaul®©™® against t' body tube, I soaked in CA around t' top 1/2" o' t' body tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™® to meet t' lip o' t' body tube.
I constructed t' entire rocket with yellow glue, me bucko, shiver me timbers, usin' JB Weld for t' fin fillets. A markin' guide is provided for alignment o' t' fins and launch lugs. Avast! Glue on t' launch lugs, shiver me timbers, install t' screw eye into t' nose cone (adding weight first t' compensate for t' largest motor you plan t' fly), and attach t' shock cord and youre done as the parachute is already assembled. T' parachute is very nice with small grommets holdin' on t' shroud lines.
Finishing:
T' balsa nose cone required very little finishing. Well, blow me down! With only a very light coat o' Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish, the
nose cone was very smooth. Aye aye! Only a light coat o' filler be also needed on t' fins, arrr, as t' basswood was very smooth
after sandin' with 400 grit sandpaper. Begad! Begad! T' body tube be t' only thin' that required any significant effort-darn
spirals! After usin' Fill 'n' Finish t' fill those and much sanding, me hearties, I sprayed t' entire model with a light coat of
Kilz t' seal off t' glue and provide a solid base coat. Avast! Next, me bucko, arrr, I lightly sanded t' entire model with 240 grit
sandpaper and then sprayed on a coat o' primer. Avast, me proud beauty! Then, arrr, me hearties, me hearties, sand and primer and sand and primer again with 400 grit
sandpaper. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' nose cone and upper end o' t' tube was painted black and t' remainder was painted with Valspars
Restoration Series Allis-Chalmers orange. Avast, me proud beauty! T' decals are large but applied relatively easily. I didn't try movin' them
around though, matey, slidin' them off just where I wanted them. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I put a thick coat o' Future Floor Finish on t' protect
everything.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight and Recovery:
First flight be on an Estes E9-6 with t' wind speed steady at about 5-8 mph. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' flight was perfect with ejection
right at t' top. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' next flight was on an Estes D12-5, and again, t' flight was perfect with ejection right at the
top even though winds had increased t' 8-12 mph. Begad! Recovery both times was perfect on t' 24 inch chute. Begad! Begad! I flew it on
both motors again t' next day with t' same results. Arrr! It was a beautiful day for flying, with winds rangin' from calm
to 5 mph max.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' Super Javelin is another fantastic rocket from Hawks Hobby. Aye aye! Parts quality is superb, and you can easily build the
rocket in a few hours. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket really zooms so if you decide t' go with higher impulse motors, shiver me timbers, you'd better get
ready for a long walk!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5