Manufacturer: | Giant Leap Rocketry |
Brief:
This is a brief review o' Giant Leap Rocketry's 38mm snap-rin' style SLIMLINE
Motor Retainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! SLIMLINE retainers are also available for 29mm, 54mm, 76, and
98mm motor tubes. Arrr! Blimey! There are also motor adapters, shiver me timbers, me hearties, boat-tail retainers, and a
newly released threaded SLIMLINE retainer system.
Construction:
T' SLIMLINE retainer system includes a sleeve, me bucko, a snap ring, and a spacer
washer. Aye aye! Begad! T' instructions come on a single 5" x 8" sheet and include
diagrams. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' sleeve is black anodized aircraft-grade aluminum (6061-T6), me hearties, and
the two rings are stainless steel.
T' main feature be t' snap rin' that pops into a groove on t' inside of the sleeve. This rin' is easily visible in t' attached photo. Avast, me proud beauty! Unlike the typical snap rings used on t' Kosdon style motor hardware, arrr, no special tools are required t' install or remove this ring. One end is notched and a small screwdriver is all that's required. This internally mounted rin' allows the outer diameter t' be thinner than other quick-release retainers do, shiver me timbers, which is important t' reduce aerodynamic drag on minimum diameter rockets.
T' install t' SLIMLINE, ya bilge rat, you mount t' motor tube so that its protruding behind t' aft centerin' ring. T' sleeve is made t' fit all motor tubes and should be test-fit for both tightness and spacing. If you don't test fit it with your motor hardware, me bucko, you may nay have enough room betwixt t' motor tube and t' snap rin' t' accommodate t' motor's thrust rin' - this would be a show-stopper! Blimey! If it's too tight, you sand t' tube a bit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If it's too loose, you add small slivers o' tape 120 degrees apart. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It fit me LOC motor mount tubin' just right. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As with most bondin' applications, t' tube should be roughed up. Ya scallywag! Blimey! No processin' is required on t' inside o' t' sleeve since it is grooved. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! T' glue it on, you slather some heat resistant epoxy such as JB-Weld onto t' exposed tube, and twist t' retainer on. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey!
T' retainer is advertised t' work with AT, Kosdon, shiver me timbers, Ellis, and hybrid motors. Ahoy! For motors with integral retainin' rings, you just slide them in, insert t' notched end o' t' snap ring, and then press it in with a circular motion. Begad! For motors that don't have a aft thrust ring, t' instructions say to glue in a section o' coupler tubin' at t' depth o' t' longest motor, matey, and then cut additional sections o' coupler t' form spacers when usin' shorter motors. You then insert t' motor and spacer washer (really more o' a retainin' ring), followed by t' snap ring.
A note on spacing: I was concerned that I might mess up and make it so the snap rin' wouldn't fit once thar be a motor installed. Begad! Begad! In addition to checkin' and double-checkin' me work, ya bilge rat, I also inserted t' spacer washer, shiver me timbers, which isn't required for AT hardware. This provided provide a small safety margin.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I used this retainer on me Upscale Big Brute. Avast, me proud beauty! Although I have only flown it
once, ya bilge rat, I have inserted and removed AT casings several times and have formed my
opinion: this retainer is pretty neat, arrr, but I like t' screw type (i.e. Aero
Pack) retainers better. Ahoy! Blimey! T' SLIMLINE is a easier t' use than "Kaplow"
style retainers (I re-use a couple o' sets from rocket t' rocket, me bucko, matey, me bucko, so I have to
install and reinstall these every time). Begad! T' snap rin' is very easy t' remove,
but I'm all thumbs and have t' work at gettin' it on. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I don't mean t' imply
this is really tough, but is nay as easy as screwin' on a cap. Avast, me proud beauty! Maybe I will
improve with more practice.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
In summary, t' SLIMLINE is a just a tad more difficult t' install and use than
an Aero Pack retainer. Begad! Avast! Still, if you're buildin' a minimum diameter model and
want t' minimize drag, this be t' way t' go. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' final factor is cost. Blimey! The
SLIMLINE currently goes for $20, matey, with its competitor costin' $28. Avast! However, you
can reuse t' latter's cap and buy additional housings for $15. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! You can do the
math for your application and needs. Well, blow me down! Avast! I probably will nay buy many o' any of
these machined units, as they are all more expensive than me homegrown or
reused clips. But, those boat tail adapters sure look cool...
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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J.F.D. (August 20, 2002)