Custom Rockets Equinox

Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)

Contributed by Jim Moncher

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 1.64 inches
Length: 78.75 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 2
Style: Sport

Brief
This be t' second Custom Kit I have built and this is one long rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' size really intrigued me when I saw it on t' rack at a local hobby shop. Arrr! T' statistics on t' Equinox are Length: 78"; Diameter: 1.637"; Wt.: 5.8oz. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Skill Level 2.

Construction
T' Quality was very good. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It came packaged in a plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! All t' parts were thar and in good shape. It has four body tubes, three couplers, four Die-cut balsa fins, matey, matey, two 18 inch mylar 'chutes, me bucko, matey, plastic nose cone, all t' typical motor mount items and one large decal. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' instructions left very little t' chance with lots o' illustrations in a very logical order. Avast! T' only template is for t' fin-markin' guide and is standard issue. Blimey! CONSTRUCTION: (Ratin' 4.5)

If thar be a gotcha, it be t' length. Begad! Were I t' build this kit again I would have it separate in t' middle instead o' at t' nose. Aye aye! More for easy o' transport. Ahoy! (I have t' thank me wife for insistin' on gettin' a mini-van.) Also I would replace t' motor hook with a thicker one. Blimey! T' instructions call for assemblin' t' lower tube separate from t' rest. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! This is a great help when attachin' t' fins. (See t' Flight). Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I used 15-minute epoxy throughout. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! A nice touch on t' fins was a mark on t' root edge. Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins could be turned t' wrong way if you don't look at t' grain carefully or don't know about this.

T' shock cord typical elastic and tri-fold paper mount. Ahoy! T' shock cord is o' a good length, but I doubled it out o' habit. (I use it for me Estes Prowler). I also for t' first time tried two Centuri Baffles in this kit. Begad! I built one usin' t' coupler near t' motor mount and one betwixt t' top two sections I put cardboard with holes punched in it in t' top & bottom and glued them t' t' coupler.

T' recovery is by two 18 inch 'chutes that are silver mylar with tape dots for shroud line retention. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I have modified this, matey, as I have since 1969, when I be introduced t' t' hobby. Aye aye! An old timer who's name I can't recall showed me t' put t' tape dot on, put t' hole reinforcement rin' on t' back, and usin' an Xacto drill a 1/8 inch hole in t' middle. T' finished rocket over all is impressive in size. EASE OF BUILD: (Ratin' 5)

Finishing
There are no special requirements or techniques for finishing. I followed t' paint scheme on t' supplied card. Begad! Arrr! T' one decal is o' t' peel and stick. Arrr! Usin' t' soapy water technique it went on easily. Avast, me proud beauty! T' one thin' is I needed t' do is t' cut it around t' launch lug. T' finished kit got many "Who makes that kit, and where did you find it?" and "It looks classier than t' Mean Machine!" at t' first launch I brought it to. Avast, me proud beauty! FINISHING: (Ratin' 5)

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flight/Recovery
T' recommended motors for this are D12-5 & E15-7. Arrr! I have flown this four times on t' D12-5. Begad! T' one gripe I have with Custom be t' motor hooks. Begad! They are thinner than t' Estes counterparts and I have only recovered t' Equinox with t' motor one time. Aye aye! With t' baffles preparation is: put t' 'chutes in and away t' t' RSO.

T' first flight was on a cold gray day in December. Blimey! I be impressed by t' slow lift-off climbin' straight up with no wobble or wind cocking. T' delay was just right both 'chute blossomed and it softly landed about 500 feet from t' pads after reachin' an estimated altitude o' 600 feet. (wRASP) Upon recovery I found t' motor had kicked out. Well, blow me down! On t' second flight t' same result and durin' recovery only one 'chute fully opened. I guess it sat on t' pad too long for t' 33-degree temperature. Begad! No damage upon landing, t' motor kicked out again, only this time t' motor hook be slightly burnt.

T' next flights came in February. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It is a typical winter in Denver, me bucko, Colorado, me bucko, me bucko, about 55 and a slight breeze. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' flights were great, me hearties, with t' slow rise and gentle turn at apogee. T' 'chutes opened and they brought t' rocket down gently. Begad! Blimey! On t' first flight I taped t' motor in, but it kicked. Avast! Blimey! On t' second flight I also wire tied t' motor with t' tape and it held. Ahoy! Blimey! I like t' way t' multiple 'chutes look, ya bilge rat, but for ease o' preparation, me bucko, a single 18 inch or 24 inch would work. Aye aye! Blimey! I can't wait t' send this up on an E15-7, with an estimated altitude o' 1775 feet. (wRASP).

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Summary
Everythin' considered if it were nay for t' motor kickin' t' ratin' would be a 5. Ahoy! I just love t' way this kit looks and flies. Begad! T' kit retails for $ 19.95 and I believe it is work every penny. T' biggest obstacle with t' kit as far as its durability is gettin' out t' door and t' t' launch sites. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I really like t' Custom kits as they have t' flavor o' t' kits available in t' early '70s.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5

Flights

ID
Date
Flyer
Rocket
Kit
Motors
Altitude
Action
73179
2019-06-22
Derek Ford
Custom Rockets Equinox
Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)
E30-7
-
list
72723
2018-09-29
Derek Ford
Custom Rockets Equinox
Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)
E12-6
-
list
72360
2018-04-28 photo
Derek Ford
Custom Rockets Equinox
Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)
E12-6
-
list
63967
2012-12-29 photo
Jeffrey Gortatowsky
Equinox 29
Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)
F10-9
-
list
63432
2012-09-26 photo
Bob Francis
BFR
Custom Rockets - Equinox {Kit} (10016)
D12-5
-
list
Page
of
3
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Comments:

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J.D. (June 1, 2000)
I surprised everyone at the field with my Equinox when it flew. A bit of a wobble that others said meant I needed a bit of noe weight. Can't wait to try it on an E.
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K.J. (June 1, 2000)
My experience with the Equinox is very similar. It is a great honking huge rocket that goes together very quickly. It's size makes for impressively slow launches and is a real crowd pleaser. I've heard it has been discontinued, so if you can find one, buy it and build it.. you won't be disappointed.
avatar
J.D. (March 1, 2001)
Flew it on an E-18. Very nice flight. Still very happy with this rocket. Only thing I would have changed is to make it a center-break. This would make it easier to transport! Very light, and very straight flights with the extra power. Considering a second!
avatar
D.C. (August 25, 2009)
The Equinox is back in production now. I got one and we will probably use them for our annual October Skies Boy Scout Troop launch. I built mine mid-September. One issue I would take with the design is the current motor mount. It uses 4 heavy card centering rings, which "sandwich" two undersized spiral-wound centering rings (24mm to possibly BT-55 or BT-60--I don't have the instructions anymore), which don't make contact with the airframe. I would think it would be stronger to just use bigger spiral CRs because more surface area would be in contact with the airframe. But it is a really nice kit and I can't wait to fill the sky with them.

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