| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2013-05-11 |
| Manufacturer: | New Way Space Models  |
Brief
I ordered t' SkySpike for $15.00 on a Monday evenin' on eBay from "bluegrassrocket" and a priority mail box was sittin' on me porch Thursday afternoon when I came home from t' store. Aye aye! Very fast service and t' kit arrived undamaged. Begad! I was surprised when I opened it up t' discover that it came with a bonus kit, t' "Square in t' Air," which lists for $ 5.00 in their enclosed catalog. Arrr! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!
T' "Square in t' Air" is similar t' Squirrel Works's "Pie in t' Sky" rocket except that it is square and only has four pieces t' glue together. Also included be a "Dare 2 B Square" sticker and a 1 3/8" x 2 1/4" strip o' sandpaper. Avast, me proud beauty!
For those o' you unfamiliar with NewWay Space Models, shiver me timbers, they are relatively new t' rocketry, but they have somethin' different t' offer. All o' their kits come with square tubing. Ya scallywag! That's right, me hearties, I said square tubing. Well, blow me down! Only t' motor tube is round. Avast, me proud beauty! Everythin' else is square, even t' launch lug (don't worry though, as it is sized t' easily slide up and down an 1/8" launch rod).
Components
T' Spike comes with t' followin' parts:
- A-Body Tube
- Engine Mount Kit:
- B-Engine Tube
- C-Thrust Ring
- D-Engine Hook
- E-Retainin' Ring
- F-Centerinbg Squares
- Also included but nay lettered be a 4" paper ruler (the yellow piece o' paper in t' bag for engine mount parts)
- G-Launch Lug
- H-Tail Ring
- I-Screw Eye
- J-Small Washer
- K-Glue Applicator Stick
- L-Decal Sheet
- M-Lug Markin' Guide
- N-Paper Shroud
- O-Nose Cone
- Recovery Kit:
- P-Parachute Canopy
- Q-Shroud Lines
- R-Line fastener Tabs
- S-Snap Swivel
- T-Shock Cord
- U-Keelhaul®©™ Line
- V-Knot diagram
- Sandpaper Kit:
- W-Course sheet
- X-Fine sheet
- Y-Fine strip
- Z-Emory Board
- AA-Nose Weights
T' only things missin' are glue, me bucko, paint, and an Exacto knife. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Very impressive.
Construction
This be a text-book build so I won't go into all t' details here (you can read them in me build section) other than t' say that t' instructions are well-written and documented. A note that is mentioned in t' instructions warns that due t' t' square nature o' t' body tube you must make sure that t' motor mounts are flush and parallel with each other when gluin' it together and before gluin' it in t' body tube.
Make sure centerin' rings are square
Another note states that t' NC must be sanded down for proper fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! This is easily accomplished with t' enclosed sandpaper and emery board. T' cone shroud around t' tail o' t' rocket was somethin' new for me, but it went together quite easily. Avast! A word o' caution here, though. Test fit t' shroud before gluin' t' assure a proper fit. This be t' only tricky part t' t' build.
Test fit before gluing
T' only CON here is that t' two joinin' lines do leave a straight line crease that can't be completely hidden on finished rocket.
Finishing
I sprayed rocket with o' two coats o' Rust-Oleum 2x white primer with t' usual sandin' betwixt coats.
After all be dry, I applied two coats o' Krylon Fusion Hammered Finish Dark Gray t' give it a forged steel look. Avast, me proud beauty! I left t' rocket outside t' air dry for most o' t' day then applied t' decals. Blimey! Ahoy! T' decals are very thin and I had a minor problem applyin' one o' them on one side when it tore and tried t' fold over. Begad! That resulted in a small flaw that you have t' look at twice t' see, matey, arrr, but I will din' it a point for that.
Sky Spike Glamour Shot
Paint used for finishing
Flight
Lift-off was very impressive. T' rocket climbed straight and true into t' light wind with no weather cocking. Ahoy! Parachute deployment was spot on. Begad! Blimey! T' only motor recommended for this rocket is a C6-3 and I concur that it be t' smallest motor that you want t' use as this rocket has a LOT o' DRAG. Well, blow me down! This could almost be a B-field rocket. Begad! That's nay sayin' it doesn't get high enough, me hearties, because it is a beautiful thin' t' watch liftin' off with its big wide smoke trail. Arrr! I think a composite Aerotech D10-5 could be in its flight plans for t' near future for added smoke effect and, arrr, o' course, arrr, more altitude.
Sky Spike in 5...4...3...
Recovery
This be t' first time I've assembled a parachute in this manner where t' strin' aren't attached through holes in t' chute. Instead thar are looped tabs that you attach first then tie t' shroud lines t' t' tabs.
I'll have t' keep an eye on these t' see how they hold up over a number o' flights.
A side note also informs you that because o' t' square body tube that you should use a little extra waddin' as well t' ensure that you get it into t' corners t' prevent scorchin' t' chute. Begad! Personally I prefer dog barf and I used a little extra and t' recovery system performed flawlessly. T' checkered print parachute was easy t' track and t' descent rate was just right. Aye aye! T' rocket landed with a slight bounce less than 60' from pad on soft grass.
Sky Spike recovery
Summary
This is a top notch kit. Blimey! Begad! Quality, ya bilge rat, arrr, attention t' details, and some unexpected extras (plus t' uniqueness o' this kit) make it a must-own kit. Ahoy! T' price makes it a sure fire hit!!
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