This is a sport scale version o' t' Nike Hercules anti aircraft missile. Arrr! Extremely challengin' t' build.  T' plans are available from Apogee Components.

Construction:

Booster is a cluster o' four (4) 13mm tubes stagin' through a transition piece t' a single 18mm sustainer. Apogee supplies t' plans for all t' balsa parts and t' paper transitions and shrouds. Blimey! Begad! All other supplies are t' responsibility o' t' builder.

T' construction o' t' Nike Hercules is extremely challenging. Avast, me proud beauty! T' most difficult parts were maintainin' alignment o' t' extremely long fins on t' sustainer and t' construction o' t' paper transition from t' booster's square cluster t' t' sustainer's 18mm tube. Avast! This transition piece also holds t' sustainer in place with an internal centerin' ring. I tried t' figure out a way t' use somethin' stronger than cardstock for this internal ring, matey, me hearties, but durin' t' initial build I had no luck. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! After a crash I was able t' rebuild it by addin' a thin plywood rin' t' t' paper collar before I attached it t' t' cluster tubes. Aye aye! Begad! Kinda tough t' describe. Begad! Basically take your time in t' construction and follow t' plans. Blimey! It works fairly well.

I had problems with ignitin' t' sustainer. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' booster uses four (4) A10-0T motors with a bit o' a gap betwixt them and t' sustainer. Ahoy! Begad! You have t' add a significant amount o' nose weight t' get t' CP/CG relationship recommended in t' plans. Arrr! Begad! I used clay and a couple small pieces o' lead. Ahoy! T' motors are all friction fitted.

Finishing:
Finishin' was simply usin' Elmer's Fill & Finish on t' balsa, arrr, followed by a coat o' white Krylon paint.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first two flights I used a B4-6 for t' sustainer, arrr, but couldn't get it t' light. Ya scallywag! T' resultin' flights were nice, ya bilge rat, arrr, straight nose dives, me hearties, but with soft ground both times, damage was limited t' t' stagin' coupler. Begad! T' third flight I used an Apogee stagin' ignitor with a B6-6 in t' sustainer. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! This time it worked perfectly, at least for staging. Begad! T' boost on this flight was very straight, followed by a hesitation and sustainer ignition, also for a straight flight. Begad! Well, blow me down! Ejection be just after apogee. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Now t' problem. Well, blow me down! Begad! It seems that only 3 o' t' booster motors lit initially. Begad! At staging, t' exhaust from t' sustainer lit t' fourth motor from t' front end, matey, causin' a nice fire exitin' forward. Well, blow me down! This destroyed t' coupler and a good length o' t' booster tubes before t' booster hit t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! I have t' chalk t' booster up as a total loss, me bucko, me hearties, even though t' sustainer recovered with no damage. Aye aye! Still an impressive flight.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Nice, ya bilge rat, challengin' rocket t' build and fly. I had a lot o' fun with it. Aye aye! Blimey! Stagin' a cluster t' a single motor is a challenge, worth t' effort.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5