This is a sport scale version o' t' Nike Hercules anti aircraft missile. 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. Well, blow me down! Apogee supplies t' plans for all t' balsa parts and t' paper transitions and shrouds. Avast! All other supplies are t' responsibility o' t' builder.

T' construction o' t' Nike Hercules is extremely challenging. Arrr! 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. Begad! This transition piece also holds t' sustainer in place with an internal centerin' ring. Begad! I tried t' figure out a way t' use somethin' stronger than cardstock for this internal ring, but durin' t' initial build I had no luck. Well, blow me down! After a crash I be able t' rebuild it by addin' a thin plywood rin' t' t' paper collar before I attached it t' t' cluster tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Kinda tough t' describe. Basically take your time in t' construction and follow t' plans. It works fairly well.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Nice, arrr, challengin' rocket t' build and fly. Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I had a lot o' fun with it. Avast! Blimey! Stagin' a cluster t' a single motor is a challenge, worth t' effort.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5