(09/10/02) It is always nice t' see a little uniqueness in rocket designs and that is exactly what Binder Designs' new (for 2002) Dragonfly has. Begad! Its fins, ya bilge rat, me hearties, length and finish recommendations are all t' help it look like a Dragonfly. Begad! Accordin' t' Binder, the kit is "geared for t' beginner t' mid/high power". I would agree, me bucko, as it is a very straight-forward kit t' build. Aye aye! Begad! But Binder also says that you can "expect about 3,000 ft. Aye aye! on a G motor" so, for those folks that like altitude, t' Dragonfly will meet your needs too.

I also did a comparison on Mid t' High Power Starter Rockets - See Here.

T' kit was packaged very well. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! In fact, ya bilge rat, it was absolutely t' best packaged Mid/High Power kit that I have ever seen. Arrr! Begad! I regret not takin' a picture t' share in this review. T' pieces where all separated in single large plastic package. Very nice, indeed.

T' Dragon fly is 24" tall which is made up o' its 13" plastic nose cone and 11" o' 2.6" body tube. Begad! Blimey! T' body tube is pre-slotted for t' fins. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' motor mount included (2) 1/8" thick composite centerin' rings (very smooth on one side and very rough on t' other) and a 4½" length o' 29mm motor tube. Begad! Blimey! T' recovery system is made up of and eye-bolt assembly, me bucko, a quick-link, 12' o' 3/16" tubular nylon (awesome) and an 18" Binder Design Premium Chute parachute meaning, it is 1.9 oz. diamond weave rip-stop balloon fabric. On one side it is coated for zero porosity and heat resistance. T' fins are all pre-cut 1/8" plywood. Avast! Blimey! T' kit is completed with a 1/4" launch lug and a vinyl Dragonfly decal.

A couple o' upgrades from Binder that were added t' me kit included a 29mm Motor Collar (retainer, shiver me timbers, a Binder Design product) and a 24mm adaptor.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are excellent. They include 9 pages of written and illustrated instructions and a page for t' Fin Alignment Guide. T' instructions would be able t' walk even t' less-experienced model rocketeer through successfully. Arrr! They include finishin' details includin' the decal and t' special fin finishin' technique. Ahoy! They also include flight preparation and spec data for CP and CG.

As stated above t' kit build is straight-forward, arrr, so I will just hit on a few o' t' topics.

T' motor mount is assembled. It went together well. Ya scallywag! I had t' lightly sand t' outside o' t' centerin' rings t' get a clean fit into the body tube. Arrr! Blimey! T' upper centerin' rin' gets an 1/8" hole drilled into it for mountin' t' eye-bolt assembly. Blimey! Avast! It is then glued t' t' motor tube. Instructions are clear, includin' an illustration t' tie t' knot for attaching the shock cord t' t' quick-link which is then hooked t' t' eye-bolt. Avast! Blimey! The lower centerin' rin' is nay attached at this time but it is placed on t' motor mount. T' whole assemble is then glued into t' rocket so that t' motor tube is flush with t' bottom. Arrr! T' lower centerin' rin' is removed so that internal fillets can be applied.

In the case o' usin' t' Motor Collar upgrade, t' motor tube is left stickin' out 1/2" t' allow you t' attach t' collar. Avast! Blimey! T' instructions point this out, too.

After t' fins are beveled (which I did nay do) they are attached t' t' rocket. T' fins are through-the-wall and attach t' t' 29mm motor tube. Then t' instructions describe makin' internal fillets. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This technique really makes t' fin mounts strong!

I used Fix-It Epoxy Putty sold by Apogee Components for t' outter fillets. Ahoy! I really like this stuff and am pleased with t' fillets that you can make with it.

After this, me hearties, t' instructions have you attach t' launch lug. Arrr! I skipped this step and later added rail buttons. Ya scallywag!

One other comment about t' kit: t' nose cone was really loose in t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It took several wraps o' tape before it was tight enough t' fly.

That's it. Aye aye! Now it is time t' finish t' rocket.

Binder gives good instructions for finishin' t' rocket, but I stuck with me own techniques. I used me standard method for finishing Kraft paper tubes and also for finishing plastic nose cones. Arrr! Begad! I painted t' whole rocket a lighter Krylon purple paint t' mimic a color o' a Dragonfly that me wife has a picture o' in our bathroon. Begad! I painted t' wings, ya bilge rat, I mean fins, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a platinum color. Arrr! I then used a permanent black Sharpie t' put t' win' veins on. Begad! This was described in the instructions. I also tried t' mimic t' picture in our bathroom by drawing three body segments with t' marker. Ahoy! Probably nay t' best idea since I'm not much o' a artist. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Lastly, me hearties, I applied t' vinyl decals. Avast, me proud beauty! I love vinyl decals! I finished t' whole rocket usin' Krylon Clear over everything.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. T' quality o' t' components, me hearties, me hearties, packin' o' t' them, illustrated instructions, me bucko, me bucko, and vinyl decals make this a complete package. The nose cone was really loose. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Also t' standard kit does nay come with motor retention, but if you add t' upgrade o' t' Motor Collar thar be nothin' to complain about.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' only motor recommendations were written into the instructions this way: "We recommend an F motor or a mid thrust G motor for your first flight". Begad! Aye aye! T' RockSim file that Binder has placed on our site show simulations for everythin' from a D12-3 t' an H238!

That same RockSim file (and t' drawin' with specs included in t' instructions) show t' weight t' be 8.4 ounces with a CG at 15.4" from t' nose cone. Avast! My actual Dragonfly weighed exactly 12 ounces and t' CG was at 17.3". Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Why? Most likely due t' movin' t' motor mount back 1/2" and addin' t' Motor Collar. In addition t' epoxy fillets add weight nay accounted for in Binder's RockSim. Arrr! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I also added a Pratt Heat Shield to protect me parachute.

T' first launch o' this rocket was on a 29mm RMS E16-4. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! This was a very old motor and it took us two attempts with home-dipped ignitors t' get it off t' pad. Begad! But, me bucko, once off t' pad it gave a very nice flight. Avast! RockSim simulated t' about 670 feet. I believe it. Ahoy! T' ejection popped just after it had turned at apogee and started t' head down. Ahoy! T' parachute size brought the rocket down at a good rate. Aye aye! Very nice first flight!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. Even though I only have one flight I will go ahead and rate this rocket. Avast! Well, blow me down! If anythin' changes with future flights I will update this file. T' rocket flew straight and stable. Ahoy! T' recovery system is sized right. Begad! Blimey! The recovery materials are excellent too. T' kit does nay come with a 24mm adaptor, matey, however, it can be purchased as an upgrade. This will allow some flight versatility with E30's, E28's, E18's, F24's and F39's. Ahoy! My next launch is planned in November with this bird experiencin' a G125-10 - yippee! This motor should take this rocket t' 2500 feet.

I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Aye aye! Avast! Excellent instructions, materials and eay t' build. Vinyl decals. Begad! Unique fins. Begad! Under 16 ounces. Avast, me proud beauty! And t' list could go on. Ahoy! If you are just venturin' into mid t' high-power, shiver me timbers, give this rocket a look!