Aerotech - Sumo {Kit} (07813)

Aerotech Sumo

Aerotech - Sumo {Kit} (07813)

Contributed by Taylor Jessee

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Diameter:	4.00 inches
Length:	39.00 inches
Manufacturer:	Aerotech
Skill Level:	3
Style:	Sport

Brief:
This is a pretty simple rocket t' build that is very neat and flies great. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It is a single staged rocket, flies on mid and high power motors. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Price is a little high but nay too bad.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

1 4" diameter cardboard body tube
4 fins
2 centerin' rings
1 motor tube
10' elastic shock cord
1 nose cone
42" parachute

T' instructions where easy t' follow with very good descriptions and had great illustrations that were very detailed and easy t' follow. Blimey! Well, blow me down! It was very easy t' build--it couldn't have been easier. Avast! Begad! T' fins aligned very well except for one. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I had t' sand t' nose cone t' make it fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! My piston was t' same size as t' body tube which I had t' sand for hours. Well, blow me down! I got it t' fit very tight but it bent up t' body tube tryin' t' put it in. Ya scallywag! I gave up on t' piston since I didn't really need it anyway. Aye aye! I just used regular X-Acto knives, epoxy, body putty, paint, matey, shiver me timbers, and primer. Begad! I had most o' these tools and supplies at home but did buy red and yellow paint at me local hardware store and I got t' body putty at t' auto parts store.

Finishing:
Finishin' be very hard for me since it was kind o' cold and a bad brand of paint. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I started out paintin' it with several coats o' primer, sandin' in between coats. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I painted t' whole thin' red, makin' about 7 coats total. It took about 2 weeks total t' do t' red. Next I painted fins and below with a horrible yellow. Ya scallywag! This also took about 2 weeks t' do and was quite a bit harder since t' paint be uncooperative. Avast! I finally got it painted and started putting on t' decals. Arrr! This be also very hard t' do. Ahoy! I messed up puttin' t' decals on the fins but t' one on t' body tube was easy t' do. Begad! It looks great now. Begad! It is a very good rocket but I wouldn't put t' piston in it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight was in Argonia, matey, KS in November 2002. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! It was t' last flight I shot that day so I got t' G80-4T ready and put it in t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I thought it took waddin' but I later found out that It doesn't really need it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I've always put a flame shield in it anyway. Avast! Blimey! It has a engine hook for motor retention. Arrr! I got it on t' pad and then t' countdown 5....4....3....2.....1.... Begad! Blimey! lift-off!

With a huge flame, ya bilge rat, it went t' about 50ft and came back and nosed in. Houston, we have a CATO! It shoved t' motor up into t' motor tube and burned everything. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! After a quick repair, I flew it again on a G38-4FJ. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! At end of countdown black smoke went everywhere and t' rocket zipped straight as an arrow into t' sky for a great flight!

Just this October (2004), I flew it on an H128W at T' High Frontier in Pawhuska,OK. Ahoy! It roared off t' pad with a huge trail o' White Lightnin' smoke behind it. Ya scallywag! It went about 2000ft up then it arced and arccced and arccccccced and arcccccccccccced...until it went THUMP and shattered everywhere! All that was left be t' fin can. None o' t' fins were broken, believe it or not! All I need now t' fix it is a new body tube and nose cone.

Recovery:
T' first flight was awful o' course since it catoed! T' second flight was great, comin' down very slowly on t' 10' foot shockcord and large chute. Aye aye! It just missed t' trees by about 50ft. T' last flight was horrible too since it lawndarted. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' nose cone was bent inside itself from t' impact since it was goin' like 300mph when it hit t' ground. Avast! Well, matey, blow me down! T' body tube be completely torn and crumpled. Blimey! I can't wait t' fix it.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
It is a very good rocket especially if you are lookin' for a somewhat cheap rocket for your level one certification. Avast, me proud beauty! I like everythin' about t' rocket and I would like it even more if me piston would have fit. Ya scallywag! I would recommend this rocket t' everyone.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews

Aerotech Sumo By Wesley Egan (October 1, 2009)
Brief: This is a very sturdy 4 inch diameter, 39 inch tall advanced model rocket made by AeroTech. It is a stubby model capable of handling anything from G to H power, sports piston ejection, and comes equipped with a 29mm motor mount. Construction: The component list for this rocket is: 1 4 inch diameter, 23 inch long pre-slotted cardboard body tube 4 pre-shaped ...
Aerotech Sumo By Joe Cacciatore
Single-stage, single-engine rocket with piston ejection system and is suitable for Level 1 attempts. This Aerotech rocket has the standard Aerotech through the wall Fin-Lok™ system and components except the nose cone is a different material than the other Aerotech's. It is gray and presumably stronger. It has 4 fins about the size of the Astrobee D but reported thinner than the ...

Flights

Comments:

N.L. (November 6, 2001)

I have the SUMO and the piston did not fit so I had to sand it down also I wrote Aerotech and they said that they didn't have any problem. Also I flew mine with an H-128 and it flew OK!

G. (February 13, 2002)

I found the piston too tight also, even if I sanded some, it would not be enough. Instructions poor with that. I simply removed that system altogether and used a nomex chute protector and 15' kevlar shock cord instead - easier. Other than that a nice looking kit.

B.B. (April 27, 2002)

I had the same issues with the Piston and the Shock cord clamps. I used tape shims and taped the clamps shut onto the cord to get it to hold. My shock cord failed on its 3rd flight after a slight "bonus delay" the ejection charge fired but it was a bit late. The booster lawn darted from ~ 1500 ft... NC and piston came down with the chute. Booster is repairable, I'll need a coupler and 5 inches of BT. I'll have to fly with wadding and a chute protector as the coupler will not permit the use of the piston.

T.L.J. (October 21, 2002)

This is a nice kit. I had the same problems with the piston. It was literally the same diameter as the body tube! I just sanded the crap out of it until it fit. I've modified mine with an extra body tube with coupler, etc. (same size body tube that comes with kit) that I ordered from Aerotech and I found doing this helps with the parachute packing, plus it's a much taller and impressive looking rocket! Since the mod it has landed twice in a row with the lower section standing perfectly straight up I've had several launches on a G35-4, and a G80-4, and last week I certified on an H-128 with a beautiful flight.

R.C.B. (January 30, 2004)

Your review was great in helping me make a decision in the purchase of a Sumo. The great clearance price at our local KC hobby store helped too, but I am very happy with the kit and my first step into HPR. I hope to make my level 1 with this in the spring but now have the largest problem for this rocket...original paint scheme or using another color like hot rod green engine enamel. Have you seen any other colors done in this rocket to make it look good? By the way the piston was not a problem and I have just finished it a few minutes ago with plenty of room for everything. I might even put a beeper in it. Still in debate. Thanks again for your comments, review, and site. Keep looking up.

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