(11/21/03) Polecat Aerospace (formerly Skunk Works Rocketry) was another company I just learned about this year. I don't know how long they've been around, but as I've talked t' others they seem t' have some following. Polecat sells BIG rockets. Aye aye! Begad! Big rockets carry a big price, matey, so some o' their kits may be out of reach for many fliers. They do, however, have one kit with "Level 1 Certification in mind". Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Spike.

T' 3" diameter, 36" tall Spike is $89.95. Begad! Arrr! Does that seem expensive for a rocket this size (not t' mention that it doesn't come with a parachute)? What drives t' price o' this rocket up? Polecat says this, "All our kits come pre-fiberglassed for you. Just sand and paint! All our kits include fiberglass nose cones that are durable and easy to finish. Ya scallywag! Our kits use Baltic Birch fins and centerin' rings. They are easy to glue, ya bilge rat, me bucko, light weight, shiver me timbers, durable, and easy t' finish. Well, blow me down! Blimey! All our fins come machined for minimal sanding." Me? I wanted t' try a fiberglassed kit and I had no desire t' learn how t' do it, matey, so I purchased their Spike.

T' rocket kit includes a 3" pre-fiberglassed, ya bilge rat, pre-slotted airframe that is 17" long. It uses a 6.5:1 conical fiberglass nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It also includes four baltic birch fins and two centerin' rings, a 38mm motor mount, me bucko, me hearties, and a 7.5" pre-fiberglassed ring-fin that is 2" wide. Blimey! Blimey! There is a nose cone bulkhead and eye-screw hardware for attachin' t' 18 foot 5/8" wide tubular nylon shock cord t' t' nose cone base and t' upper centerin' ring. Lastly it includes a 6" long brass 1/4" launch lug.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 6 pages of 8½ x 11" paper. There are color photos throughout t' assist in the assembly o' t' kit. Begad! There are pictures o' t' rocket bein' assemble in fin-up or fin-down configurations. T' Spike is really a simple rocket t' assemble, matey, me hearties, so for those with experience t' instructions are really nothin' more than a guide.

In buildin' t' kit, I had a number of observations that I'd like t' make.

First, arrr, t' slots that were pre-cut into t' body tube were nay clean on t' inside o' t' body tube. At first glance I figured that would cause some fit problem with t' centerin' rings, but, matey, it didn't. The centerin' rings were nay a super-snug fit and slid into t' body tube and through t' frayed edges without an issue.

T' next observation was t' fiberglass nose cone. Ya scallywag! Begad! I really liked t' feel, arrr, weight, me hearties, and surface o' t' nose cone. Aye aye! On the inside, you could see t' fiberglass fibers, shiver me timbers, but t' outside be smooth. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! There were some mold seams, me bucko, but nothin' more than you would see on a plastic nose cone. Aye aye! Arrr! You do have t' glue t' nose cone bulkhead into place. Avast! Blimey! This is done after attachin' t' eye-screw t' t' bulkhead and tiein' t' tubular nylon shock cord to t' eye-screw. Ahoy! Ahoy! This has t' be done before because t' bulkhead is glued about half way into t' nose cone.

T' fins are through-the-wall and to-the-motor-mount. Begad! They we cut accurately. I used polyurethane glue on the root edge t' attach them t' t' motor mount. I used epoxy for all other areas.

Not havin' any experience with a fiberglasses body tube, I'm nay sure if me next observation is normal or not. Begad! Blimey! What I found is that t' fiberglass on t' body tube and tube rin' be rough. It be as if the fiber-mesh was nay completely filled with epoxy. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I made a decision to "fill" this with Plasti-kote Sandable Primer/Filler. It is my favorite primer, ya bilge rat, but this rocket alone took about 1 1/2 cans t' completely fill all t' fiber-mesh. Arrr! This be about 6 coats, ya bilge rat, sandin' betwixt each coat!

Seein' t' mesh, matey, shiver me timbers, I made t' decision t' get every thin' primered (and smooth) before attachin' t' ring-fin. I felt this would make t' sandin' easier and believe that it did. Begad! After those many coats of primer, I sanded t' outer edge o' t' fin and roughed up t' inside edge of the ring-fin where it would be attached t' t' fins. It slide in place with no problem and was glued usin' epoxy.

I then did about two more coats o' primer to clean up this area and few other little problem spots. Arrr! I finally used Krylon bright yellow paint t' finish t' rocket. I added a layer o' Book Covers, me bucko, me bucko, etc. Prismatic Purple Book Cover on t' ring-fin t' finish it off.

I skipped t' brass launch lug and added two Rail Buttons for this rocket.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 points. T' instructions are adequate t' allow most builders t' have a successful build. Blimey! Arrr! T' rocket build is straightforward. T' kit lacked decals and motor retention and a parachute. Well, arrr, blow me down! For most, self included, arrr, nay havin' a parachute is fine since we seem t' acquire a number o' them over the years.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Polecat recommends t' use o' a G motor for t' first flight. Blimey! Then anythin' you want up t' 300ns average thrust. Begad! They warn that anythin' higher than that may destroy t' ring-fin.

Polecat recommends a 24" t' 30" parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a B2 Rocketry Classic II 24" 'Chute. Arrr! I also added a piece o' Pratt Hobbies Heat Shield.

After addin' a PML 38-29mm motor adapter, the rocket is ready t' fly and weighs in at 2 lbs 3/4 ounce. Ya scallywag! I had t' write Polecat to find out where t' CG should be. Avast! They indicated with t' fin-up design it should be at least 2" above t' top o' t' ring-fin with motor. I had no issue with t' two motors I used.

My first flight was on a G80-7. Arrr! I didn't get to sim this prior t' this flight, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but based on experience with me BSD Diablo, the G80-7 seemed t' be an okay match. Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' motor chuffed about 4-5 times before comin' up t' pressure, ya bilge rat, however, matey, lift-off was nice on t' rail. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' rail was set straight up and down but after clearin' it, t' rocket stood a slight angle upward. Well, blow me down! It arced over and started down. Avast, me proud beauty! T' crowd and I all started muttering words as it gained speed. Avast! Aye aye! Finally, ya bilge rat, matey, pop and jerk, me hearties, me bucko, it came under 'chute. Begad! Ahoy! T' B2 held together with no damage. Begad! T' rocket finished its descent and was recovered. Ya scallywag! I notice a small dent on t' lower edge o' t' ring-fin, me hearties, but nothing substantial.

I loaded it up again with a 29-180 G75-M (6). Based on t' first flight, I probably should have been searchin' for a short delay. Begad! T' rocket came off t' pad with a bunch o' black smoke and again took a slight angle. Blimey! Weird. Aye aye! Begad! It arced over and again, I be fearful o' a ballistic recovery. Aye aye! However, arrr, t' ejection charge did fire and again t' B2 'chute handled the recovery speed. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket looked so nice as it drifted off and out o' the field until I heard "crash". Arrr! I thought for sure it hit someone's car. Instead, I found that it hit someone's outdoor fire pit (made o' brass). No damage t' their fire pit. A broke tip on me nose cone and t' adapter got pushed into t' 38mm motor mount, crackin' t' bottom edge. And worse, matey, shiver me timbers, my 29-180 motor kicked out somewhere!

So t' rocket looks cool. T' recovery system has handled stress well. Avast! Blimey! And t' "G" motors are do'able if you use shorter delays. Ahoy! T' only thin' that really bugs me is how it seems t' take a slight angle comin' off t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! It may imply that I need a longer launch rod.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 points. After addin' your own parachute and heat shield, t' rocket is ready t' fly. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It looks nice on t' pad and in t' air. Arrr! Watch your motor sizing (I have since RockSIM'd it and it indicates t' 7 second delay would be good). T' ring-fin is subject t' some damage, me bucko, but t' unique look is worth the risk.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points. Arrr! T' get some experience with fiberglassin' (without havin' to fiberglass) and t' have a unique lookin' rocket, t' Spike is a good choice. You'll get comments at t' launch because o' that long nose cone and ring-fin. Don't make this your first mid-high powered rocket, ya bilge rat, but certainly consider it after buildin' a few others.