Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | New Way Space Models |
Brief:
Inspired by t' classic Estes kits o' t' late 70's and early 80's, this sleek explorer be t' flagship kit from New
Way Space Models. Arrr! Basically t' main thin' that separates this rocket from t' rest be t' square body and nose cone.
It's different, matey, and it certainly gets t' attention on t' pad.
Construction:
T' kit arrived in perfect shape, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and it's a quality product. Arrr! T' kit includes a nice nose cone and laser cut fins.
Also included is a nice set o' decals. T' square airframe is super strong but slightly heavier compared t' t' normal
BT material. Begad! T' spirals are maybe a little deeper than normal, me hearties, but they should fill up easy. Ya scallywag! T' other thin' worth
mentionin' is that a sandpaper pack is included with t' kit along with a cotton swab glue applicator. T' included
instructions are very well done and clearly written.
T' construction is straightforward with one exception. Aye aye! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Since t' body is square, t' motor mount has centering squares instead o' rings so it's very important that you align both o' t' centerin' squares so they will slide in the body tube. Ahoy! Even if they are off slightly it will cause problems. T' fins are aligned off center, but New Way provides a nice template. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! At first I thought fin alignment on a square body would be a breeze. Ahoy! However, arrr, it turned out t' be harder because t' body might be slightly out o' square over t' length o' t' body. Avast! So you run into a situation where it might look straight from t' back and misaligned from t' front. Blimey! Nay really a big deal but somethin' t' be aware of. New Way provides a nice Keelhaul®©™® shock cord that attaches t' t' body coupler. T' nose cone is really cool lookin' and requires very little sandin' to get t' correct fit.
When constructed, shiver me timbers, you have a very durable rocket. Begad! T' square body material is much thicker than the normal body tubin' and also heavier.
Finishing:
I sealed t' balsa nose cone and fins with two coats o' Minwax Poly. Blimey! I then brushed on a coat o' thinned lightweight
filler on t' balsa and body spirals. Well, blow me down! T' spirals are deeper compared t' normal body tubes but still fill easy. Begad! After
sanding, I sprayed two coats o' primer, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, sandin' betwixt coats. Next up was two coats o' Krylon for t' color. Ya scallywag! Once dry,
I used some Monokote trimsheet t' add t' checkerboard.
When t' SquareOne is completed and ready t' fly, me hearties, it feels heavy. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Although mine is 3oz, it is below the advertised weight o' 3.1oz. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight be with a B6-4. Arrr! This motor provided a nice straight boost with a nose down ejection. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It left t' pad
nice and slow reached a respectable altitude. Ahoy! T' lower altitude combined with a slow boost really allowed you t' see
the entire flight. Begad! Ahoy! T' model came down nice and slow on t' provided checkered chute and was recovered with no damage.
I have four additional flights on t' SquareOne usin' C6-3s, me bucko, which are perfect for this model. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Again all flights have provided arrow straight boost with nearly perfect ejection. Aye aye! Two flights have been in 10mph winds and it was no problem.
Overall t' model is very durable and is holdin' up perfectly. Avast, me proud beauty! Also, ya bilge rat, I have experienced no problem with the waddin' properly protectin' t' recovery system in a square tube. Begad!
Recovery:
T' provided chute is really neat because it's checkered. Avast, me proud beauty! When t' model is square, me bucko, you need a square pattern on your
chute right? Actually t' chute reminds me o' a picnic table cloth but t' theme works. Aye aye! T' shock cord provided is
Keelhaul®©™®
that attaches t' a piece o' elastic.
No issue with t' provided recovery system, me hearties, it works perfectly.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' SquareOne is a very nice rocket. T' kit be put together very nicely, and t' instructions are great. Begad! It easy to
build, flies great, and is very durable. T' square body has deeper than normal spirals, me bucko, but they fill easily. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! It does
weigh more than you would like, but t' durability is an added advantage. Avast, me proud beauty! This would make a nice demo rocket because
the boost is slow, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and with a B6-4 t' entire flight can be seen. Well, blow me down!
I enjoyed t' build, and it's different. Arrr! Begad! In this case...it's hip t' be square!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Brief: Square tube rocket with square tube fins and parachute recovery. Construction: Square body tube, 4 square tube fins, solid pyramidal nose "cone", and square tube launch lug. Basswood centering "rings" with metal motor clip, Kevlar ® shock cord, and water slide decals. In addition kit includes: fishing swivel for chute attachment, assortment ...