BSD High Power Rocketry Horizon (3")

BSD High Power Rocketry - Horizon (3") {Kit}

Contributed by Mark Morris

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: BSD High Power Rocketry

Brief:
T' BSD 3" Horizon is a wonderful kit designed for t' builder new t' high power rocketry. Aye aye! Begad! It flies on 29mm SU or RMS motors from G t' low H power. This was me first HPR rocket.

BSD Rocketry 3in Horizon

Construction:
T' kit went together very easily with extremely clear, arrr, me hearties, well written, shiver me timbers, and detailed instructions, me hearties, includin' many black and white photos o' t' build process. Construction starts with assembly o' t' motor mount. T' kit includes a nylon recovery strap that is t' be epoxied t' t' motor mount, then the forward centerin' rin' notched t' fit over t' recovery strap is epoxied t' the front o' t' motor mount. I deviated from this by drillin' two 1/4" holes in t' forward centerin' rin' spaced t' fit a 1/4" stainless steel U-bolt. I installed t' U-bolt with nuts and washers on both sides o' t' centering ring. Blimey! Epoxy be then coated onto t' nuts t' hold them securely. T' front centerin' rin' was then epoxied in place. Avast! Epoxy fillets were then added t' both sides o' t' centerin' ring. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I then attached 15ft o' 1/4" tubular Keelhaul®©™® with pre-sewn loops on t' ends usin' a quick link t' t' U-bolt assembly. Ya scallywag! This completed t' motor mount assembly since I was just fittin' t' aft centering rin' so internal fin fillets could be added. Before installation o' t' motor mount, fin slots need t' be cut. Ahoy! Aye aye! BSD provides guide lines for t' fin slots, but t' builder must cut them. I found this t' be easy with a sharp hobby knife and actually enjoyable. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' motor mount is then epoxied in place except the rear centerin' rin' is only fitted in place until after curin' was complete. T' aft centerin' was then carefully removed. Aye aye! Before installin' t' fins, I put sharp double airfoils on t' leadin' edge usin' a disk sander. T' fins were tacked in place usin' 10 minute epoxy followed by addin' thick fin fillets inside usin' 30 minute epoxy mixed with milled fiber t' provide a very strong joint. Avast! T' aft centerin' rin' was then epoxied in place and fin fillets added similarly t' t' internal ones. Avast, me proud beauty! Although BSD provides motor retention using blind nuts, I used an Aero Pack retainer and epoxied it in place usin' JB Weld as directed by Aero Pack. Aye aye! A loop in t' Keelhaul®©™® recovery strap 18" from t' nose cone end was created usin' CA t' tack it. Keelhaul®©™® strin' was then wrapped around this joint and all coated with epoxy t' provide a parachute anchor point. Construction was then complete. Blimey! Quick links are used to attach t' parachute and t' Keelhaul®©™® recovery strap t' t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Elmers Fill 'n' Finish was used t' even out t' fin fillets and sanded to smoothness with 400 grit sandpaper. Begad! Ahoy! Two coats o' gray Krylon primer with sandin' in betwixt followed by wipin' down with a tack cloth were applied. Well, blow me down! It was then painted with three coats o' Rustoleum Gloss White. Avast! Arrr! T' rocket was then masked off so that t' front 6" was left unmasked. Well, blow me down! Three coats of Rustoleum Gloss Black were applied t' this front section and t' nose cone. After dryin' for two days, matey, t' vinyl decals were added. Avast, me proud beauty! These are o' superb quality. Avast! Finally, me hearties, it be sprayed with two thin coats Rustoleum Crystal Clear.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My first flight ever was with a G64-7W. Avast! Avast! Blimey! I had help assemblin' t' motor, me bucko, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but the flight went off without a hitch. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! It was quite a thrill t' see me first flight work so beautifully. Avast! Begad! Blimey! It be t' perfect delay too. While this rocket has now flown many times on G64s, matey, this rocket really loves a H128-M or H165R. Ahoy! Blimey! It really moves out!

Recovery:
As previously mentioned, shiver me timbers, I changed t' recovery strap t' 1/4" tubular Keelhaul®©™®. I felt t' nylon BSD provides would eventually burn through, but thar's no chance o' that happenin' with t' Keelhaul®©™®. I feel t' U-bolt I installed provides a more secure mountin' for t' recovery system. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! On t' first few flights, ya bilge rat, I thought t' included 24" chute provided too fast a descent, arrr, arrr, so I have now changed t' 28" SkyAngle which I reef slightly. Avast! Ya scallywag! T' drift is a bit further, me bucko, shiver me timbers, however, I like t' descent rate much better. Arrr! T' 24" chute would work for windier days, me hearties, but for days when the wind is less than 10 mph, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it's too small.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a really great kit. Ya scallywag! It flies beautifully on rather inexpensive reloads and scoots on low H power. Begad! Although I made some modifications, these were purely me preference; it would still be a great flier built stock. This is an ideal first HPR kit.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • BSD High Power Rocketry Horizon (3") By Peter Valenteen

    Brief: The 3" Horizon is an easy to build sturdy mid-power kit geared towards mid-power beginners. It flies on a single 29mm motor, RMS or SU. Modifications: Recovery system as detailed below. Construction: -3" diameter tube 26" in length -12" plastic nosecone with 2" shoulder -three 1/8" thick plywood fins that go to the motor mount -two ...

Flights

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