Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Published: | 2011-03-24 |
Manufacturer: | Modification |
This review explains how I converted a sport scale Semroc V-2 xKit t' a Hermes A-1.
T' followin' parts are required:
I’ll start by sayin' that t' quality o' t' cone and tail cone was great, me hearties, like on t' first V-2 xKit that I built. Blimey! Blimey! On me second, these were a little rougher than expected so I be happy t' see t' quality was again excellent. Avast! Blimey! As usual, ya bilge rat, Semroc’s laser cut fins were well appreciated.
I started t' build with t' motor mount. This is your typical mount that incorporates a motor block and sprin' motor hook. Well, blow me down! I used a mylar sheath t' hold t' hook in place. Ahoy! Begad! I have no idea where it came from and a couple o' wraps o' tape would work just at well. Arrr! I also tied and epoxied a short piece o' Keelhaul®©™ twine t' t' tube. Blimey! Blimey! Because o' t' hook and twine, I had t' sand t' pre-drilled tail cone a bit. After t' motor mount was installed in t' tail cone, matey, I had t' notch it so t' hook would flex. Avast, me proud beauty! This is nay optimal for a scale build, shiver me timbers, but I wanted t' hook.
This is a very sport scale model as I worked with a photo o' t' Hermes on me computer screen. Aye aye! I entered t' measurements into, and manipulated them with, arrr, a spread sheet. Begad! Begad! I found t' fin tabs would be 0.5” square and t' T' dimensions o' t' upper fins, arrr, me bucko, once rounded t' even ruler dimensions, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, are: root - 2.125"; tip - 1.25"; sweep - 0.75"; and, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, span - 0.5".
Because t' fin tabs were just glued t' t' end o' t' stock fins, arrr, me hearties, I laminated them with self adhesive label stock. Aye aye! T' edges were then sanded and sealed with thin CA.
When I ran t' RockSim, arrr, I found t' CP was about t' same as t' stock xKit with t' scale fin option. Begad! I bored t' nose out and added enough lead shot t' set t' CG. Begad! T' hook-eye provided with t' kit was embedded in t' lead/epoxy slurry. It weighs 3 oz without motor and RockSim says a C6-5 will work, a B6-4 would be OK with a long rod.
I used t' stock rubber cord, me bucko, tied t' t' Keelhaul®©™ leader. I didn't use t' stock 'chute, optin' t' use a nylon one instead.
Here are t' steps I followed:
Because I had retrofitted a motor hook, me hearties, all I had t' do was slide t' Quest B6-4 in. Begad! Ahoy! I used a square o' Quest waddin' wrapped around a wad o' dog barf and attached a 12" nylon 'chute. T' flight be nice with ejection a couple o' seconds after apogee.
T' 12" nylon 'chute did its job perfectly. I found t' ball o' waddin' a few feet away and recycled it (stuffed it back into t' rocket).
This is a semi-scale version o' t' Hermes, me bucko, but it is close enough for me!
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