Sunward Aerospace Gravity Rider

Sunward Aerospace - Gravity Rider {Kit}

Contributed by Preston Hoover

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Published: 2010-05-16
Manufacturer: Sunward Aerospace

Brief:
T' Sunward Aerospace Ltd kit t' Gravity Rider is a kit for t' future. Avast! Aye aye! T' duel cluster motor, dovetail design and slanted end tube cuts give t' rocket a sleek futuristic look. T' kit boasts High Quality Laser Cut Balsa, Safe 18" parachute recovery, HUGE - Length 40" / 101cm , Wingspan 10 1/2" / 26cm , includes metal motor retainin' clip , matey, build as a cluster or as a single engine unit, me bucko, Instructions, and Self Adhesive Decals. Ahoy! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It is rated a skill level 3

Construction:
T' parts in t' kit include:

  • Two BT-50 tubes.
  • Two BT-20 tubes.
  • Parts t' build two 18 mm motor mounts with engine hooks.
  • Three, arrr, two piece plastic nose cones. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! two BT-50 and one BT-20.
  • Four 50-20 centerin' rings.
  • Two Laser Cut Fin Sheets.
  • Launch Lug.
  • One 18” parachute, strin' and reinforcements. Begad!
  • Two rubber shock cords.
  • Instructions and Decal Sheet.



T' Gravity Rider kit came with all t' parts specified in t' instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! There were no broken parts. Ahoy!

First step is cuttin' out t' tube cuttin' guides. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' cut one o' t' BT-20 tubes in half. Tape t' cutting guides t' t' ends o' t' tubes and cut. Begad! Then you glue t' tubes together. When dressin' t' ends o' t' tubes do nay go crazy. Avast! You can lose t' angle you just tried t' achieve with t' guide. Avast! Also changin' t' angle affects t' looks o' t' rocket when you glue t' BT-50 tubes together in t' next step. Begad! When the angles are nay true t' lengths are affected.

Next you glue t' two main body tubes together so they are side by side. Aye aye!

Glue t' two short BT-20 tubes t' t' aft end o' t' main body tubes. Aye aye! Ensure t' tube cuts matchup. One goes on top t' other on t' bottom.

Measurin' two inches form t' forward end you glue t' long BT-20 tube betwixt t' two main body tubes.

Fin preparation and mountin' is next. Begad! Blimey! I built a jig for t' 45° angle.

Pros building:

1.T' tube cuts challengin' and fun!

2.T' Main fins and Lower fins were also a challenge, arrr, gettin' them t' hold a 45° angle. Arrr! I had t' fashion a jig. Blimey!

3.You are given a choice t' build a one or two motor rocket.

I consider a choice or a challenge a Con. Begad! T' challenge builds our skills and t' choice builds your imagination.

Buildin' Cons:

1.Instructions for t' forward fins are totally unclear and I had t' e-mail t' company for clarification. Arrr! Blimey! The problem is, me bucko, t' directions state t' glue t' forward fins at a 90° angle. Then show a picture o' t' layin' flat. Also t' picture for mountin' t' forward fins t' t' rocket is vague and I had t' get help with this also. T' Sunward Company is very helpful and prompt in answerin' their email. Arrr!

2.Motor mount placement. T' instructions say t' mount t' motor mounts, shiver me timbers, but nay where and t' illustration is nay helpful. Begad! Blimey! I sent an email t' t' company with pictures o' t' mounts. Avast! Blimey! I be told t' mount them as I wished. The instructions should state this. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey!

3.Instruction illustrations are nay very illustrative. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They could be clearer, me hearties, so you can understand t' pictures.

4.After flyin' t' rocket several times, arrr, I found that you should place your engine hooks away from t' body tubes for better access. Aye aye!

Finishing:
Paintin' and Finishing: All t' body tube spirals and fin fillets were filled. Begad! Blimey! When dry I sanded all t' fin fillets and t' body tube fillets smooth. T' rocket was then primed and set aside t' let dry. Arrr! Blimey! When t' primer was dry I then sanded lightly and applied two coats o' Krylon White paint. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! No Decals have been added yet. Aye aye! Blimey! I wanted t' fly t' rocket before I totally finished it, me hearties, me hearties, I will apply t' decals at a later date.

T' Gravity Rider is a sleek lookin' rocket design. Aye aye!

Pros for finishing:

1. Aye aye! Begad! I am nay a big finish guy, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so it is hard for me t' find cons in this area. Ya scallywag! Begad! One thin' is that t' rocket has many tubes and fins, allowin' you t' find a paint scheme that you like. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Cons for finishing:

1. Begad! Ahoy! Lots and Lots o' fillets. Well, blow me down!

2. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Rocket is long, makin' it a challenge t' paint, without runs.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' rocket four times. Ahoy! Twice before t' rocket be painted and twice after painting. Blimey! The last flight, me hearties, one o' t' main fins broke and needs replacing. Aye aye! Begad! I will do this and it will fly again.

Pros for flying:

1.T' rocket goes into t' air with giant spirals.

2.It is easy t' see on t' air.

3.It does nay fly so high, so you can fly it in a small area. Well, blow me down! Begad!

Cons for flight:

1.Loadin' t' chute is hard. Aye aye! T' length o' t' rocket and t' double tube design makes it hard t' hold while loadin' t' chute. Well, blow me down! It really needs four hands.

2.T' way I mounted t' motor mounts t' engine hooks are hard t' move. Ahoy! Next build I will ensure t' engine hooks are facin' away from t' body tube. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! This is technically me build error nay t' rockets design. Begad! It is still somethin' to consider if you are buildin' t' rocket.

Recovery:
T' rocket comes down great with t' suppiled parachute. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! It drifts at an appropriate descent rate. Begad! One fin did get damaged on t' last flight. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! It was t' main fin and it broke almost in half. Aye aye! It can be fixed. Ahoy! I think it was due t' t' wind. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket drifted and landed in a ditch.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Sunward Aerospace Ltd. Begad! rocket t' Gravity Rider was a fun rocket t' build. Blimey! It flies true and recovers nicely. Arrr! Begad! T' build is challengin' due t' t' body tube cuts and fin placements. Aye aye! It is a nice lookin' rocket and everyone should try it once. Begad! Arrr!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other:
Build a 45° angle jig out o' scrap balsa for proper fin placement. Avast! Blimey! If you cannot understand t' instructions, matey, ask Sunward they are always on t' ball about answerin' your questions.

Other Reviews
  • Sunward Aerospace Gravity Rider By Chan Stevens

    Brief: Sunward has come up with a very cool multi-tube futuristic design, however, this kit will need minor modifications to be flight worthy. At 6.1 ounces empty, it is more than 50% over the maximum recommended liftoff weight for a C6-3 and trying to fly it on the recommended B4-2 for the first flight would likely be the rocket's last. Construction: Parts arrived in good ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
W.J.E. (March 13, 2006)
Beautifully done kit, but definitely underpowered. Sunward would do well to cluster it or kick up the power. It'd be interesting to see what it would do with one of the new Quest D's when they come out.
avatar
A.C. (May 18, 2006)
It is unfortunate you were unhappy with this build. The oversight with regards to the back of the template has been corrected and is now blank. Other clarifications have now been made to the instructions. As for power, Chan Stevens did build the rocket heavier than I did so a note has been added to the instructions to keep the weight down or to use more powerful motors. ( Stability should always be checked prior to flight). As for metal clips, these are now standard in all Sunward Rockets as they are manufactured.

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