New Way Space Models - Check-It {Kit}

New Way Space Models Check-It

New Way Space Models - Check-It {Kit}

Contributed by Bill Eichelberger

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2016-03-23
Manufacturer:	New Way Space Models
Style:	Odd-Roc

Brief

Back in t' infancy o' me BARdom, I found a square tube that a component for a printer I used came in. At t' time, me hearties, every tube I came in contact with be fair game for potential rocket designs, me hearties, arrr, and I thought up a doozy for t' square tube. Several attempts with balsa blocks and sandpaper didn't turn out a product that looked anythin' like a potential nose cone, and in fact, robbed me o' much needed rocket funds that could have been used elsewhere, so I abandoned t' Bail Out Blockhead. More than a decade later I received t' Check It kit as a consolation gift after t' most murderous afternoon o' rocketry that I'd experienced in me 35 years in t' hobby. Thanks again, ya bilge rat, Rick.

Components

Balsa nose cone
Square body tube
4 square tube fins
2 square centerin' "rings"
13mm engine mount kit
Screw eye
Washer
Launch lug
Launch lug standoff
Xtra small recovery kit
Sandpaper kit
Glue applicator
Decal sheet

Construction

Outside o' a Custom Razor, (another yellow and black bird I'm unabashedly fond of,) this may have been t' easiest build ever. T' Check-It is all flat surfaces and squared up edges and I used Titebond II wood glue in all areas o' construction. I attached t' cube fins first, takin' care t' square them up as much as possible and doin' so while t' main body tube stood upright on me cuttin' board. While this dried I constructed t' engine mount, which consisted o' square centerin' "rings" that slipped perfectly into t' body tube. T' launch lug, a smaller piece o' square tubing, shiver me timbers, was placed on a standoff and glued t' t' side o' t' rocket so that t' rod fits in through one o' t' cube fins. Other than filletin' t' cube fins and gluin' t' screw eye into t' nose "cone" this pretty much wrapped up construction.

Finishing

T' Check It body tube is unlike a typical round tube in that t' surface is somewhat more grainy than typical. I used t' old thinned Elmers wood filler trick, but after two coats it was obvious that a glass-like finish was goin' t' be beyond me patience, so I settled for a decent look. Two rounds o' Elmers followed by two rounds o' sanding, arrr, then two coats o' Valspar primer. I wasn't wild about t' shade o' yellow offered by Valspar, me hearties, and I found a can o' School Bus Yellow at Tractor Supply instead. This paint went on quite thick and two coats did a nice job o' hidin' t' fact that I'd skimped some on t' sanding. T' nose cone got a coat o' Valspar gloss black. I gave t' decals a couple o' coats o' Testors decal bonder and finally applied them t' night before t' third flight. They applied nicely and looked great. (I'm a sucker for yellow and black rockets.)

Construction Score: 5

Flight

First flight was both nekkid and underpowered, matey, but t' winds were slightly too strong for me t' feel confident with an A3 or an A10. For that reason I chose an 1/2A3-2, arrr, ya bilge rat, which didn't move t' needle. It was another o' me near-patented "I can throw it that high" flights t' about 100'. Recovery was a little lethargic, matey, but t' chute filled fifty feet above t' field. That didn't make much o' an impression on me at t' time, me bucko, but it would in future flights.

Second flight came after t' paint job and after a trip t' Hobby Lobby for A10 motors. T' flight itself be much more entertaining, nicely stable and toppin' out at t' 250-300' mark, me hearties, but t' ejection charge sounded weak and didn't allow t' chute t' clear t' body tube. Recovery was a flat spin t' t' grass in t' outfield. T' chute had just begun t' pull out before it hit t' ground. Aye aye! Avast! Dog barf was just enough t' take t' brunt o' t' ejection charge, matey, and t' parachute actually just fell out when I picked t' rocket up.

Third flight was finally in full livery, arrr, with all decal work havin' been finished t' night before t' launch. Unfortunately I forgot about t' first 1/2A flight and went with another for this flight. Like t' first time it was a mistake, me hearties, fallin' into t' "I can throw it that high" category. Unfortunately for t' second time in three flights I experienced a recovery issue with t' parachute failin' t' clear t' body tube at t' behest o' t' ejection charge. It eventually did again pull free, shiver me timbers, but too close t' t' ground t' be o' any good. Luckily t' rugged construction and outfield landin' made a grass stain t' only damage. I shouted it out.

Flight Rating: 4