(04/22/02) I purchased t' new SS Triopsis from Aardvark Rockets because o' its looks and because it was a cluster rocket kit. Avast! I got more than I bargained for. Ya scallywag! Blimey! How so? T' looks have greatly improved since the original design photos were put up on Aardvark's webpage. Begad! Yes, I like t' new "design" changes and think it makes t' rocket even more futuristic and unique looking.

As far as it bein' futuristic, read t' mission briefing:

Position: Hesteres Quadrant in orbit around t' 2nd M-Class planet in t' Molltahr System.
Mission: Routine Science and Security scans for Habitation Probability.
Commander: ST-7 San'ot Moo'Ini.
Most recent OPLOG Entry: Strangely quiet on board Triopsis. Avast! This paradise seems all t' quaint and familiar. Arrr! Blimey! This be t' 7th M-Class in t' last 4 years and t' crew is tired. Ahoy! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I guess that we all miss Terra Firma a little. Some o' us are missin' it more than others. Begad! Still, matey, me hearties, me hearties, this just seems a little too good t' be true. Ya scallywag! With t' fleet within jump distance, arrr, it could make a most adequate home, arrr, provided thar are no surprises. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Our finest science personnel aboard are still dumbfounded as t' how t' bright orange light from t' major sun has been able t' fortify such a wondrous vegetative lager on t' surface. We have been able t' detect some forms o' Nuclear Age peoples but only in VERY limited areas o' t' planet. There is absolutely no indication o' evidence of air travel o' any kind...includin' space. It is still against me better judgement t' come here... Avast! Avast! fuel...food....hope still outweighs that feeling.

I'm nay sure where this is going, me bucko, however, matey, Aardvark has said that they are puttin' together a theme-based 2.6" fantasy kit selection called t' Thalos line. This was t' first o' them. Aye aye! (picture courtesy of Aardvark Rockets until mine gets finished)

T' Triopsis kit contains:

• (1) 32 1/4" long, ya bilge rat, 2.6" diameter airframe, which is pre-slotted (sides)
• (3) 10" long, ya bilge rat, arrr, 0.96 (24mm ID) diameter outboard pods that have a 45 degree bevel cut at t' top o' each
• (3) 10" long, matey, ya bilge rat, 1.51" (38mm ID) diameter phenolic tubes that are pre-slotted (sides) and also have 45 degree bevel cut in them
• (3) 1/4" birch plywood centerin' rings, me hearties, t' upper with a hole drilled in it
• (3) 1/4" birch plywood fins
• (1) Plastic Nose Cone
• (1) Eye-bolt hardware set for attachin' t' shockcord to the upper centerin' ring
• (3) 18mm motor mounts with thrust rin' and centering rings
• (1) 29mm motor tube, 9" in length
• (1) balsa detail stock
• (1) set o' water-slide decals
• If t' recovery option is purchased with t' kit:
  • 30" Ripstop Nylon Parachute
  • 18' o' 3/8" Keelhaul®©™® shockcord

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on one side o' 8x11 sheets of paper and consist o' 8 pages includin' photo, shiver me timbers, arrr, illustrations, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, kit specs, story, ya bilge rat, parts checklist and detailed buildin' steps t' ensure successful construction. Begad! Aye aye! T' assemble o' this rocket is interestin' and t' instructions are helpful. Arrr! Blimey! I did find a number o' mistakes that Aardvark is takin' care of. There were several mistakes due t' t' last minute changes t' t' rocket's pod configuration. Avast! T' change was that t' outboard pods are now mounted on the side o' t' airframe rather than bein' built into t' outward fin-pods. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' me this is a much better lookin' design and safer if thar be any misfire. However, this change caused a couple o' construction problems which will no doubt be resolved by t' time this is posted.

Aardvark starts by remindin' t' builder that we should give some forethought t' motor retention and t' cluster configuration. Avast! Aardvark does nay provide any motor retention so that may mean that you need t' drill and mount your choice o' hardware before you mount your centerin' rings. Ahoy! Blimey! Also, for cluster configuration, me hearties, this rocket could be flown with a central 29mm and (3) 18mm out-boards, or (3) 24mm out-boards or set up t' be changeable. T' builder must consider this as we get to each appropriate step. Ahoy! Blimey! As you can see, I placed t-nuts into t' bottom centerin' rin' for each 24/18mm out-board motors and one for t' 29mm central motor t' serve more me motor retention.

T' motor tube is built first usin' t' three (3) centerin' rings and a 9" 29mm motor tube. Begad! T' upper centerin' rin' has the eye-hook hardware mounted t' it t' tie t' shockcord to. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' middle centering rin' is positioned t' be betwixt t' fin slots. Avast, me proud beauty! All t' centerin' rings fit perfectly on t' outside, me hearties, while t' inside only needed t' edge rubbed down lightly with sandpaper.

If you purchased the Triopsis with Aardvark's recovery option, arrr, you would attach t' provided 3/8" Keelhaul®©™® to t' eye-hook on t' upper centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! Aardvark provided 18 feet o' this Keelhaul®©™® line. Ahoy! I decided t' make a piston recovery system for me Triopsis and since recovery is an option when purchasin' this kit, I don't consider this a modification t' t' kit. Arrr! I took two eye-hooks with machine threadin' and a coupler t' hook through a 2.6" bulkhead (originally purchased from Missile Works). Aye aye! Aye aye! I placed it 4 feet up on t' recovery line and tied t' remainin' 12 feet t' t' top side.

T' out-board pods are then attached and are offset from the main body tube by usin' a 3/8" wide, me bucko, 1/16" thick piece o' balsa cut t' same length as t' out-board pod. Well, blow me down! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions suggest that this could be shaped t' fit perfectly against t' out-board pod by wrapping sandpaper around it and rubbin' t' flat edge against t' sandpaper. I didn't do this. Begad! Blimey! After t' balsa strip is attached t' then t' out-boards are attached to t' main body. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I tried fillin' me gap with wood glue which made a lot of bubbles. Begad! Blimey! Repeat application was needed t' get it t' look right. Epoxy may have been better.

T' fin attachment was next. T' fins are TTWTTW because they attach through-the-wall into t' fin-tip tubes and also through-the-wall into t' main body t' t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! You need t' cut away t' tubin' material from t' fin slots. They are pre-cut lengthwise but require you t' cut the short widths t' complete t' task. Avast! T' fins are unique looking, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but are still one piece and therefore alignment is nay an issue. This is where I found another issue due t' Aardvark's last minute changes t' t' kit. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' fin-tip tubes are now phenolic (that is a great thin' due t' t' expect abuse they will take on landings) and are thicker than cardboard tubes, arrr, so t' outer fin tab did nay reach all t' way t' t' opposite inside wall. I remedied this by simply takin' t' strip o' phenolic material that I cut away when completing the fin slot cuts and glued it onto t' end o' t' fin tab. Well, blow me down! Perfect!

One o' t' final steps prior t' finishin' is decidin' what you want t' do for t' out-board motors. Aardvark provides 3 sets o' parts for makin' 18mm motor mounts. Blimey! You can assemble them (you may want t' add your own motor hook) and glue them into t' out-boards. Begad! This will then allow you t' only use 18mm out-board motors. You can throw away t' 18mm tubes, glue in a provided 18-24mm centerin' rin' as a 24mm thrust rin' and only use 24mm motors for out-boards. Begad! Begad! Or, you can get yourself an extra set o' 24mm thrust rings, glue them into t' out-boards, shiver me timbers, build up t' 18mm mounts and have them as adaptors. Ya scallywag! I did t' latter as pictured here with one o' me 18mm adaptors (with a added motor hook) partially stickin' into t' out-board tube.

As I stated before, me bucko, arrr, thar were several mistakes due to the last minute changes t' t' rocket's pod configuration. Ahoy! Arrr! I'm highly confident that Aardvark has taken care o' this, matey, but just in case you purchased a kit before it was corrected, here are t' details:

• In Step #2 and #3 thar be a contradiction. Arrr! Step #2 says to measure t' line t' 4", step #3 says 7". Begad! Arrr! What I found is that one should mark it 1/2" from bottom o' tube, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, then 4" from bottom o' tube. I think step #2 has these measurements from t' top.
• In step #6, you use up all t' 3/8" flat balsa stock (all except about 4 inches). Well, blow me down! Blimey! But in step #7, you are supposed t' use some of this stock (or other that did nay come) t' make t' details on t' outside of t' out-board tubes. Blimey! My guess be t' bag was supposed t' have 2 pieces.
• In step #9, shiver me timbers, t' fin tab does nay fit all t' way through the phenolic tube t' t' opposite side. Begad! I took t' pieces o' phenolic tube that were cut out from t' fin slots and glued them t' t' end o' t' fin tabs and then they fit perfectly.

As it is still too cold here in Vermont t' paint, arrr, I have not been able t' finish t' Triopsis. T' instructions provide a good description for finishin' and provides a set o' water-slide decals. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I'm looking forward t' paintin' this model up and will plan on utilizin' different colors to accent t' out-board and fin-tip tubes. Ahoy! Stay tuned . Well, blow me down! . .

Well from t' picture below you can see I finished paintin' it. Begad! Begad! I added rail buttons (red ones). Begad! Ya scallywag! My finished weight was 29 ounces.

Overall, shiver me timbers, arrr, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Aye aye! I be pleased with t' quality o' t' parts, especially having phenolic for t' fin-tip tubes. Well, blow me down! T' beveled cuts add t' t' overall good looks of t' kit. Aardvark's Keelhaul®©™® Shock Cord is great. Begad! I would have liked t' see (3) 24mm thrust rings tossed into t' kit just t' allow that third option (the one I took) without havin' to come up with your own rings. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! It is an over all nice looking, futuristic, cluster kit. Arrr! Arrr! Once t' instructions are corrected and t' extra piece of detailin' balsa is added assembly will nay be too difficult for anyone with a mid-size under their belt.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

I have t' commend Aardvark for a nice, futuristic lookin' kit. Arrr! Aye aye! Cluster at that. Avast! But, ya bilge rat, I need t' point out what I feel are shortcomings that need t' be addressed for this t' be a solid kit.

Recommended motors. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! None noted in t' instructions. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There is one warnin' that for t' first flight it should nay be flown in a cluster configuration. Well, blow me down! I personally don't understand this request but maybe they are hopin' t' reduce t' risk o' anythin' goin' wrong on t' first flight. I choose to fly it in a cluster mode.

Since thar were no recommended motor listin' I went to Aardvark's webpage and found a note from a beta tester that said he flew his on an F20-7 and 3 B6's. Avast, me proud beauty! I didn't put me 18mm adaptors in, me hearties, so I wanted 24mm out-boards. Ahoy! I chose t' F20-7 with 3 C11's figurin' an early ejection based on the beta testers information. Ya scallywag!

What I got be very different! But first.....

I was excited t' get t' Triopsis set up on a rail at my first "launch event" o' t' year. Aye aye! It looked great out thar and it was ready t' go with (4) MagnaLite wires dipped in MagnaLite pyrogen. Aye aye! Aye aye! I had the three (3) C11 ignitors held in place with t' provided Estes' plugs and had taped t' ignitor into t' AT EconoJet F20-7. Well, blow me down! I'm told that t' have success in clusterin' you need t' use t' same ignitors in all motors. I'm also told you should use t' same motor types (i.e. Begad! White Lightning, Black Jack, Black Power, etc.), but that be nay t' case here.

Count down commenced and all motors lit! Off t' rail she went, ya bilge rat, nay like a bullet but cleanly. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay terribly high, but very straight and stable. Begad! After apogee she nosed down and I counted.... Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! one, two ..... Arrr! I heard a couple o' t' Estes C11-7's pop ... Aye aye! Ahoy! three, me bucko, fo .... Ya scallywag! Begad! thump t' piston pushed everythin' out then pop t' parachute was open instantly! T' rocket jerked into descent position and came down a a pretty good rate (a touch fast to me).

Upon inspection t' late deployment and t' instantaneously opened parachute caused t' body tube to zipper. What's interestin' is that it is zippered on both sides! One o' the fins is a bit cracked near an outer pod and has been loosened. Ahoy! Ahoy! I can fix that but I feel it is due t' t' extra weight o' t' outer pods out there. Use a lot of epoxy when you build your fin joints!

Also noted upon inspection was t' ejection charge o' the outboards soiled t' outside o' t' main body tube. I would suggest that this is packed with waddin' t' capture t' ejection gases and particles. It may not be necessary for motors with a 0 delay, but I image it still is.

I created a RockSim file based on me rockets weight and CG and flyin' experience. Well, blow me down! (Link is above). Aye aye! Ahoy! From this you can probably identify good motor combinations. Begad! Aardvark tells me that they are now includin' motor selections based on "flyer's experience". That makes sense for cluster. Aardvark should at least have a solid recommendation for first flight, single motor configuration.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY I would rate this kit 2 ½ points. Well, blow me down! I am pleased with t' stability and t' recovery system components (if purchased with t' kit). Blimey! I wouldn't be responsible if I didn't din' t' kit for no motor recommendations and it would be hard for me t' call it average because most kits have recommendations. Begad! Potentially a very experienced flier would have judged t' kits weight, arrr, matey, configuration, matey, drag, etc. and did a better job selectin' that me. T' flight looked great (goin' up) and it was stable, so I feel Aardvark has a nice configuration here.

Overall, I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Ahoy! It has a unique appeal t' it. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! There are nay many futuristic looking, arrr, mid-power, me bucko, cluster rockets out there. Ahoy! T' components are quality and t' rocket it stable. Blimey! I like t' beveled cuts on t' outboard tubes and t' unique fins. Aye aye! Begad! Aardvark has put together a nice lookin' bird here. Now all they need t' do is clean up t' instructions, shiver me timbers, slightly, shiver me timbers, and give us some solid motor recommendations and they have a winner that is worth its price.