Manufacturer: | Rocketman Enterprises |
Brief:
Single stage high power rocket kit, me bucko, parachute recovery, shiver me timbers, matey, spun aluminum nozzle.
Construction:
Kit contains, one PML phenolic main body tube, matey, one 21" payload section,
three fiberglass fins, ya bilge rat, three plywood centerin' rings, one strap, me bucko, a plastic nose
cone, ya bilge rat, a 38mm motor tube, me hearties, a motor retention system, and a Rocketman R7
parachute.
Great illustrated instructions, me hearties, very easy t' construct. Begad! Even though it was easy, shiver me timbers, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it was still fun. Avast! Fin alignment was great, except for a little bit of sandin' had t' be done t' get them t' fit in right. Ahoy! T' strap holdin' the rocket together is glued onto t' side o' t' motor mount tube and through the top centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! We used a Dremel tool for t' fin sanding, ya bilge rat, which must be done with a mask. Blimey!
T' aluminum nozzle fits onto t' back o' t' airframe with a coupler. Avast! It took us half an hour t' get t' nozzle all t' way t' t' tube due t' more than a very tight fit. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! T' motor mount goes through t' nozzle with one rear centerin' rin' at t' end o' t' nozzle. Here, thar be also a motor retention system. Begad!
Finishing:
There were decals included, but we did nay use them. Arrr! Begad! This be me Dad's rocket,
so he painted it like his company with a small logo on t' side. Ahoy! T' rocket
looks very cool with t' aluminum nozzle at t' end, and is a replica o' the
last rocket in t' movie October Sky.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
There are no recommended motors but Ky said it could hold up t' just about any
38mm motor that would fit into it. Ahoy! We put in 2 lbs o' nose weight for the
larger I motors. Ahoy! This be me dad's level one rocket, so he flew it on an I284
first. T' parachute didn't come out, and t' rocket landed about 2 feet away
from a small private airplane in t' adjoinin' field from our site, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it then
bounced about 4 feet into t' air.
T' damage was minor (amazing, it had free fallen from 2000 feet), and we repaired it and then he tried again, ya bilge rat, this time on an I435-10. Avast, me proud beauty!
Once again t' boost was quick and perfect, ya bilge rat, matey, and once again t' chute didn't come out, ya bilge rat, but this time t' damage was a fair amount worse. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! That night he fiber-glassed t' damaged sections (top part o' main body tube and one fin) and then I found t' problem. Blimey! Blimey! There was no note in t' instructions t' put in a shock chord, but t' just use t' strap that came with t' kit. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This was our problem. Begad! Blimey! T' strap wasn't long enough t' pull out t' parachute, so when the rocket broke apart, me bucko, t' chute would stay inside. Arrr! Blimey! T' next mornin' it flew on another I435-10, with a borrowed Keelhaul®©™® shock chord for a perfect boost, great timin' on t' parachute, and level 1 certification. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Finally!
T' kit did NOT come with a shock-chord, was nay intended t' come with a shock-chord, me bucko, nor be one ever mentioned in t' instructions. Avast! Arrr! I called up Ky and he said if t' delay be right it would work, me bucko, but for this t' be true, the strap would need t' be longer. Begad! I called him after t' launches and he be very cooperative and agreed that it should have a shock-chord.
Recovery:
Once you put in t' shock chord, it works great. T' recovery speed is perfect,
and it doesn't drift too far. Aye aye!
Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5
Summary:
T' rocket was great, me bucko, and unfortunately we truly found that t' kit is
extremely strong with two easily repairable damages from two 2000 foot
free-falls. Avast, me proud beauty! Just be sure t' use some shock chord or I promise you t' parachute
will nay deploy.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
D.R. (August 1, 2000)