Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Cesaroni Technologies |
Brief:
This be a high powered flight o' an Art Applewhite Rocket 18-inch Flyin' Saucer usin' t' Cesaroni Pro54, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 2 Grain, matey, ya bilge rat, J210 motor. Begad! It used aerobrake recovery.
Construction:
T' 2 grain reload came in sealed, arrr, heavy duty plastic bag with instruction rolled and attached t' t' bag with a rubber band. Ya scallywag! All o' this was inside a heavy cardboard tube with stapled cardboard end caps. Well, blow me down! Arrr! An Oxral igniter with instructions was included in a sealed plastic bag taped t' t' outside o' t' cardboard tube.
T' Pro54 casin' came in a clear plastic tube with tight fitting, black plastic end caps. T' retainin' rin' came in its own plastic bag. Arrr! Begad! Blimey! It performs t' function o' aft closure and thrust rin' for t' Pro54 motor. Arrr! T' threads are cleanly cut and square, nay triangular. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! This will keep cross-threadin' t' a minimum.
T' instructions were quite complete. Avast! They included thrust curves for t' Pro54 family o' motors and black and white pictures o' t' reload and casin' components. Begad! T' printin' was very small and too light in places.
Finishing:
I first applied some Dow Cornin' 111 Silicone Lubricant t' t' threads on t' casin' and t' retainin' ring. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I also applied a small amount t' lube t' t' inside o' t' aft o' t' casin' as recommended in t' instructions. Arrr! I then inserted t' reload into t' casing. Arrr! It fit snugly and slid easily t' t' front o' t' casin' and t' retainin' rin' screwed on very smoothly with no hint o' cross-threading. T' knurlin' around t' circumference o' t' retainin' rin' made it very easy t' tighten it without t' need for any tools.
T' motor slid smoothly into t' 54mm motor mount. Ahoy! T' retainin' rin' acts as a very substantial thrust ring. Well, blow me down! Avast! For me flyin' saucer no additional tape or other means o' motor retention were necessary. If used in a rocket with a conventional recovery system, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, a half turn o' maskin' tape or simple engine retainer may be all that is needed. Well, blow me down! Begad! Note: T' bottom o' t' retainin' rin' is flat so hook-like Kaplow Clips may have t' be slightly modified t' properly hold this motor in place.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
T' Pro54, 2 grain is just right for this size saucer, me bucko, me bucko, T' thrust curve has a little kick at t' beginnin' and a very gentle roll off o' thrust durin' its 4 second burn. Ahoy! It makes a very satisfying, low pitched sound as it burns and a moderate amount o' flame and smoke. Ignition is almost instantaneous. After motor cutoff thar be a very nice smoke trail left by t' delay element.
Recovery:
T' motor is warm but nay hot shortly after firing. There be absolutely no sign o' wear on t' casin' and t' disassembled reload had only minor scorchin' on t' outside o' t' liner with no evidence o' burn through anywhere.. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' casin' required only a run through with a paper towel t' remove t' silicone lubricant.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' Pro54, 2 grain be t' best motor I have every used. I preferred single use motors before this because I didn’t like t' complicated assembly and cleanup process o' reusable motor systems. Pro54 was worth t' wait and t' slightly higher cost.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
J.L.C. (April 11, 2008)