Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2010-11-27 |
Manufacturer: | Semroc |
Brief:
This is #8 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. Aye aye! T' Mini Hustler is based upon t' Lee Piester/Centuri large scale series design but downscaled t' fly on 18mm motors. This could also be considered t' little brother o' Semroc's SLS Hustler and Lil' Hustler models.
Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, and t' sealed bag contained:
T' "ready t' build" series is Semroc's answer t' numerous requests for "ready t' fly" rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! In t' RTB series, me hearties, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, arrr, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, an alignment jig, ya bilge rat, and a stuffer tube t' serve as shock cord anchor and reinforce t' body tube.
T' RTB series are all fairly easy t' build, arrr, matey, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. This is definitely a skill level 1 model, arrr, matey, shiver me timbers, and aside from paint and surface prep, t' total build is well under an hour.
T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, metal hook, me hearties, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Begad! Unlike t' typical mount, me bucko, arrr, though, ya bilge rat, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Aye aye! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, ya bilge rat, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Ya scallywag! This is critical later in t' process. Begad! Surprisingly, arrr, me hearties, matey, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.
T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, me bucko, arrr, servin' as an anchor. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, it's ready for t' motor mount. T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, arrr, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Begad! Do nay slide t' motor tube any further--the aft/brown rin' is too large for t' stuffer tube and instead is used t' align inside t' large series 10 body tube. Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Aye aye! Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, shiver me timbers, it can then be glued inside t' body tube (though be careful t' make sure t' metal engine hook does nay line up under a fin slot).
Usin' t' same two-piece fin lock technology as t' larger Hustlers, these fins need t' be bonded together first, carefully linin' up t' matchin' groove patterns. Begad! As noted, fins are thru-wall, me bucko, matey, and t' fit against t' motor tube be very good. Avast! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jog, me bucko, shiver me timbers, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. Aye aye! Begad! T' fixture fits well for most fins in t' RTB series, though for fins that have a significant span and are nay swept back very far, arrr, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! That wound up nay bein' an issue on this model.
T' payload bay is a simple extension, me hearties, consistin' o' a 4.6" length o' body tube and a balsa transition, into which a screw eye anchor is inserted. I also drilled a couple vent holes in mine for altimeter use down t' road.
Tack on a pair o' launch lugs with standoffs , make t' chute and construction's done.
Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, startin' with two coats o' primer, matey, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, me bucko, then maskin' off t' hit t' fins, transition and nose cone gloss black, and t' payload bay gloss red.
T' waterslide decals add t' name and a roll pattern.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' first flight on this turned out t' be a bit o' an adventure, me hearties, shiver me timbers, more me fault than that o' t' model. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I loaded up a C6-5, ya bilge rat, and has intended t' load an altimeter in t' payload bay, but wound up skippin' that due t' issues with t' battery holder on me altimeter. Begad! As a result, me hearties, arrr, t' nose cone was only secured with a light friction fit.
T' model flew perfectly straight off t' rod, matey, me hearties, and t' -5 be t' right delay, deployin' just over apogee. Unfortunately, arrr, t' elastic shock cord resulted in a snap-back effect on t' nose cone/payload, ya bilge rat, and t' nose cone picked up one o' those common smiles/dings when it struck t' body tube. Ya scallywag! That be also enough force t' knock t' nose cone off t' bay. Ahoy! I be able t' track t' tumblin' cone along with t' rocket, so I manage a full recovery.
Recovery:
Other than t' nose cone issue, t' recovery was fine. Aye aye! Blimey! T' 12" chute is adequate for this weight.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
This Mini Hustler is a neat little payloader, ya bilge rat, and makes a nice addition t' t' Hustler family (SLS Hustler, Lil' Hustler).
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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