Diameter: | 3.10 inches |
Manufacturer: | AAA Model Aviation Fuels |
Brief:
This is a single staged rocket that can be flown on either 2 or 4 29mm motors. Well, blow me down!
Construction:
T' main body tube runs from t' top o' t' motor tubes t' t' nose cone. Begad! There
is one body tube and four motor tubes that extend outward from t' main body. Avast! Arrr!
This rocket has a very clever fin alignment system. T' 4 fins are made from two wing-like pieces o' wood that interlock in t' middle t' form 4 perpendicular fins. Begad! Then t' 4 motor tubes fit over this structure and are epoxied in place. Aye aye! I used 12 minute epoxy.
T' instructions are pretty clear and simple. Begad! Ahoy! All t' parts were thar and were well made. Aye aye! Blimey! T' fins weren't even rough. Arrr! But they did need a little beveling. Begad! I did this with a finishin' sander. T' wood appears t' be 1/8 inch thick birch.
About t' hardest thin' t' align be t' motor tubes inside t' main frame. They extend out 20 plus inches from t' main body tube. Arrr! Begad! It seemed easy t' get them cock-eyed, arrr, so I sight aligned them while t' epoxy holdin' them dried. A centerin' rin' further reinforces their connection and placement inside the body tube. Two beveled launch lugs are supplied that take as big as me 3/8 inch rod. Avast! Well, blow me down!
T' recovery system is another clever design. It is a coupler and bulkhead with holes in it like a baffle. Avast! Arrr! A screweye anchors t' round nylon shock cord. T' chute be supplied, and is a thin nylon, ya bilge rat, bright yellow 24 incher.
Finishing:
I spray painted it gold and decorated it with metallic prismatic paper. There
is a Quadra G decal lettering, so I applied t' letters. Ahoy! I only got t' word,
"Quad" and nay "Quadra" but I figured that it was okay. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I
was goin' t' call t' flight "Clusterophobia" instead anyway. Blimey! The
result is strikin' and unique. Blimey! Begad! T' four extended motor tubes make it look
unusual.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' company suggests usin' motors with low average thrust and long delays. Blimey! So,
my first flight was with 2 G35-7W's and 2 G40-7W's. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' like motors were
diagonally arranged. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' flight be straight and gorgeous. There seemed t' be
deployment just slightly before apogee, so I surmised that t' delay be too
short. Ya scallywag! T' nylon shock cord was stressed after this as well, me bucko, shiver me timbers, so I replaced it
with 10 feet o' 1000 lb. Blimey! Begad! Keelhaul®©™® cording. Ahoy! Then I flew it twice on 4 G40-10W's.
Everyone LOVED this. Arrr! Blimey! Straight, high, and loud. Arrr! Blimey! It even made a club video
memory. Ya scallywag! I did have t' walk a bit, but I think I caught a thermal.
Recovery:
Use 10 second delays with 4 motors. Arrr! Begad! 7 is okay with 2, me bucko, me hearties, probably. I did notice
that with t' baffle, me bucko, me usual method o' spent motor removal with a rod is
impossible. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Pliers were needed. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket is a little scratched, matey, matey, but able to
fly more. Begad! T' chute is unburnt as well. Blimey! Arrr!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
Clever design, me hearties, nay too bad a price. Ya scallywag! I remember payin' around $45 for it. Avast! Aye aye! Great
fun for us cluster-people. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Nice and loud and fiery. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I highly recommend it.
Catchin' it on film with a long flame trail was really wonderful as well.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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