Sunward Aerospace CFX-Six Footer!

Sunward Aerospace - CFX-Six Footer! {Kit}

Contributed by Frank Casey

Manufacturer: Sunward Aerospace
(Contributed - by Frank Casey - 10/24/07) (MODS) Sunward 6-CFX

Brief:
I purchased this kit from a rocketry vendor on eBay for short money, arrr, however, arrr, matey, me hearties, when I received it I found that two of the tubes were partially damaged--not badly but thar was some creasin' (3 inches and 11 inches, respectively) along the length o' two o' t' tubes. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Modifications:
What I decided t' do be t' modify t' rocket slightly by addin' some balsa strips t' cover and strengthen the damaged areas. Avast! Ahoy! T' make it symmetrical I used four balsa strips at each o' t' two damage sites. Aye aye! Once t' strips were added you couldn't tell that t' tubes had ever been damaged. Ya scallywag!

Since t' modifications gave t' rocket a slightly Sci-Fi look, arrr, I also added four small fins at t' top o' the rocket for additional detail. I also left off t' decal since that would have detracted from t' now Sci-Fi themed CFX-Six Footer.

Construction:
T' components were o' good quality. Blimey! I don't blame t' damaged tube on Sunward. Blimey! I believe it happened during shipping.

Components Provided:

(MODS) Sunward 6-CFX
  • 4 BT-56 x 18" body tubes (two tubes damaged)
  • 3 tube couplers
  • Plastic nose cone with canopy
  • 24mm motor mount kit
  • Motor hook
  • 4 laser-cut balsa fins
  • Shock cord
  • Parachute
  • Peel and stick decal (not used)

Components Added:

  • 4 balsa strips 4 1/4" x 1/4"
  • 4 balsa strips 12" x 1/4"
  • 4 forward fins

I followed t' build instructions and then added t' four forward fins and t' eight balsa strips.

I chose t' have t' model break for recovery at t' nose cone. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! If I had it t' do over again I would have set this up t' break betwixt t' second and third tubes (in t' middle). Ya scallywag! Arrr!

Instructions for both setups are provided by t' manufacturer. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It would just make it easier t' transport this rocket t' and from launches.

(MODS) Sunward 6-CFX

Finishing:
Finishin' was a bit time consumin' due t' all o' t' paintin' on t' balsa strips plus it's a long rocket. Well, blow me down! It didn't end up bein' one o' me best paint jobs, arrr, shiver me timbers, but from a few feet away it isn't bad.

Flight:
This rocket flies extremely well on a D12-5. Well, blow me down! I've flown it eight or nine times and it's never disappointed. Arrr!

As is t' be expected from long, thin rockets it flies straight and true. Ya scallywag! T' only thin' is that since it gets way up there, arrr, it tends t' drift. Ya scallywag!

If you don't have a large recovery area, me hearties, me bucko, don't launch this on windy days. Arrr! I've had t' travel quite a distance to recover this bird a couple o' times when launchin' on windy days.

Recovery:
This is a great flier and performs well. Begad! It gets right up thar and flies straight and true. Well, blow me down! Begad!

I'd suggest usin' a long rod and a sturdy launch pad t' send this up and I'd also suggest doin' so when t' wind is nay more than 5mph.

Summary:
This is a nice kit and made for an interestin' modification t' an (albeit simplistic) Sci-Fi based flier.

Other Reviews
  • Sunward Aerospace CFX-Six Footer! By Glenn Little (July 21, 2008)

    Brief: I bought this to use up some 24mm engines. Plus, I couldn't resist the idea of a 6' rocket so bought it as a novelty item. I later found out a second review was requested, so here we go... This skill level 2 rocket tops out at around 6 1/2 feet. As mentioned in the previous review, there are some things to consider that aren't necessarily in the instructions. Overall, it's ...

  • Sunward Aerospace CFX-Six Footer! By Chan Stevens

    Brief: A "lite" Mean Machine, towering at about 6-1/2 feet tall, this longneck is likely to be one of the tallest rockets at any launch. It's a fairly simple build and flies fine on a single D12-5. Construction: I was cleaning up a few loose ends and decided to pull my prize from EMRR's Longneck contest out of my build pile. I'm glad I did as this is a pretty nice kit. ...

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