SureFire Rockets Black Widow

SureFire Rockets - Black Widow {Kit}

Contributed by Bob Allen

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: SureFire Rockets

Rocket PicBrief:
This is a nice and small 4FNC offerin' by SureFire Rocketry. Avast! T' recovery system is a bright yellow streamer. Aye aye! Begad! It comes bagged, and is a Level 1 kit.

Construction:
This rocket came with one body tube, matey, a one piece nosecone, standard 18mm engine block, me bucko, with metal engine hook, ya bilge rat, a simple rubber shockcord and mount, and a bright yellow streamer.

This be an extremely easy build. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' instructions were clear and very easy t' follow. Avast! It is your simple, me bucko, basic, me hearties, 4FNC rocket.

What surprised me was that t' fins, although they were made o' balsa, ya bilge rat, were nay die-cut. They were already cut out and wrapped in an elastic band. Well, blow me down! When I saw this, me bucko, I expected them t' be dinged up on t' edges, but they were perfect. Blimey! All through t' instructions, SureFire kept sayin' how, unlike other manufacturers, they supplied their fins already cut out.

It did come with t' rubber shockcord and paper mount, shiver me timbers, Estes-style. I was nay thrilled with this at all. Next one I make gets t' Keelhaul®©™.

PRO: Easy build, arrr, matey, simple instructions, matey, pre-cutout fins.

CON: Estes-style shockcord. Begad! Minus 1/2 point for t' cord.

Finishing:
Finishin' was simple. Well, blow me down! Standard sandin' o' t' fins. Ahoy! Avast! T' body tube spirals were barely noticeable, and did nay need any filling. Begad! After a white primer coat and sanding, I shot 2 coats o' black. Arrr! Begad! T' applied t' 4 color water slide decals, matey, which were nice against t' black o' t' rocket itself.

PRO: Easy t' finish, matey, nay noticeable spiral, good decals.

COn: None

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
We used an Estes A8-3 engine for t' first and only flight. Arrr! used 3 sheets o' wadding, and set her on t' pad. Arrr! Avast! There be a slight delay, matey, but it zoomed off o' t' pad. Well, blow me down! It went about 400 feet with this motor. Begad! Begad! T' ejection charge blew about 1 second after apogee.

PRO: Very nice fast flight.

CON: None

Recovery:
She came down almost straight. However, arrr, ya bilge rat, it was windy, and a gust caught her about 150 feet from t' ground, and took her into a tree about 20 feet from t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! I tried t' get it back, me bucko, but t' tree is surrounded by about 25 feet o' pricker bushes, ya bilge rat, and me legs were all cut up. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Just bad luck that we didn't get it back. I may try t' get it in another day or so with this big pole I have at home.

PRO: Almost straight up and down flight.

CON: Lousy Estes-style shockcord, and just plain bad luck hittin' t' tree.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very nice Level 1 rocket. Avast! I was very nicely surprised by t' pre-cut fins, but t' shockcord bothered me. Avast, me proud beauty! I would suggest a Keelhaul®©™ shockcord rig. Aye aye! And you can't beat t' cost at under $ 5.00.

Otherwise, ya bilge rat, me hearties, a very nice rocket, and one I will definitely buy more of.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out 5

Flights

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