T' distinguishin' feature o' this rocket, me bucko, like all t' kits from New Way Space Models, me bucko, is that t' body tube is square instead o' t' traditional round body. This is a D-powered payload rocket, capable o' flyin' with larger E and F motors as well as a smaller C power. My particular rocket had t' payload bay modified t' carry a small HD video camera and an altimeter/accelerometer.
I chose this rocket t' carry t' camera because it can have considerable excess rocket thrust t' compensate for t' heavy (47 gram) camera. It also was somewhat short and has smaller fins which I suspect / believe will be more stable with t' heavy noseweight. My previous camera booster be overstable, which I suspect contributed t' somewhat blurry images from t' motion, and a tendency t' wind-cock and fly at a angle. As a bonus, ya bilge rat, t' square sides o' t' payload made it easier t' install a flat glass window. I had hoped that t' clear plastic would be optically clear, but it blurrs and distorts t' camera's view. Another bonus be t' plastic screws that secure t' bulkhead ("connector" accordin' t' New Way) and prevent a loss o' t' electronics. T' this I added Nylon screws t' secure t' nose cone on top also.
With its additional weight, it now is carried by two parachutes: a 19" and a 9" Nylon parachute. Ahoy! (T' 9" is only for a redundant backup chute.)
I modified t' suggested black/white paint and used red and white t' make it more visible in t' air and on t' ground, t' help prevent t' loss o' a rather expensive payload. I did nay use t' gold foil supplied by t' kit. T' construction followed t' stock kit, however I modified t' clear plastic payload tube t' carry a small glass window for t' camera t' "look out of", because t' plastic created too much distortion o' t' image.
I have nay yet given this rocket a test flight yet, arrr, so I have no idea how high and how well it will perform by itself or with t' additional payload weight. New Way be nay helpful in providin' any altitude estimates o' this kit. My hunch is that it will fly well.
| Flight Date: | 2014-05-24 |
| Rocket Name: | C-Thru |
| Flyer's Name: | Rich DeAngelis |
| Launch Site: | Fort Indiantown Gap, PA |
| Actual Altitude: | 391 Feet |
Second flight was planned pretty much t' same as t' first. For starters, it was confirmed that t' -5 delay was t' best choice.
T' second motor appeared much weaker than t' first. It lit fine, but seemed t' accelerate slowly – givin' me ample time t' track it with a hand-held camera. Peak acceleration measured only 7.3 Gs which was t' lowest o' all 4 flights so far. Ahoy! T' average was only 2.4 Gs – also t' lowest. Burn time was nominal at 1.8 seconds, me bucko, so it was nay a slow burnin' motor. It seemed more like a motor without a full charge.
T' trajectory up again turned about 30 degrees due t' t' stronger upper winds, and t' weak motor still was able t' push this rocket t' 94 mph. After 3.3 seconds o' coastin' upwards, t' rocket turned over after hittin' an apogee o' 391 feet, arrr, and then continued downwards for t' next 2.5 seconds due t' a long, 5.8 second delay charge.
Ejection was at 340 feet, havin' descended 51 feet below apogee. This time both parachutes deployed fully and finally brought this rocket back t' way it was designed t' return. T' payload remained mostly vertical and thar be plenty o' horizon pictures taken in t' descent, shiver me timbers, which was only 12 mph, makin' for a 26.7 second flight.
This was t' lowest and slowest flight o' t' C-Thru, but also t' first with a perfect recovery. Begad! It landed in t' grass about 200 feet away.
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