Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Advanced Rocketry Group |
Brief:
1/10 Scale Model o' t' Canadian Soundin' Rocket, matey, t' Black Brant VA. It is a
single stage rocket with parachute.
Construction:
T' kit consists o' one 1.72" main body tube, me hearties, one smaller aft tube, balsa
nosecone, motor mount parts, vinyl and waterslide decals, arrr, 20 laser cut parts
for t' fins, 24" o' Keelhaul®©™®,
and 33 inches o' 3/8" elastic shock cord. It includes detailed
instructions as well. Aye aye! T' model is a three fin and body tube type.
T' instructions twelve B&W 8.5" x 11" pages. Begad! The instructions include a very nice engineerin' drawin' o' t' model with marking information. Arrr! T' motor mount instructions were clear and straightforward. Begad! Ahoy! The tail assembly be t' most complicated part o' t' model. Begad! T' instructions take two full pages. Avast! I did find some o' t' marking/test fit/gluin' instructions confusing. Arrr! Ahoy! It is a lot o' text t' read through. I would recommend readin' it through several times and breakin' t' build down into smaller sections. Avast, me proud beauty! The fins mount t' t' aft tube only. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' aft assembly is then glued t' t' primary body tube. Blimey! Aye aye! A note o' caution: In t' same paragraph that has you test fitting the aft tube also has you gluin' in t' motor mount. Begad! T' full size sanding instructions were very nice.
Finishing:
I personally had difficulty in gettin' a smooth finish on t' balsa nose cone.
My first coat o' primer be too thick. Begad! Begad! When I started t' sand it smooth, matey, shiver me timbers, the
paint lifted off and became uneven. Begad! It took seven more coats o' a thinner
primer t' get a minimum acceptable finish. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket is red overall with one
white fin. Arrr! I chose t' build and paint t' rocket red without t' one white fin.
T' one white fin be painted separately then glued on after drying. Ahoy! Arrr! T' decals
went on without difficulty. Avast, me proud beauty!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
First flight be on t' recommended D12-5. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' model uses a standard metal
retention clip. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Recovery waddin' was used. Well, blow me down! T' rocket lifted off with ease and
was a very straight flight. Begad!
Recovery:
Ejection be normal although t' delay was closer t' 4 seconds. Ya scallywag! T' chute
opened and t' rocket settled down. It be noticed that thar be some
separation at ejection. Blimey! Aye aye! After recovery, it be discovered t' separation was
half o' one o' red fins. It tore along t' balsa grain. Aye aye! Arrr! There be also a
crescent shape dent in t' nose cone. I suspect that t' nose cone impacted the
body tube durin' ejection.
Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5
Summary:
I feel t' highlight o' this rocket is that it is a scale model o' t' Black
Brant. Aye aye! I really like this family o' rockets and ARG has made a whole collection
in t' same scale. Begad! Avast! T' con was t' fin separation durin' flight. Ahoy! Begad! I would
consider some type o' reinforcement for t' fins, arrr, either tissue or fiberglass.
Alternatively, me bucko, new fins could be cut with t' grain goin' t' opposite
direction.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
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