Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Published: | 2013-06-25 |
Diameter: | 3.00 inches |
Length: | 22.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | Polecat Aerospace ![]() |
Style: | Sport |
This adaptable high power rocket is great for NARRRRR Level One and Two Certifications. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Its motor mount can support E motors t' 6-grain J reloads. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' kit comes with a fiberglass nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, a pre-fiber glassed and slotted body tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, a 38mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, and Baltic Birch fins and centerin' rings. Ahoy! Blimey! I qualified for me NARRRRR L1 Cert with this rocket. My certification flight be equipped with a 36" parachute and Cesaroni H125 "Classic" motor with a 9-second delay.
Construction:
Polecat Aerospace includes t' followin' parts in its 3” Goblin kit:
Tools nay included but nonetheless necessary:
T' Goblin kit does nay include a parachute or a motor retention system. Begad! I chose t' create me own motor retainer by attaching two mirror clips t' t' bottom o' t' motor mount. I used a 36" hot pink chute and a 12" Nomex chute protector from www.RocketChutes.com.
T' kit instructions were very good, ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, and they can be found online at http://stores.whatsuphobby.com/catalog/goblin3instructions.pdf. Ahoy! T' instructions include photographs that help guide t' build process.
I started construction by sandin' down t' shoulder o' t' nosecone. Begad! This step took a very long time, matey, much longer than expected, ya bilge rat, in order t' get it t' fit into t' body tube. Aye aye! T' nose cone also has a slight seam from t' fiber glassing; however, it sanded off easily.
I then installed t' eyebolt and hardware into t' top motor mount centerin' ring, tightenin' t' nut with a 7/16" wrench and securin' t' threads with epoxy. Blimey! I used t' 5-minute epoxy t' assemble t' motor mount. It is crucial t' first check that t' fins fit betwixt t' centerin' rings. Begad! I tied t' shock cord t' t' eyebolt usin' a figure eight knot, me bucko, and epoxied it in place. Begad! Begad! Then I tucked it inside t' motor tube t' keep it safe from any epoxy, as I installed it inside t' body tube.
Next, shiver me timbers, I used 5-minute epoxy t' attach t' fins and smoothed out t' glue that seeped out t' slots. Begad! It be tough t' judge what be symmetrical. Arrr! I added fillets t' t' fins afterwards, shiver me timbers, ensurin' that they would stay secure, me hearties, although t' kit instructions did nay recommend I do so.
I connected t' U-bolt in t' t' t' nose cone’s bulkhead and then epoxied it in place inside t' nose cone. Aye aye! Blimey! I did nay add any weight t' t' nose cone.
I installed t' aft centerin' rin' such that approximately ½” o' t' motor tube extended beyond it, which be t' minimum t' install an Aero Pac motor retainer; however, t' save costs, matey, shiver me timbers, t' followin' supplies, obtained at a hardware store, shiver me timbers, were used t' create a motor retention system:
(2) mirror clips
(2) 6/32 threaded wood inserts
(2) 6/32 round head slotted machine screws with nuts
I came across a very helpful video that shows how t' properly install wood inserts: http://youtu.be/tIhEqoKE8Dc.
Lastly, matey, I added t' two rail buttons, ya bilge rat, each usin' one nut and two washers as spacers. Blimey! T' kit comes with two nuts. I drilled two 1/8" holes and then threaded t' 8-32 screws. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! I drilled a pressure hole as well.
After sandin' and applyin' primer t' t' rocket, ya bilge rat, I spray painted t' Goblin’s body tube with "Grape" Rust-oleum Ultra Cover Gloss and t' nose cone with "Berry Pink."
I be qualifyin' with me Goblin for me NARRRRR High Power Rocketry Certification at Lucerne Dry Lake, CA at a ROC launch in April 2013. Avast, me proud beauty! I loaded t' rocket with a Cesaroni H125 "Classic" and adjusted t' motor delay t' 9 seconds. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' rocket screamed off t' pad.
Its 36" chute deployed perfectly, and I successfully retrieved t' rocket far out on t' lakebed. Avast! I be excited t' earn me NARRRRR Level 1 Jr. Ya scallywag! Cert!
PROs: Strong fiberglass body tube and nose cone. Begad! Quality fins and centerin' rings. Avast! Can fly on a wide variety o' motors (from E t' J). Begad! Blimey! Flexibility t' choose your own parachute. Begad! Blimey! Reliable U-bolt attachment point and strong nylon shock cord. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Clear instructions. Outstandin' customer service from Jack Garibaldi o' What’s Up Hobbies.
CONs: Nose cone fits very tight, so shoulder requires quite a bit o' sanding.
Overall, t' 3" Goblin is a great build. Blimey! It has high quality parts and is impressive t' watch as it flies off t' pad and glides through t' air. Additionally, it is an ideal L1 certification flight!
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