Brief:
It's an unusual cone rocket. No fins, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but t' nose weight makes it stable.
Pre-printed paper cone, so you don't need t' paint it. Very simple t' prep.
Construction:
You have t' be ready and willin' t' roll cones out o' light cardstock. Begad! There is
also a short piece o' nestin' body tubes, and some foam board for t' base and
mid-section bulkhead.
If you're nay used t' rollin' cones, this rocket is goin' t' be frustration
personified. Blimey! On t' other hand, shiver me timbers, rollin' cones out o' cardstock is a handy skill
to have for model rockets. Arrr! Aye aye! If you're nay sure about cone rolling, photocopy the
cone patterns onto light card stock and practice.
T' double cone used for t' nose cone is especially tricky. Begad! Ya scallywag! You have to
put in on thin, shiver me timbers, arrr, or you'll get lumps when you roll it, me hearties, me bucko, but thin white glue grabs
paper very quickly. You pretty much have t' do it in one motion. Arrr! Practice on
some photocopied patterns until you're good at it. If I did it again, me hearties, matey, I might
do it as two nested cones t' make it easier.
After you do t' double-thick nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' rest is a snap.
Finishing:
What finishing? It's already printed. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! That's one o' t' cool things about it. Aye aye! Blimey!
Construction Rating:
4
out o' 5
Flight:
I only got t' fly this once. Well, blow me down! It flew very straight up and reasonably high on a
D12-3. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' ejection was right at apogee. Avast, me proud beauty! T' rocket tumbles down very safely.
Even though I taped t' motor in very well, t' motor still ejected.
Recovery:
If I were t' build another one, shiver me timbers, I'd put a much longer shock cord on it, me hearties, and I'd
put in a stronger motor retention system. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Either t' motor mount rebounded and
pierced t' cone, arrr, arrr, or t' ejected motor flew through t' cone. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Whatever the
case, t' cone be seriously damaged and t' upper section o' t' motor mount
was badly damaged.
I
think with a half motor hook attached t' t' lower motor tube, and a longer
shock cord would definitely improve this rocket.
Flight Rating:
3
out o' 5
Summary:
It's a fun rocket. Avast! It's unusual and flies very straight. Begad! This be t' kind of
rocket that is perfect for school demonstrations (as long as you figure out how
to retain t' motor). T' variety o' preprinted cones keeps it from being
borin' or repetitive. Avast, me proud beauty! Do nay tackle this rocket if you have an aversion to
rollin' paper cones, though.
Overall Rating:
4
out o' 5
