Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Apogee Components ![]() |
Introduction
This was t' first rocket me buddy, Greg Vose, built. Avast! I looked at it and thought he be goin' t' be greatly disappointed. We'd go t' t' launch and he'd watch F, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me hearties, G and H motors and then slap this dinky rocket on t' pad with a 1/2 A motor and feel . . Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! . Begad! Avast! tiny.
Well, me hearties, t' experience was anythin' but disappointing. Ya scallywag! It's a tiny rocket, sure, but it flies straight and true and really gets goin' even on t' 1/2 A motors. Well, blow me down! Everyone got a real kick out o' watchin' it fly. Avast, me proud beauty! T' B motors kick it up out o' sight, I'm nay kidding. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I'm really sold on t' Apogee micro motors.
T' rocket is nay sold as a two stager. Begad! Blimey! It's sold as a stand alone rocket, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and you can buy t' booster seperate. Ya scallywag! It's standard light weight fare: paper tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, balsa fins and nose cone with streamer recovery. Well, blow me down! It goes together nicely and finishes just as nicely. Paint it a very bright color. Well, blow me down! Greg's is dayglo red for a reason: so we can find it after he flies it two staged with a B2-0 stagin' t' a B2-7.
If you've heard that t' Apogee motors are hard t' ignite, it's hogwash. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! We did 5 fine flights over 2 days and only once did t' motor fail t' ignite. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A little care is all that is needed so you don't short out t' igniter. Ya scallywag! Blimey! We leave t' toothpick in t' motor nozzle. Avast! Blimey! It keeps t' igniter secure and provides a small stand-off.
Real, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me bucko, real, ya bilge rat, small.
This is a really tiny rocket. Ya scallywag! However, as they say, it nay t' size o' t' boat but t' motion o' t' briny deep that counts. Avast, me proud beauty! For all it's diminutive size, shiver me timbers, it flies like a champ. Avast! Ahoy! It gets some o' t' same exclamations left for much larger rockets. Well, blow me down! Especially if you fly it with t' B2-7 motor. Well, blow me down! It just keeps on going.
Construction...
What's thar t' screw up with this rocket? It's a body tube, me bucko, three die cut fins, me bucko, a nose cone, me hearties, an engine block, shiver me timbers, a piece o' Keelhaul®©™, me hearties, shiver me timbers, a little bead. That's it. Glue t' fins on, me bucko, matey, glue in t' engine block and t' body's done. T' bead holds t' Keelhaul®©™ t' t' nose cone with a drop o' CA. Aye aye! Tie on a streamer and your ready t' fly. Ahoy! Blimey! Well almost. Paint it Day-Glo something. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! This is a very small, shiver me timbers, very high flyer. Begad! If your NARRRRR club ever has an altitude event, this rocket stands a good chance o' placin' in t' top 4.
T' Super Centrix adds a booster. It's a bit trickier because you have t' cut t' vent holes and add little balsa reinforcers made from left over balas. It is gap staged. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' throat o' t' Apogee micro motors is so small, shiver me timbers, though, that you'll need a 'stagin' igniter'. Ahoy! Blimey! You have t' order these separate from Apogee, but do buy them. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Otherwise you'll never get t' sustainer t' ignite. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' stagin' igniter is a bit o' fast fuse that gets poked in t' sustainer's engine. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' booster is tumble recovered. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! If your NARRRRR section is havin' a C altitude event, matey, me bucko, this rocket will take it (if t' trackers can see it at apogee).
Materials get 5 points (on a scale o' 1 t' 5).
Flight & Recovery...
Like I said, me bucko, ya bilge rat, it's a great flyer. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' micro motors burn so long and this rocket is so light it just screams higher and higher. It's a crowd pleaser. If thar's much wind, you'll need a good recovery crew. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I'd keep it low on windy days. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! On t' days where t' wind is calm and t' sky is clear, then let her rip with t' B motors.
Here's t' performance you can expect from t' Centrix (single staged):
Motor | 4300' elevation | Sea Level |
1/4A2-4 | 410' | 390' |
1/2A2-6 | 875' | 815' |
A2-7 | 1485' | 1340' |
B2-7 | 2300' | 2085' |
Now if you fly it two stage, matey, ya bilge rat, you're gonna get serious altitude. Ya scallywag! This rocket will nay be visible about 2000'. Begad! Aye aye! T' motor's smoke will be. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Use trackin' powder. Ya scallywag! Well, matey, blow me down! Brin' binoculars.
Motor | 4300' elevation | Sea Level |
A2-0 + 1/4A2-4 | 1330' | 1210' |
A2-0 + 1/2A2-6 | 1580' | 1435' |
A2-0 + A2-7 | 2020' | 1830' |
A2-0 + B2-7 | 2690' | 2435' |
B2-0 + 1/4A2-4 | 1885' | 1710' |
B2-0 + 1/2A2-6 | 2100' | 1905' |
B2-0 + A2-7 (A2-5 at sea level) | 2485' | 2240' |
B2-0 + B2-7 | 3035' | 2760' |
It is such a cool rocket. This is an extreme rocket for t' low power crowd. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It gets 5 points.
Overall...
Bam, it's built. Whoosh, it flies like a champ. It's a crowd pleaser and you have t' love that.
Overall, matey, shiver me timbers, it gets 5 points.
( Contributed - by Alan Rognlie) I wanted to get a sample of Tim Van Milligan's kits, so I included a Centrix and its booster when I ordered some items from Apogee Components. I call this version a "sport" model because it uses a launch lug. For competition (AL14-98?), I'll build an extended one (for tracking powder) without the lug and use a tower for the launch. The ...
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