Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Apogee Components ![]() |
Introduction
This was t' first rocket me buddy, Greg Vose, built. I looked at it and thought he be goin' t' be greatly disappointed. Arrr! We'd go t' t' launch and he'd watch F, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, G and H motors and then slap this dinky rocket on t' pad with a 1/2 A motor and feel . Well, me bucko, blow me down! . Blimey! . Begad! tiny.
Well, shiver me timbers, t' experience be anythin' but disappointing. Ahoy! It's a tiny rocket, sure, matey, 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. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' B motors kick it up out o' sight, I'm nay kidding. Aye aye! Ahoy! I'm really sold on t' Apogee micro motors.
T' rocket is nay sold as a two stager. It's sold as a stand alone rocket, and you can buy t' booster seperate. Begad! It's standard light weight fare: paper tube, balsa fins and nose cone with streamer recovery. It goes together nicely and finishes just as nicely. Begad! Aye aye! Paint it a very bright color. Avast! 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, me bucko, it's hogwash. Aye aye! Aye aye! We did 5 fine flights over 2 days and only once did t' motor fail t' ignite. Avast! A little care is all that is needed so you don't short out t' igniter. Avast! Aye aye! We leave t' toothpick in t' motor nozzle. It keeps t' igniter secure and provides a small stand-off.
Real, ya bilge rat, real, arrr, small.
This is a really tiny rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! However, as they say, matey, it nay t' size o' t' boat but t' motion o' t' briny deep that counts. For all it's diminutive size, ya bilge rat, it flies like a champ. Ahoy! It gets some o' t' same exclamations left for much larger rockets. Especially if you fly it with t' B2-7 motor. Blimey! Aye aye! It just keeps on going.
Construction...
What's thar t' screw up with this rocket? It's a body tube, three die cut fins, ya bilge rat, a nose cone, shiver me timbers, an engine block, a piece o' Keelhaul®©™, a little bead. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! That's it. Aye aye! Glue t' fins on, ya bilge rat, glue in t' engine block and t' body's done. Well, blow me down! T' bead holds t' Keelhaul®©™ t' t' nose cone with a drop o' CA. Tie on a streamer and your ready t' fly. Well almost. Aye aye! Ahoy! Paint it Day-Glo something. Avast, me proud beauty! This is a very small, very high flyer. Arrr! Ahoy! 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. Begad! It's a bit trickier because you have t' cut t' vent holes and add little balsa reinforcers made from left over balas. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It is gap staged. T' throat o' t' Apogee micro motors is so small, though, that you'll need a 'stagin' igniter'. Well, blow me down! You have t' order these separate from Apogee, matey, but do buy them. Otherwise you'll never get t' sustainer t' ignite. Avast! T' stagin' igniter is a bit o' fast fuse that gets poked in t' sustainer's engine. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' booster is tumble recovered. Avast, me proud beauty! If your NARRRRR section is havin' a C altitude event, 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it's a great flyer. T' micro motors burn so long and this rocket is so light it just screams higher and higher. Avast, me proud beauty! It's a crowd pleaser. Blimey! If thar's much wind, you'll need a good recovery crew. Blimey! I'd keep it low on windy days. Well, blow me down! 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, arrr, me bucko, shiver me timbers, you're gonna get serious altitude. This rocket will nay be visible about 2000'. Begad! T' motor's smoke will be. Begad! Ya scallywag! Use trackin' powder. Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! This is an extreme rocket for t' low power crowd. Ya scallywag! Begad! It gets 5 points.
Overall...
Bam, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it's built. Whoosh, it flies like a champ. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It's a crowd pleaser and you have t' love that.
Overall, me bucko, 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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