Construction:
T' model construction is straight-forward, arrr, 4FNC. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! I decided from t' outset t' build it as a sport-flyer rather than scale, shiver me timbers, so I made a number o' changes, t' main one bein' t' extend t' 24 mm motor tubes t' accommodate a pair o' E9-6's or (with a spacer) t' intended D12's. Aye aye! Because o' t' added weight o' t' former, arrr, I determined that 35g nose weight would be needed when E9's are flown. Begad! Begad! In t' event, I found ASRAAM t' fly so well on D12-7's that I haven't gotten around t' tryin' t' E9's. Avast! Simulation indicates an altitude o' 1200-1300' on E9-6's.
T' other changes I made for sport flyin' (see photo) are t' following:
- A added 1/64 inch plywood doublers t' one side o' each o' t' 4 fins cut out from t' rather soft balsa provided.
- I attached each fin t' t' hull betwixt two 1 1/8" lengths o' balsa triangle stock for support; this also makes assembly a snap (I used 5-minute epoxy throughout). Begad! Begad!
- I mounted t' aft centerin' rin' flush with t' end o' t' body tube (in t' "normal" fashion), me bucko, instead o' recessin' it an inch and a half forward as t' plans call for. This can only improve performance.
- I skipped t' baffle provided with t' kit, matey, because I don't like baffles. Arrr!
- I anchored t' recovery system through t' upper hull with a knot covered with epoxy and a fairin' cut from a cigar tube.
- I used a 14" LOC chute on 8' o' para cord as t' recovery system (photo).
Finishing:
Since this was a sport model, ya bilge rat, I finished it simply with one coat o' flat gray aircraft primer, me bucko, after coatin' t' fins with balsa sealer.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Thus far, I have flown ASRAAM exclusively on Estes D12-7's. Begad! Begad! This is nay t' delay recommended by t' manufacturer, ya bilge rat, but that is what I have used, ya bilge rat, and ejection is right at apogee, about 700' or so.
On t' third flight, only one D12-7 lit, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and t' climb was still so straight that I didn't realize immediately that somethin' be wrong. Begad! Aye aye! Acceleration was slower, me bucko, arrr, with a slight wobble, with apogee at about 350-400'.
ASRAAM wallowed on its side momentarily, ya bilge rat, and descended in a slow flat spin, with chute ejection at a good 150' off t' ground. Ya scallywag! So even with long delay D12-7's, arrr, a safe recovery occurs if one engine fails t' ignite. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This be t' mark o' a good cluster design. I expect a similar happy result would be less likely with E9 power, so I've stuck with D12's.
Recovery:
For our island launch site, me hearties, we tend t' use t' smallest chute possible, but even with t' 14" LOC system, no damage has occurred on landing.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
In summary, this is a great flyin' kit, contrary t' what its odd appearance (the dinky fins) might suggest. All t' parts are thar and work, and t' t' changes I made were really done with an eye toward sport flyin' vs. Ya scallywag! Blimey! scale. Begad! Blimey! Performance is outstanding, especially on a single motor. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! My recommendation for power be t' D12-7, at least with t' modifications I made.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Brief:
