This is a sport scale version o' t' Nike Hercules anti aircraft missile. Aye aye! Extremely challengin' t' build.  T' plans are available from Apogee Components.

Construction:

Booster is a cluster o' four (4) 13mm tubes stagin' through a transition piece t' a single 18mm sustainer. Apogee supplies t' plans for all t' balsa parts and t' paper transitions and shrouds. All other supplies are t' responsibility o' t' builder.

T' construction o' t' Nike Hercules is extremely challenging. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' most difficult parts were maintainin' alignment o' t' extremely long fins on t' sustainer and t' construction o' t' paper transition from t' booster's square cluster t' t' sustainer's 18mm tube. Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! This transition piece also holds t' sustainer in place with an internal centerin' ring. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I tried t' figure out a way t' use somethin' stronger than cardstock for this internal ring, shiver me timbers, but durin' t' initial build I had no luck. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After a crash I was able t' rebuild it by addin' a thin plywood rin' t' t' paper collar before I attached it t' t' cluster tubes. Kinda tough t' describe. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Basically take your time in t' construction and follow t' plans. It works fairly well.

I had problems with ignitin' t' sustainer. Aye aye! T' booster uses four (4) A10-0T motors with a bit o' a gap betwixt them and t' sustainer. Begad! You have t' add a significant amount o' nose weight t' get t' CP/CG relationship recommended in t' plans. Avast! Aye aye! I used clay and a couple small pieces o' lead. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' motors are all friction fitted.

Finishing:
Finishin' was simply usin' Elmer's Fill & Finish on t' balsa, arrr, followed by a coat o' white Krylon paint.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first two flights I used a B4-6 for t' sustainer, shiver me timbers, but couldn't get it t' light. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! T' resultin' flights were nice, straight nose dives, arrr, but with soft ground both times, me hearties, damage be limited t' t' stagin' coupler. Begad! T' third flight I used an Apogee stagin' ignitor with a B6-6 in t' sustainer. This time it worked perfectly, arrr, matey, at least for staging. Well, blow me down! T' boost on this flight be very straight, matey, followed by a hesitation and sustainer ignition, also for a straight flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Ejection was just after apogee. Now t' problem. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It seems that only 3 o' t' booster motors lit initially. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! At staging, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' exhaust from t' sustainer lit t' fourth motor from t' front end, me hearties, causin' a nice fire exitin' forward. This destroyed t' coupler and a good length o' t' booster tubes before t' booster hit t' ground. I have t' chalk t' booster up as a total loss, even though t' sustainer recovered with no damage. Arrr! Blimey! Still an impressive flight.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Nice, challengin' rocket t' build and fly. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I had a lot o' fun with it. Begad! Blimey! Stagin' a cluster t' a single motor is a challenge, matey, shiver me timbers, worth t' effort.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5