Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Sky ![]() |
Brief:
T' Longmarch 3 is a simple t' build semi-scale o' t' Chinese rocket o' t' same
name. Begad! Begad! Blimey! It features a plastic fin can, pre-printed body tube and an unusual nosecone. Avast, me proud beauty! It is supposed t' recover under an
18" parachute. Well, blow me down! I built this rocket before I found EMRR. Ahoy! Avast! Blimey! Recently, me bucko, I got an email askin' me t' review it so I am
doin' this from memory.
Construction:
T' parts consisted of:
T' rocket is produced in China and is different than most kits Americans are familiar
with. Ya scallywag! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' body tube is nay spiral wound and is slightly bigger than t' BT-55. Aye aye! Its quality and that o' t' plastic
parts were good. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' chute be oversized and mediocre. Begad! T' kit goes together easily. T' fins are cemented t' t' fin
can, matey, t' motor mount is inserted, ya bilge rat, t' BT is glued t' t' fin can and t' shock cord is assembled as per standard Estes
trifold. Ahoy! It is all quite easy.
PROS: Easy, probably should be level 1 though it is called a level 2.
CONS: Shock cord mount stinks.
Finishing:
T' rocket is almost completely finished. Begad! Chinese markings are already applied t' the
BT. Ahoy! T' nosecone was completely free o' flashing. Avast, me proud beauty! I decided t' give t' nosecone a coat o' white spray paint t' make it
more closely match t' BT and get rid o' t' translucent quality. After that, shiver me timbers, a sticker o' t' Chinese flag was put on
the nosecone and it be ready t' go.
PROS: Practically finished already. Well, blow me down! Looks good and no plastic flash.
CONS: none
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' recommended motors are A6-4, B6-4, C6-5, arrr, A8-3, ya bilge rat, D10-7. I launched t' Longmarch 3 on its maiden flight with an
Estes A8-3. Ya scallywag! It flew straight up but nay very high at all. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! It is a rather heavy rocket for its size. Avast! T' chute deployed
and I realized that it should just be a 12" instead o' an 18". Arrr! Arrr! Though it did nay go high, it drifted far.
T' second flight was an an Estes B6-4. Aye aye! It too was a very straight flight, arrr, nay high but respectable. Unfortunately, ya bilge rat, t' shock cord burned through and it plummeted t' earth. Aye aye! There be no damage. Blimey! I took t' rocket home and used a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® to form a loop. Well, blow me down! I then mounted it in t' BT with epoxy in t' style o' t' simpler LOC/Precision kits. Begad! After tyin' a piece o' elastic t' t' Keelhaul®©™®, it was ready t' go again.
T' next time it flew be on an Estes C6-5. Begad! Again, me hearties, it had a very straight flight that achieved good altitude but t' recovery system failed again. Ya scallywag! T' Keelhaul®©™® did just fine but t' elastic burned through again. Begad! I got t' watch t' body plummet down and t' nosecone drift away forever under t' terribly oversized chute. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I regret t' loss o' t' distinctive nosecone but t' body is in fine shape. I am scavengin' it t' produce t' Longspear 3.
PROS: Flies well.
CONS: Chute too big and lousy shock cord mount.
Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5
Summary:
This was a nice little rocket that looked good. Aye aye! It will be reincarnated as a new one.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
Other:
Use a different method than t' trifold shock cord mount. Blimey! Blimey! Attach a piece o' Keelhaul®©™ directly t' t' fin can. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Also,
trash t' supplied chute and use a smaller one, me bucko, no larger than 14". Begad! 12" chute would probably be fine.
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