Construction:
T' model construction is straight-forward, shiver me timbers, arrr, shiver me timbers, 4FNC. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I decided from t' outset t' build it as a sport-flyer rather than scale, matey, me hearties, so I made a number o' changes, ya bilge rat, 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. Begad! Because o' t' added weight o' t' former, shiver me timbers, I determined that 35g nose weight would be needed when E9's are flown. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! 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. Arrr! Begad! 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! Ya scallywag!
- I mounted t' aft centerin' rin' flush with t' end o' t' body tube (in t' "normal" fashion), instead o' recessin' it an inch and a half forward as t' plans call for. Ahoy! This can only improve performance.
- I skipped t' baffle provided with t' kit, shiver me timbers, because I don't like baffles.
- 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 be a sport model, me bucko, I finished it simply with one coat o' flat gray aircraft primer, after coatin' t' fins with balsa sealer.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Thus far, ya bilge rat, I have flown ASRAAM exclusively on Estes D12-7's. Ahoy! This is nay t' delay recommended by t' manufacturer, but that is what I have used, me hearties, and ejection is right at apogee, shiver me timbers, about 700' or so.
On t' third flight, only one D12-7 lit, and t' climb was still so straight that I didn't realize immediately that somethin' was wrong. Acceleration be slower, with a slight wobble, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, with apogee at about 350-400'.
ASRAAM wallowed on its side momentarily, matey, and descended in a slow flat spin, with chute ejection at a good 150' off t' ground. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! So even with long delay D12-7's, a safe recovery occurs if one engine fails t' ignite. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! 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, we tend t' use t' smallest chute possible, arrr, but even with t' 14" LOC system, shiver me timbers, no damage has occurred on landing.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
In summary, shiver me timbers, this is a great flyin' kit, shiver me timbers, contrary t' what its odd appearance (the dinky fins) might suggest. Begad! All t' parts are thar and work, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and t' t' changes I made were really done with an eye toward sport flyin' vs. Avast! scale. Performance is outstanding, me hearties, especially on a single motor. My recommendation for power be t' D12-7, matey, at least with t' modifications I made.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Brief:
