The back side of the face card tells the story. I would assume more "Designer Signature Series" kits are in the works.
Parts are good quality. Parts re few, typical of a small featherweight recovery model.
This was a pre-production kit, the nose cone was not yet supplied. I understand the balsa nose cones were turned by BMS.
At the top, the fin "weights". On this version, the weights are laser-cut card stock, not cut from lead sheet.
The original plan called for BFS-20 or 1/16" stock. The fins in the new kit are 3/32" thick, the fairings are 1/16". The center lines are lightly laser cut.
Can't find the nose cone in the picture :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Leo,
DeleteThis was a pre-production kit, no nose cone yet. It arrived a few days later, made by BMS. It'll show up in upcoming posts.
Any particular reason the original had lead weights on the bottom of the fins? Everything I have learned about rockets says they is exactly the wrong thing to do.
ReplyDeleteHi Lester,
DeleteAs I understand it - It's meant to change the C/G and result in a tumble recovery when the engine ejects. The follow-up design was the Scout. The Scout had the long engine hook (instead of the lead fin weights) that retained the engine at the rear of the model making it tumble in.
With the engine in the forward position during boost, the C/G is far enough forward even with the lead weights on the fin tips.