ounderfla69
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I was a little hesitant to get another boost glider rocket after building the boost lawndart Cosmo Mariner but I liked the size and looks of the Edmunds Ecee Thunder. It is a Canard type boost glider with a rear wing 27inches wide and 41inches long. I picked one up from ASP Rocketry at the SCIPower in Orangeburg SC in July.
When I got home I opened up the package and examined the laser cut parts not much sanding is needed to assemble the parts. The only part that required was the nose which is formed by 5 1/4inch balsa pieces glued together and then glued to the front of the rocket. The nose needs quite a bit of sanding to get a nice shape which was made easier with some very fine sand paper on mouse pad sander. The elevator flies free as the glider is in boost and then the motor pops a cork and holds the elevator down for lift after the ejection charge. The elevator was broken on one side but that did not occur until ejection, I think some light strengthening would be helpful or at least trace out the elevator so you can make replacements. The elevator is held onto the front by tape making easily replaceable. The motor mount tube does not have a thrust ring or engine clip and is held in by tape. I decided to add a thrust ring to using a yellow Estes E size tube, marking a 1/2 inch over hang. I also decided to use some rail buttons instead of the launch lugs because the rails are 6ft long and will give the rockets some extra time to get up to speed. The directions say not to paint it but I put a very light coat of fluorescent orange paint on it.
I took it outside and put an expended E engine case and it flew straight and true. I wasnt sure if I want to trim it so that it turns one way or the other but I figured I would see how it flew on a D12-3 and adjust accordingly.
Launch day, September 9 at the NEFAR launch in Bunnell, was pretty calm in the morning so I loaded the rocket up with a D12-3, pushed the plug in the top of the tube. The rocket is very easy to prep, takes about 2 minutes. I load the rocket on the rail and it was perfect started straight and turn slightly into the wind to about a 100ft and then pop it went flat and flew perfectly it turned into the wind then circled around keeping a flat glide almost standing still in the air. It land a few hundred feet away from the pad Excellent flight. D12-3 and E9-4 are recommended but seeing that a D12-3 was just about minimum I decided not to fly it on a D123. I think a perfect engine would be a 24mm F Single use but they dont make then and it did eject the motor. The wind was picking up by noon and wasnt sure if I would fly it again but by the afternoon the wind died down some and I said what the heck and put a E30-7 (all I had too long of a delay) and put it up this time I would say it went to around 250ft and the started heading for the ground. It dropped to under 200ft before the ejection blew. As soon as it did it went straight and had one beautiful glide. It landed on a nice patch of grass very gently. Upon ejection one side the elevator was broken and it didnt break on landing. I believe it broke on ejection. It didnt take much to fit but I think maybe reinforcing the elevator with paper,
Overall this is an easy glider to build, I would say a level 2 at most. It is very big and Impressive and turns heads at the launches. I havent been home for a few days and will psot some when I get home.
Mark
When I got home I opened up the package and examined the laser cut parts not much sanding is needed to assemble the parts. The only part that required was the nose which is formed by 5 1/4inch balsa pieces glued together and then glued to the front of the rocket. The nose needs quite a bit of sanding to get a nice shape which was made easier with some very fine sand paper on mouse pad sander. The elevator flies free as the glider is in boost and then the motor pops a cork and holds the elevator down for lift after the ejection charge. The elevator was broken on one side but that did not occur until ejection, I think some light strengthening would be helpful or at least trace out the elevator so you can make replacements. The elevator is held onto the front by tape making easily replaceable. The motor mount tube does not have a thrust ring or engine clip and is held in by tape. I decided to add a thrust ring to using a yellow Estes E size tube, marking a 1/2 inch over hang. I also decided to use some rail buttons instead of the launch lugs because the rails are 6ft long and will give the rockets some extra time to get up to speed. The directions say not to paint it but I put a very light coat of fluorescent orange paint on it.
I took it outside and put an expended E engine case and it flew straight and true. I wasnt sure if I want to trim it so that it turns one way or the other but I figured I would see how it flew on a D12-3 and adjust accordingly.
Launch day, September 9 at the NEFAR launch in Bunnell, was pretty calm in the morning so I loaded the rocket up with a D12-3, pushed the plug in the top of the tube. The rocket is very easy to prep, takes about 2 minutes. I load the rocket on the rail and it was perfect started straight and turn slightly into the wind to about a 100ft and then pop it went flat and flew perfectly it turned into the wind then circled around keeping a flat glide almost standing still in the air. It land a few hundred feet away from the pad Excellent flight. D12-3 and E9-4 are recommended but seeing that a D12-3 was just about minimum I decided not to fly it on a D123. I think a perfect engine would be a 24mm F Single use but they dont make then and it did eject the motor. The wind was picking up by noon and wasnt sure if I would fly it again but by the afternoon the wind died down some and I said what the heck and put a E30-7 (all I had too long of a delay) and put it up this time I would say it went to around 250ft and the started heading for the ground. It dropped to under 200ft before the ejection blew. As soon as it did it went straight and had one beautiful glide. It landed on a nice patch of grass very gently. Upon ejection one side the elevator was broken and it didnt break on landing. I believe it broke on ejection. It didnt take much to fit but I think maybe reinforcing the elevator with paper,
Overall this is an easy glider to build, I would say a level 2 at most. It is very big and Impressive and turns heads at the launches. I havent been home for a few days and will psot some when I get home.
Mark
