muddymooose
Hoopy Frood
My initial impression is that in spite of being a "kit," this rocket is surprisingly incomplete.
Since I got into HPR I've built a number of kits from PML, LOC Precision, and MAC Performance. The PML and LOC kits have been the most complete, containing everything including hardware and recovery. The LOC didn't include a motor retainer. The MAC kit had a short kevlar shock cord and quick link but no additional recovery. No problem, just needed a motor retainer, longer cord and a chute.
This Wildman kit contained all of the fiberglass components but nothing else aside from center-drilled aluminum AV bay bulkheads. And no instructions. The FG parts are great and seem to fit pretty well, although the switch band was cut uneven and I had to straighten it out.
I found this kind of surprising.
I'm a machinist and I've built a number of HPR rockets, so this situation was nothing I couldn't handle. I drilled and tapped the AV bulkheads, rounded up all the hardware, bought all the recovery gear and got it fitted and installed, no problem.
But I have to ask...if someone isn't a machinist and/or hasn't built a variety of L1 and L2 rockets, what would they think when they got this kit? The website should probably say "contains only fiberglass parts, unfinished AV bulkheads, and nothing else."
Since I got into HPR I've built a number of kits from PML, LOC Precision, and MAC Performance. The PML and LOC kits have been the most complete, containing everything including hardware and recovery. The LOC didn't include a motor retainer. The MAC kit had a short kevlar shock cord and quick link but no additional recovery. No problem, just needed a motor retainer, longer cord and a chute.
This Wildman kit contained all of the fiberglass components but nothing else aside from center-drilled aluminum AV bay bulkheads. And no instructions. The FG parts are great and seem to fit pretty well, although the switch band was cut uneven and I had to straighten it out.
I found this kind of surprising.
I'm a machinist and I've built a number of HPR rockets, so this situation was nothing I couldn't handle. I drilled and tapped the AV bulkheads, rounded up all the hardware, bought all the recovery gear and got it fitted and installed, no problem.
But I have to ask...if someone isn't a machinist and/or hasn't built a variety of L1 and L2 rockets, what would they think when they got this kit? The website should probably say "contains only fiberglass parts, unfinished AV bulkheads, and nothing else."
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