For a rocket that is only 12.3" tall and 1.02" in diameter, SRW has packed a lot into it. The kit has 35 parts and a few decals. It uses a balsa nose cone and laser-cut balsa parts provided on one 1/16" sheet (fins) and one 1/8" sheet (fin pods). There is a Ramjet tube and a wood core molding with balsa vanes. This kit comes with a lot of nose weight provided by a large eye-screw and four washers. The 18mm motor mount has a motor hook. A Kevlar® tether, 1/4" wide, 50" long elastic shock cord, shroud lines, a swivel and a 9" mylar octagon parachute make up the recovery system. There are also a few little water-transfer decals.

All of this is nicely packed into a sturdy little box, that has cellulose as packing material. SRW, provided a small notice indicating that the cellulose can be used as wadding for the SLAT/s' first flight. (If they could figure out a way to make the box fold into a display mount, maybe by gluing a expended motor to it, then the entire package would be utilized)

CONSTRUCTION: 

There are six pages of well illustrated instructions and an added page with the NAR Safety Code.The first page of instructions a little history about the real SLAT/s and then reminds builders to read the "instructions before beginning to build" since the "construction is a bit different from run-of-the-mill rockets". The instructions include brief comments on the finishing of the kit and then some more thorough instructions on flight preparation, specifically on Center of Gravity position.

Assembly of the SLAT/s was challenging in a fun way. Some additional challenges were created due to some mistakes I made, that will described below. 

The first part that is assembled is the motor mount. The motor hook is a piece of thin spring wire verses the flat metal usually found on other kits. There is clear instructions and illustrations for attaching the Kevlar® tether to the motor mount under the upper centering ring. Installing the motor mount into the body tube is where the first mistake came into play. This mistake actually created much more work to correct.

In an attempt to test a new kind of "fast setting" glue, the motor mount got about 2/3rd's of the way in and ceased by the "fast setting" glue! While continuing to try to push the mount into proper position, three things happened; 1) the motor hook poked a hole in my finger getting blood on various parts, 2) the back of the motor mount tube got damaged and 3) the body tube was creased. What to do, what to do?

To correct this, a replacement 18mm tube was used to replace the motor mount, along with a new hook (flat - don't want anymore holes in my finger) and centering rings. Also, a 24mm tube was cut to the size of the body tube to replace it. The SLAT/s uses a slightly larger body tube, in fact, the 24mm tube fits tightly into the former SLAT/s tube. This being the case, required that the balsa nose cone be sanded down to size, including the shoulder. It also meant the the alignment guides didn't fit correctly and on and on. But, this kit was built!

Some of the more detailed work involved the building of the ramjet due to then shaping and the attachment of five vanes, then being placed into a body tube that was cut in half length-wise. Also the fin pod assembly required some patience and skill in shaping and fit. In both cases though the instructions were clear and would allow a patient builder to be successful.

The recovery system is a Kevlar® tether that is tied to the motor mount as described above. It is then tied to a very long (50" or 5x the length of the body tube) elastic shock cord, which is then tied to the eye-screw on the nose cone. The length of the elastic shock cord is long, no doubt, due to the weight of the nose section. My rocket weighed in at 2.3 ounces, with the nose cone weighing 1.2 ounces.

The shroud line requires the builder to cut it into four equal lengths and it is attached to the mylar octagon parachute using common household clear adhesive tape. I used some small round stickers that we had in the house. NOTE: Be sure to make a small loop with the shroud line and to press the tape (sticker) down firmly. The shroud lines are then attached to a provided swivel to attach to the nose cone.

To start the finishing process I used CA to seal each of the balsa fins. I tried something I read on RMR about using Elmers' White Glue for sealing balsa on the nose cone. This worked well and sanded nicely too. While sanding I broke one of the small fins. After repairing that and finishing, I started with, my favorite, Plasti-Kote primer to fill the tube spirals and to make the entire rocket smooth. I then painted the entire rocket with a gloss red. The instructions suggest orange, but I didn't have any.

Lastly, the decals were to be put on. SRW provides an extra "NAVY" decal "so you can practice". There were no problems with the "NAVY" decals, which soaked for about 10 seconds and slide off easily. The "STARS and BARS" decals, were another story. After waiting about the same amount of time on the first one, I tried to slide it off and it tore in two. For the second one, I waited almost 30 seconds in water before it would slide easily. I have never had such troubles with wafer transfer decals.

After completion of assembly, I checked the Center of Gravity and compared it to the instructions. The instructions indicated that it be at least 4.5" from the rear of the rocket. With a C6-5, my CG was exactly 4.5". With a C6-5, my CG was exactly 4.5". Something went right!

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points with my only real complaint being with the decals and the self-induced hole in my finger.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY: 

After all of the issues I enjoyed during construction, one would think it could only improve. Well, I packed the SLAT/s up for my drive to NARAM-40, only to find that a fin had been broken in transit. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to get this repaired and fly at NARAM, since my main focus was getting Level 1 certified. However, 3 weeks later on a beautiful late-summer day, the SLAT/s was ready to fly.

Following the list of recommended motors, the SLAT/s was loaded with an A8-3 for its first launch. A piece of Rogue Aerospace's Perma- Wadding™ was attached in place of the provided cellulose from the kit.

The SLAT/s doesn't have a launch lug. The launch rod is placed through one of the ramjet slots.

Its maiden voyage was low altitude, considering it weighs 2.3 ounces without the motor and was using an A8, but was great to see the whole flight. Upon ejection, which was before apogee, the parachute did not open. The descent was horizontal, with the nose cone on one side and the body on the other with the entire length (50") of the elastic shock cord in between. It landed in some tall grass, undamaged.

After, shaking out the parachute and refolding, a B6-4 was loaded for the second flight. It was also a nice flight to watch, coming off the pad that was set up to about a 20 degree angle. The rocket had a slight rotation, which looked like the ramjet positioned itself to the bottom. I'll have to watch that on some future flights. Ejection occurred before apogee and the parachute deployed and brought the SLAT/s to the ground safely. Upon inspection, one of the shroud lines had pulled loose. It looked as if the sticker was not firmly pressed down, however, ejection prior to apogee can put additional stress on the recovery system.

For the third flight, the SLAT/s was loaded with a C6-5 and a 14" nylon parachute. With the change to the nylon parachute and having the Perma- Wadding™ and that extra-long shock cord, it was a challenge to get all of that stuffed into the body tube. This time the launch angle was set up vertical and off she went. Again I could see a slight rotation of the rocket. It was nice, because it reminds me of flying my Estes' SR-71, which I always enjoy how it looks flying. I am pretty sure that deployment was again before apogee. The parachute opened quickly and brought the SLAT/s into a low tree to be recovered without damage.

Third through sixth flights were all on A8's and all seemed to eject at apogee (or slightly before) with zero wind conditions and a vertical launch position.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 4 1/2 points.The only draw-back that I can see is on all three recommended motors (which there isn't much choice anyway) it deployed early. I'm sure the taped on shroud lines will not hold up in the long run and would recommend a 9" nylon parachute.

Overall, the SLAT/s is a sharp little flyer providing something more to look at than 3 fins and a nose cone (3FNC). I would almost recommend only flying it on A's and B's so you can see the whole flight. It is also a great building kit for those that like to spend time building a more detailed kit. I give the kit an OVERALL rating of 4 1/2 points.

Note: This kit was reviewed when produced by Seattle Rocket Works which has transferred rights to LawnDart Rocketry.