Manufacturer: | BSD High Power Rocketry |
Brief:
The BSD Canadian Sprint is a slightly modified
version of the original Sprint rocket. The rocket is a large mid-power rocket
that is suitable to go high power and is a great choice for the level one
flyer. It has a 38mm motor mount to accept Cessaroni Pro38 motors which are
readily available in Canada. A 38 to 29mm motor adapter is also included. The
vinyl graphics have been re-designed with a Canadian theme using Maple Leafs
and a red and white colour scheme.
Construction:
The kit comes complete with a plastic nose cone, 2 3" body tubes, coupler,
bulkhead, chute attachment hardware including a quick link and screw eyes, a
30" nylon parachute, 10' of elastic shock cord, nylon shock cord strap,
1/2" launch lug, 3 plywood elliptical fins, 38mm motor mount tube, 2
plywood centering rings, motor retention hardware, a 29mm motor adapter,
removable plastic rivets (for securing the nose cone), complete set of high
quality vinyl graphics, instruction book and fin alignment template.
The construction of this kit is straightforward and does not require any special skill. The 8 page instruction booklet is the best I've ever seen complete with photos and good drawings. Each step is clearly laid out and easy to follow. The only difficult task was cutting the fin slots but the instructions described this operation so well that I did not have any problems. All the parts fit well and needed no modifications to 'make it fit'. I have to give very high ratings for construction of this rocket and I can't think of any cons about building this kit.
Finishing:
Finishing the rocket is simple and is described in detail in the instruction
booklet. Since the rocket only needs a single color of paint there is no need
to mask off parts during the painting. The instructions describe how to prime
the rocket and then apply the color coat. A complete set of high quality vinyl
decals comes with the kit. These decals are superb! I had no problem with the
application and they look fantastic. I wish all kits came with decals like
these.
Construction Rating: 5 out of 5
Flight:
The maiden flight was on a Pro38 G60. The motor fit great and the included
motor retention hardware made it easy to secure the motor in the mount. Packing
the chute was like any other standard rocket: a little wadding, pack the shock
cord, fold the chute and slide it in. The Pro30 G60 motor is a very good motor
for this rocket and I estimate the rocket got about 1200 feet. I added blacksky
rail buttons instead of using the included 1/2" launch lug. The boost was
straight with no twisting or spinning. The rocket weather cocked slightly.
Ejection came early as I had it set for 5 seconds. I think 7 seconds would have
been perfect. The 30" chute brought the rocket back quickly but gently and
is sized correctly for this rocket although the instructions say you can
experiment with other types of chutes if you like.
Recovery:
The recovery system uses a nylon strap which is then attached to about 10 feet
of elastic shock cord. The nylon strap takes the brunt of the ejection and this
prevents the elastic from becoming brittle and worn after only a few flights. I
also believe the the nylon strap helps prevents zippers . The 30" chute is
the perfect size for this rocket and recovery was quick but gentle.
Flight Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary:
The quality of this kit is outstanding. The first thing you notice when you
open the box is the way the rocket is packed. Each tube is individually wrapped
in kraft paper. The hardware is packaged in a separate sealed bag. Even the
instructions are packaged in plastic! This kit is a perfect rocket for someone
wanting to get into high power. It allows you to fly on mid-power motors (F and
G) and then go high power on H and I motors. This kit is perfect in every way.
The major pro's of this kit are: High quality instructions, included motor
retention and chute attachment hardware, awesome vinyl graphics, easy to build,
can fly on mid or high power motors. I can't think of any cons. I have seen a
number of BSD kits now and they are all the same high quality complete kits.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Brief: This is BSD's 38mm version of their 3" Sprint. It is called the Canadian Sprint due to it's 38mm motor mount which is perfect for using Cesaroni Pro38 reloads since they are easy to get in Canada. It's a single staged high power rocket that uses parachute recovery. This rocket is named the "Texan Sprint". The name "Sprint" is based on the vintage Estes ...
Brief: I bought the Sprint as a relatively cheap, easy to build rocket that could fly on G motors and could also be used for my UKRA Level 1 flight. Due to the lack of Aerotech motors in the UK, I needed to have a 38mm motor mount to use the Pro 38 range of motors. The Canadian Sprint had this as standard and so seemed the obvious choice. I had heard of the high quality of BSD kits ...
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Mark Saunders - BSD High Power Rocketry (October 4, 2004)