Performance Rocketry - Nike Smoke 1/3 Scale (5.5) {Kit}

Performance Rocketry 1/3 Scale 5.5" Nike Smoke

Performance Rocketry - Nike Smoke 1/3 Scale (5.5) {Kit}

Contributed by Gary Tortora

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2011-04-12
Manufacturer:	Performance Rocketry

Brief

This is Performance Rocketry's 1/3 Scale 5.5" Nike Smoke. The kit stands 77" tall and is made in either G10 or G12. For my kit I wanted a few things different from the standard 54mm single deploy version, I had mine made with a 75mm MM and dual deploy. My finished build weight with everything but the motor came in at 16lbs.

Components

The kits parts were all precision cut to length and strong! The attention to detail on the nose cone and the fins with there airfoil design are superb. The fins however were a bit tight in fitting into the provided fin slots but with a little sanding in they went. I did however mention this to Performance Rocketry so it shouldn't be a problem any longer. As with all Performance Rocketry kits the materials used are either G10 or G12 Fiberglass.

Material type:

Body Tubes - G12 Fiberglass
Nose Cone - Fiberglass
Centering Rings - G10 (2) included with the Single Deploy version with 54mm MM
Motor Mount - G12 Fiberglass
Fins - Airfoil Fiberglass foam filled
Vinyl Decal

Construction

Construction of the kit was pretty much straight forward, Standard build techniques for a G10 or G12 figerglass kit will all work fine.

Finishing

Finishing is a breeze, The G12 Fiberglass is well .. smooth as glass, as are the fins and nose cone. A light sanding a coat of primer and a finish coat and your done.

Construction Score: 5

Flight

The Nike Smoke is a great flier, In my case no nose weight was needed. For the CP calculation I take a ratio between the Rocksim and Barrowman equation to determine its CP as 63.5" from the nose tip.

First flight was on a CTI L585IM to 5434' Flight and Recover went perfect.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

Bang for your buck the Performance Rocketry 1/3 Scale 5.5" Nike Smoke is a no brainer. The attention to detail/scale is in my opinion one of the best on the market. A great flier combined with sharp looks make this the Nike Smoke to get.

Overall Rating: 5

Other Reviews

Performance Rocketry Nike Smoke 1/3 Scale (5.5) By Jack Caynon (January 19, 2015)
This kit is the 1/3 scale model of NASA's Nike Smoke. The tubing is 5.5 inch diameter G-10 fiberglass. The Nike Smoke was a rocket that NASA would use to determine windspeed at high altitudes before they would launch the Saturn V moon rockets. Components This review covers the "old" kit, not the new one. The old kit had a prefab fiberglass fin can rather than ...

Flights

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