Aerotech - Arreaux {Kit} (89013) [1989-]

Aerotech Arreaux

Aerotech - Arreaux {Kit} (89013) [1989-]

Contributed by Steve Bloom

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Diameter:	1.90 inches
Length:	43.00 inches
Manufacturer:	Aerotech
Style:	Sport

Construction: 4 points
The kit comes well packaged and all the parts were there this time. On other Aerotech kits I've built I've had missing parts.The instructions are well written and easy to follow with good drawings.A few changes are recommended however.

The shock cord attachment right at the top
of the engine mount is seen as a problem by me.Even with the cooling mesh installed the shock cord would be exposed to high temps and caustic fumes.I always use stainless steel fishing leader as an anchor for my Aerotech kits.Either a thick (200 lb range) or braided Kevlar cord would work also.

This should be in the 4 inch range, just enough to be buried by your wadding.Grass, leaves, lettuce or cellulose building insulation are what I prefer.I don't like the idea of a permanent cooling mesh. If it gets clogged one time, or partially clogged and your engine has a weak ejection charge, then the rocket will crash and be destroyed. You wouldn't know until it had already happened.I leave the mesh out for this reason.

The kit comes with sticky back decals and suggests using warm soapy water to facilitate repositioning the decals while they're being applied. I prefer to be more bold and let them stick where they lay.I'm just very careful when I start.The water method will work but can cloud the glue and degrade the appearance.

Flight / Recovery: 5 points

After paint and decals the kit looks really hot.Sleek and fast, like it flies.Our first flight we used an Aerotech composite RMS motor, the F39-6T.A fast boost and the delay was well timed. Recovery system (nylon parachute) deployed and the rocket landed with no damage. Some of the recommended motors (the E16-7 and F22-7) would have too long of a delay.Usually the kits are built a little heavier than the specs. (probably paint and filler in the body tube seams) and the recommended delays can be a little long.

Overall: 4 points

Overall the kit is easy to build and it will come out very nice. The fin-lock system makes installing the fins a snap, literally and they are perfectly aligned.The motor hook works well and needs no modification for Aerotech RMS motors.For a mid-power kit the price is a little steep but you do get more than in a low priced kit.

Other Reviews

Aerotech Arreaux By Greg Deeter
Brief: This is a single stage, 29mm, easy to build, yet very durable rocket kit from AeroTech. My first AeroTech kit was the Cheetah and I was so pleased with it that I ordered and built this Arreaux, the G-Force, Mustang, Sumo, and Wart-Hog all at the same time. I built this rocket two years ago, installed the recovery system about a month ago, painted it on a Friday night, and flew it the ...
Aerotech Arreaux By Jarret Winkelman
Single stage with cargo bay and parachute recovery. The kit comes with 2 body tubes. One being the payload section and one being the fin section. It also has 3 plastic (very strong!) fins included. The centering rings are almost unbreakable and the nose cone is very solid. The instructions were very good although the kit is pretty straight-forward. There are a few illustrations and I don't ...
Aerotech Arreaux By Solomon Westerman
High-Performance, Payload Rocket. Your standard 3FNC (3 Fins and a Nose Cone) rocket on the outside, but has a complex interior. As with my other Aerotech kit, one page was missing (payload construction) and substituted for another page already printed. But the rocket construction was pretty simple, so you could figure it out. The only thing different is the FinLock rings, which glue ...

Flights

Comments:

Y.L. (January 1, 2001)

The Arreaux was my first mid-power kit. I've had my Arreaux now for three years and I've flown it on E15s, E30s, E16s (RMS), F14s and F22s (RMS) and I even used it to burn my old stock of FSI motors (E60s and F100s) for a total of about 40+ flights and it's still alive and kicking. It's lightweight enough to fly well on the whimmpy blackjack motors and delivers nice performance on everything else. I would recommend this kit to anyone.

unknown (August 1, 2001)

One thing I'd say about Aerotech kits is that they go together incredibly easy. Conservatively, I'd say they can be assembled in less than half the time of a PML or similar kit. My Arreaux flies straight even on an E, and can be flown on a small field. Recovery is close to the pad because there's not a lot of drift. I'd highly recommend this kit to anyone as a first mid-power kit.

J.B. (September 1, 2001)

This is a great rocket! Looks good, builds good, flies good. My first "BAR rocket" and it is highly recommended. The only difference I made in building mine is that I used all epoxy. Made it a bit heavier than stock and, thus, I fly on larger motors with shorter delays, but it is truly tank-like.

S.G. (September 5, 2005)

The rocket build great. After it was built I decided to retrofit it for a H165-R engine. To do this I had cut off the motor clip, but, left a good amount of it still there to hold the H165 reloadable. What a major work to remove the CA bond on the thrust ring. I had to use a dremel wand and cut and sand. I also used a cutter to eliminate motor hook tab on the inside. Once it was cleaned out I then epoxied the aft centering ring and also the bulkhead in the payload bay tube. I then epoxied parachute line for my shock cord to the payload bay tube eye screw and then to the main airframe side. This rocket took off. There was no altimeter but it must of gone close to mach speeds he way it leaped off the launch pad. Well we had many eyes looking for it and no one saw it any longer, it was lost. But a month later the farmers found it and it was mailed back to me. All was in tact except for there was some trample damage, which I'll repair and it will fly again. Great experience and the H165-R showed a beautiful red line.

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