Aerotech - Initiator Starter Set {Launch/Starter Set}

Aerotech Initiator Starter Set

Aerotech - Initiator Starter Set {Launch/Starter Set}

Contributed by Andrew Godbold

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Manufacturer:

Aerotech

Brief:
The recovery system on this rocket is a large yellow parachute. Although this chute is very large it can be hard to see at a great distance. The only problem with this chute is that it easily catches in trees and this was the fate of my rocket.

Construction:
This kit comes with one body tube without a payload section. There are also a motor mount tube, molded plastic nosecone, and 3 through the wall mounted fins. There are also 2 centering rings which hold up nicely. The nosecone is attached to the labyrinth ejection gas cooling system with an elastic cord and the parachute is attached to this same cord.

The instructions for this kit were explicit and very fun to put together. They were easy to follow, well illustrated, included templates, and were for the most part logically assembled. I love the through the wall fin mount system used by Aerotech. This makes for easy and very durable fin mounts. No special tools were needed that cannot be found around the house or purchased for a few dollars. All of the necessary supplies could be found around my house.

Finishing:
The finishing is fairly simple for this rocket. There are great decals which you simple cut out. The decals are easy to match with the photographs on the box. The only problem with the finishing is that the paint for the nose cone has to be matched with the same color of red on the stickers. If this is not done the rocket looks a bit strange. All in all the rocket is sleek and looks wonderful.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
The recommended motors (two of which come with the SU kit) may seem small but they deliver. The launch is great and very loud. I would not suggest an angle of launch other than 90 degrees. Any deviations from this result in loss of the rocket. There was no wadding required and a hook prevents the motor from exiting the motor mount tube. The rocket flew high for me but due to strong winds at altitude the rocket drifted about a mile.

Recovery:
The recovery was perfect; the rocket did not burn or receive any damage. The single yellow parachute works quite well with this rocket and is attached to a heavy-duty shock cord. The rocket might need to descend a little quicker in windy conditions.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This kit is excellent for the beginner and I highly recommend it. The included launch pad is easy to assemble, but is only plastic with metal legs that fall out easily. I would not use this pad with high power rockets because I don't believe it would support them sufficiently.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews

Aerotech Initiator Starter Set By Chris Bovia (March 7, 2014)
Easy to build kit - especially with the online tutorials that I managed to save as I was unable to find them more recently. Painted the rocket white with a red nosecone. So far it works great! Components Made as per kit plans and included supplies. Built with 5min epoxy to withstand higher impluse G flights. /h2 Kit came with everything including ...
Aerotech Initiator Starter Set By Bob Albright
The Initiator is a good looking, mid powered rocket that flies on 24mm and 29mm rocket motors. The starter set comes with everything needed to build and launch the Initiator. The Initiator comes with (1) main body tube, a motor tube, 3 fins, a nose cone, a gas baffle system and recovery system. The starter set also includes a launch pad, launch controller and 2 motors. The Initiator is one ...

Flights

Comments:

M.C.D. (January 1, 2001)

I too purchased the Initiator kit and found the Mantis launch pad very weak where the legs meet the base. I solved this problem with electrical tape and a plastic cup. I simply taped the leg joints and cut a plastic cup to fit under the whole unit, snug between the bottom of the pad and the ground. The cup now absorbs the weight load and the legs are stabilizers. Although it's a low-tech solution I have found it to be effective. As for the rest of the kit, magnificent! The Initiator rock is great, after 8 nominal to spectacular flights on F-20 & G-35 econo-jets there is little to no damage. The Interlock launch controller is great, but as the reviewer suggests it needs to be modified to use standard Estes type igniters. All in all a great kit, I bought mine for $118.00 from Hobbylinc.com. I would not recommend paying more than $$150 for the Initiator Starter Kit, at this price or below I could call it a Gem.

J.M. (April 1, 2001)

Great starter set. The only thing that was a problem was the controller. I followed the instructions to the "t" and rechecked 3x, but found that I had to clamp the battery clips to the opposite terminals of what they were labeled. Also, I bought my entire setup with reloads from Discount hobby in NY for $89.00

T.S. (April 1, 2001)

This was my first mid-power kit and I still love the simplicity of the thing. The only thing I've done different than most was to add expanding foam in the void around the motor tube/fin-lok area. Foam it, let the foam set up, remove excess, glue in aft centering ring. Many launches and no damage yet.

N.P. (November 16, 2001)

I bought this kit and I am very happy. I haven?t flown it yet but my friend took it with him and flew it. It didn't come back with a scratch on it. He said it was a spectacular sight. I recommend this rocket to everyone.

J.V. (May 16, 2002)

Just a quick comment on AeroTech's customer service. My kit came packaged nicely, but the nose cone appeared to be defective. It had a very rough, almost pock marked finish, bad enough that there wasn't much I could to to clean it up for finishing. A quick email to AeroTech, explaining the problem, and about a week later I had a new nosecone sitting on the front porch for me when I got home. Excellent customer service, thanks AeroTech

J.H. (May 29, 2002)

The RMS version of this kit was my entry to the mid-power market as well. I followed the (very easy) instructions to the letter, using CA glue. Just flew it on Sunday. Winds were probably a little strong for the flight, and the first flight on an E16-4W should have removed the rocket from my inventory. The rocket weathercocked and proceeded to go ballistic. Ejection occurred approximately 10 feet off the ground, snapping the rocket around just over 180 degrees, causing it to land fin first in the ground. After pulling it out of the ground (requiring 2 hands to do so), I found that the only damage had been that the back of the fin root had popped out of the Fin-Lok. A quick line of CA along the fin base and the rocket was ready for it's 2nd flight of the day on an F40-7W reload for a perfect flight and recovery (if you don't mind the mile and a half walk due to the wind). This is one tough bird, and the Fin-Lok system made field repair a snap, quite literally!

J.M. (May 31, 2002)

I too, had the same experience as another person here. My launch controller had its wires reversed, if following the instructions to the "t". Wonder if it was a bad batch?

L.V. (November 24, 2002)

I too have the starter kit. It was my first mid-powered composite fueled rocket. My starter kit had the 29-40/120 reloadable motor with a E16-4 and a F40-7 reload. The rocket is easy to build and is a really nice looking rocket. The interlock controller works well and went together easily. The pad did also, but is on the flimsy side. I fly the Initiator on mostly the F40 load but have flown it on the G64 which is spectacular. The F52 and F22. Great flying rocket one of my favorites.

A.M. (November 25, 2002)

I purchased a second hand initiator starter set. My first mid power rocket. I agree with all the other reviewers regarding the Mantis launch pad, weak leg connections (mine broke all by themselves setting in my room). I solved this by carefully drilling two holes through the plastic and legs, and used bolts with wing nuts to hold them together. Now the kit was another story. Every thing went together well, and despite some concerns regarding the fin to fin-lock alignment problems, mine went together well. I used 30 min epoxy on the fins. I have launched this rocket 10 times, on either F20 , or G35 econojets. Only problem occurred when on its second flight the motor CATO?d on the pad. Now this is one tough bird, the motor CATO did no damage to the body or fins. I picked up the motor parts off the ground. This rocket rocks on G35 EconoJets. I highly recommend this rocket to any one. The Mantis pad, is another story. Unless Aerotech addresses the leg connection problems, I?d shy away from this.

J.I. (January 26, 2005)

FYI, the swing arm of my Mantis pad broke after about a year. I sent Aerotech an email asking for the purchase price of a new one. To my surprise they replied that one was in the mail. I have never had better service with problems than with Aerotech.

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