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| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Brief
This is Aerotech\'s semi-scale model of the IQSY Tomahawk sounding rocket.
Components
The kit includes:
- 1 slotted body tube
- 1 payload section
- Plastic nosecone
- 4 plastic fins
- 2 FIN-LOK rings
- 29mm motor tube
- 2 centering rings
- Tube coupler
- Bulkhead
- 2 screw eyes
- Motor hook
- Ejection gas baffle
- Stainless mesh \"wadding\"
- Thrust ring
- Thrust ring flange
- Black elastic shock cord
- 2 launch lugs
- 24mm motor adapter kit
- Decal sheet
- Tomahawk plan drawn by G. Harry Stine
- Box that doubles as a work/display stand
- Instructions
Construction
Pros - A very easy kit for the mid power novice to assemble. Makes a great first scale kit.
Cons - Shares very few building techniques with kits from other manufacturers due to Aerotech\'s proprietary FIN-LOK fin mounting system. The included launch lugs are bulky and detract from the sleek lines of the completed rocket.
Finishing
Construction of the Tomahawk was very easy given Aerotech\'s excellent instructions. All building was done with the recommended medium viscosity CA, which provided ample working time for all construction steps. I deviated from the instructions a bit, first by replacing the kit shock cord with 15 feet of 750lb Kevlar cord, and second by attaching the nose cone with 3 button head screws rather than gluing it in place to allow th payload section to be utilized. All other construction was per the kit instructions using kit parts.
Finishing the rocket was easy, again due to the xcellent kit instructions. Aerotech even includes a section on how to make the rocket look more scale. They refer to the blueprint so keep it handy while finishing the rocket. Miimal sanding is required to achieve a good finish due to the plastic fins. I chose not to fill the body tube spirals on mine. Painting is easy with minimal masking needed - one fin is painted black, that\'s it.
The decals are of the self-sticking vinyl variety. There is one wrap-around for the instrument bay and four to represent the fin bolt plates. I recommend double-checking the blueprint to ensure these go on properly. Once applied they make a tremendous difference in the rocket\'s appearance.
Flight
Because of Aerotech\'s baffle system no wadding or dog barf are required. Launch prep is as simple as packing the shock cord and parachute into the body and installing a motor.Installing the motor can be fun because the motor clip is very strong and can be tough to pull back. Once you have the hang of it the job becomes easy. Built per instructions the clip fits perfectly into the slot of an Aerotech 29/40-120 motor case. Even with the strong spring I still recommend using a zip tie or similar to keep everything in place.
My first flight used a G80 reload. It was an amazing, fast launch followed by a perfect flight to about 3,000 feet (estimated). Ejection occurred just after apogee.
Recovery
Aerotech includes a high quality 22\" yellow nylon parachute that is a perfect choice for this rocket. Deployment was perfect resulting in a slow (2+ minutes), gentle descent. The rocket came down about 250\' from the pad and suffered no damage at all despite the rock hard desert playa.
Summary
This was a good choice for my entry mid-power and scale rocketry. I highly recommend it to anyone lookingfor an easy to build, fun to fly kit.
Other Reviews
- Aerotech ISQY Tomahawk By John Coker (January 20, 2012)
The AeroTech I.Q.S.Y. Tomahawk kit was the third rocket I build and the first mid-power one. This is AeroTech kit #89014. Kit information and a full-size picture of the front of the package is here as well as a very nice drawing of the rocket by G. Harry Stine. The Tomahawk is a scale rocket, although it's clear the kit isn't meant for meticulous scalers. Finish is rough in some places ...
- Aerotech ISQY Tomahawk By Kevin Fisher
Brief: This was my first Aerotech rocket. I found it easy enough for a rocketeer that has built 5 or so smaller rockets. This is a good rocket it you are just getting into the Aerotech Engines or not familiar with CA glue. It is NOT staged but has an 18 inch 'chute. On a F25, It goes about 1500 feet. Construction: All the parts were there and none were broken. The packaging is GREAT. It ...
- Aerotech ISQY Tomahawk By Jerry O'Sullivan
This is a nice semi-scale model of a sounding rocket. Decals are used for scale details like bolts, etc. so it's pretty easy to get a good looking model. Built per instructions, you can fly it on E-G engines, and of course, requires no wadding as AT kits use an effective baffle system. Construction is easy although I modified the kit to accept an altimeter bay built into the coupler for dual ...
- Aerotech ISQY Tomahawk By Paul Gray
(by Paul Gray) Background There have been many rockets named "Tomahawk" used over the past few decades. This Tomahawk was built and flown during the International Quiet Sun Year (1967) to research the Earth's atmosphere. Therefore, this Tomahawk sounding rocket is known as the IQSY Tomahawk, marking the time when it was built and flown. The real IQSY Tomahawk was produced ...
- Aerotech ISQY Tomahawk By Neil Thompson
( Contributed - by Neil Thompson) Brief: A nice scale model by Aerotech consisting of 1 stage, a nice nylon parachute, and through the wall fins. Construction: 2 tubes, 1 main, one payload section. 4 fins, 2 centering rings, made of Aerofiber. I do not know the lenth of the shock cord or motor mount, but I am guessing 6 ft, and 2 Ft. respectivly. PROs: Easy build Good ...
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