Pratt Hobbies Super Six

Pratt Hobbies - Super Six

Contributed by Daniel Kirk

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Pratt Hobbies

Rocket PicBrief:
Beginner's streamer recovery model. Small and light enough for competition.

Construction:
The kit includes: One (1) 18mm x 12 in body tube, three (3) pre-cut plastic fins, one (1) CMR-style nose cone, one (1) Kevlar® shock cord, and one (1) Nomex® parachute protector.

NOTE: This review is focused on the Simple Six which has been updated to the Super Six. The description from Pratt Hobbies of the Super Six: "The Super Six comes with hard balsa fins that have been precision cut by laser. No knives or scissors are needed. The Super Six can be built entirely with white ("Elmer's") glue. Super Six kits feature a high impact plastic nose cone, Kevlar® shock cord, plastic streamer, and a HeatShield so flameproof wadding is never needed. The Super Six body tube is 12 inches long. Our special crush-resistant tubes are finished with a special white overwrap that makes it easy to decorate the model with markers or paints. Our special motor mount holds in the rocket motor with one wrap of 1/4 inch masking tape; no hooks, no friction fitting."

Instructions were clear and simple. Make sure you follow the recommendations for adhesives, as there are some unusual material combinations to join here. The updated model, the Super Six, has hard balsa fins, so this may not apply to it.

Finishing:
Since I built this for my NARTREK streamer duration requirement, I colored it with a red marker to save weight. It looked ok, but not as good as a painted finish.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
I flew it first on an A8-3. Beautiful flight, straight up, ejection at apogee. Duration (with a large mylar streamer) 28 seconds. I needed more duration for NARTREK, so I tried a B6-4. (Again with a large mylar streamer.) Another beautiful flight, but a lot more drift. Out of the field, across the road, and into some trees. I never found it.

Recovery:
Usual Kevlar® shock cord, but with a Nomex® chute protector-- no wadding needed. I like that. Great rocket for sport flying, NARTREK or competition. For sport flying, I would use the included plastic streamer.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Easy to build, good flyer. Follow the directions carefully, and you should have no problems.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • Pratt Hobbies Super Six By steve veerhoff

    Brief: Single Stage sport model rocket with streamer recovery. The parts list: 1 white body tube, 12" by .8" OD 3 laser cut 1/8" balsa fins 1 plastic nose cone, approximately 1 3/4", Parabolic shape 1 cardboard shoulder tube, goes into nose cone. 1 cardboard "thrust ring" 1 motor mount tube 1 Kevlar shock cord (not elastic, approximately 48"), three ply Kevlar cord ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
M.S. (September 1, 2000)
I had a rocket building class with a group of 6th graders. We ordered 42 kits and all arrived complete, in good condition. The class only had difficulty with knot tying. We used Elmers Carpenters glue with no trouble. All 42 rockets were launched on A8-3's with great flights. RockSim said we got 494 feet, which is possible. Drift was not bad with the supplied streamer, though 4 rockets ended up on the school roof. This is a great rocket for class building. The review was accurate.

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