Aerospace Speciality Products RP-3

Aerospace Specialty Products - RP-3 (13mm) {Kit}

Contributed by Bill Dauphin

Published: 2010-11-13
Manufacturer: Aerospace Specialty Products
[NAR][Sport Rocketry]

The following excerpt is from "Sport Rocketry". The intention is to allow guests to get a basic feeling about a kit. We strongly suggest that you get a copy of the referenced Sport Rocketry and read the entire article. Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. For more information, use the two links above.



(Sport Rocketry - Sep/Oct 1996 - page 18 - by Bill Dauphin) 

[Rocket Pic]"If you take joy in the crafting of a model, you'll find these kits more satisfying than the current run of prefabbed, half-plastic kits." 
"Although it looks like a two-stager, in fact the forward fins are there just to stabilize the unpowered payload delivery container." "On the model, each set of fins is cut from 1/8" lite-ply. The lite-ply is a good choice: It's not significantly heavier than balsa, is just as easy to cut, and the finer-grained outer skin sands and finishes much more easily." 
"Overall, construction of this kit is straightforward, the instructions are clear and easy to follow." 
"It is important to make sure that all eight fins are straight, and that the upper set is aligned to the booster fins." 
"Be careful not to round off the conical balsa nose cone while sanding." 
"Don't omit the metal washer supplied as nose-weight; it's essential for stability." 
"The paint scheme is relatively simple, requiring minimal masking." 
"The RP-3 performs well on a D12-7." 
"This kit also includes an 18" silver mylar chute, or for an additional 40 cents you can specify one of 5 other metallic colors." 

The entire article gives the impression is that this kit would be for intermediate modelers and those looking for their first scale kit.

Flights

Comments:

avatar
T.E. (May 13, 2002)
ASP has really nice kits if you like to make a rockets that are not your typical estes kits,you have to bulid these and it takes some skill. The RP-3 has good quality parts and flies great. I like their 24mm kits in that I can fly A,B,C and D motors with the same rocket. The RP-3 kit I built I modified and cut the tube just above the upper fins and added a coupler for a payload section. I also like the fact that ASP includes Kevlar® thread for the shock cord mounting along with the typical elastic shock cord,it makes the elastic last much longer as it's not subjected to all the heat from the ejection charge. The mylar chutes are also a nice feature of the ASP kits. This rocket is very stable and files great in in the wind. A D12-7 will really send it up there so be prepared for a long walk. Overall I think that ASP kits are much nicer than any Estes kit I have built and would highly recommend the kits to anyone who really likes to build model rocket kits.

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