THOY Jaeger

THOY - Jaeger {Kit} [1992-1993]

Contributed by Russell Durkee

Manufacturer: THOY
Style: Sport

[Rocket Pic]The THOY Jaeger is a 1.5, 50" medium power sport rocket. If you are looking for a rugged payload model that flies on F, G, and H engines the Jaeger may be a good choice. The Jaeger has plywood through the wall fins and a solid aircraft cable shock cord attachment. Motors in the F range will loft the Jaeger to nearly 1000 feet while G’s, and H’s can bring the rocket to 1500 and 2700 ft respectively. (Altitudes measured with an Adept peak reading altimeter.) 

Kit Notes and Suggested Modifications:

The Jaeger materials are standard high power fare. Thick 38mm tubing, 1/8" plywood fins, plywood bulkhead, nylon parachute. Assembly is just as simple as an Estes Alpha. But these tips may assist you with assembling your model. The 18” parachute included with the kit is woefully inadequate. I regularly launch my Jaeger with a 28” parachute instead. New versions of the THOY Jaeger may have a balsa nose cone instead of the LOC plastic version in my older kit. Buy a new LOC nose cone if yours came with the balsa nose cone. The balsa simply will not last, and the heavy plastic of the LOC nose cone will provide extra stability. I have also increased my shock cord length to approximately 100 in. In addition I have added a backup Kevlar® cord that is just shorter than the maximum stretching capacity of the shock cord. The fins on this model are slightly oversized for the length of the rocket and as a result the fillets can be damaged during a hard landing. I have retrofitted my model with medium weight fiberglass cloth and generous fillets. As a result, the fins have not loosened or produced hair-line fractures as a result of hard landings. The coupler joint on the main body tube should also be reinforced with fiberglass as it too can be prone to hairline cracks. 

Flying:

I find that my THOY Jaeger flies best on the F40-7, F52-8, G64-10, G80-10, and the H128-14. However the H128-14 will toss the 15 oz rocket over 3000’ feet above ground level. The F40 is my favorite engine for the Jaeger. An F40 will launch the Jaeger to about 1000’, high enough to put on a nice show but not so height that you will lose sight of it. 

The Jaeger is one of my favorite rockets. It is easy to build, tough, and flies great on a variety of engines. If you want to try flying higher power rockets, the THOY Jaeger would be a great choice. 

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