BAR Fleet No. 132, Nike-K

 

Model Type: Sport, Payloader

Quest Aerospace Kit No. 2002

Motor Type: 18mm x 70mm

Recovery: Parachute

Nose Type: 2.76 Caliber Tangent Ogive, Plastic

Fin Type: Trapezoidal, Plastic Fin Can

Number of Fins: 4

Length: 23.4 in. (59.8cm)

Diameter: 1.378 in. (35mm)

Weight empty:  2.45 oz.  (69.6g)

Color scheme: Body Tubes-White

Fin Can & Transition – Orange

Nose – White

Multi-Color Trim & Markings

Completion date: April 13, 2021

 

A Scale-Like Sounding Rocket Design

         The Quest Nike-K kit was gifted to me in 2020 by a Colorado Springs friend.  The model is a very straight-forward, easy build with the plastic fin unit, motor mount rings, tube transition section, and nose.

            Even though the model is designed to be built as-is with no required finishing or painting, I generally perform these functions on all of my rocket builds, even E2X birds.  Thus, the Nike-K went through the process of spiral seam filling on the body tubes and launch lug, and application of a primer paint coat on all parts except for the tube reducer section.  That particular component is molded with a ‘ribbed’ surface, making it difficult to sand.

All airframe sections were individually painted prior to assembly, so there was no masking required.  The fin can and transition piece were brush painted with hobby acrylic, while the tubes and nose were painted with spray enamel.  The aft end of the motor mount also received a brushed-on coat of black acrylic paint.

The kit comes with a set of decals that, at first glance, look like they are water-slides.  They are actually stick-on decals that have to be individually cut from the sheet.  Oddly, the kit instructions also lead one to believe that the decals are water-slides, as the builder is directed to soak them in water!  I’m not entirely a huge fan of stick-on decals, but if the application process is done slowly and carefully, good results can be obtained.  The greatest danger with this type of decals is, if one is placed wrong or crookedly, it is very difficult to peel up and re-position. One runs the risk of the adhesive pulling up paint along with the decal.

On this model, besides the kit decals, I applied a few additional waterslide decals: a checkerboard ‘roll pattern’ for the payload section, a black band above the fin can, my NAR number, and the fleet number.

All-in-all, the Nike-K is a solid, attractive, quick-build model rocket, and promises to provide many satisfying flight missions. 

A quite welcome addition to the growing fleet.