Model Rockets SWORD User manual

Assembly
Instructions
Parts Included:
1 Nose Cone
1 Body Tube
1 Payload Tube
1 Coupler
2 Bulkheads
1 Screw Eye
3 Laser Cut Balsa Fins
1 Thrust ing
1 Motor Tube
1 Launch Lug
1 Motor Hook
2 Centering ings
1 Kevlar Shock Cord (yellow)
1 Elastic Shock Cord (white)
1 Parachute Kit
1 Decal Sheet
Materials (not Included):
Scissors
uler
Yellow Wood or White Glue
Sanding Sealer
Paint Brush
Sandpaper (#240 grit)
Gloss Spray Paint
Primer Spray Paint
Masking Tape
Motor Mount and
Shock Cord Assembly
Step 1 – Tie a single knot at the end of the
yellow kevlar shock cord.
Step 2 – Insert the flat end of the metal
motor hook into the pre-cut slot ¼” from the
end of the motor tube.
Step 3 – Slightly expand the inside of the 2
larger centering rings by twisting on the end
of the nose cone. Important: Don’t expand
the smaller trust ring.
Step 4 – While holding the motor hook in
the slot, apply glue around the motor tube
between the marks. Push the expanded end
of the centering rings over the motor hook
with the knotted end of the kevlar shock cord
through the rear centering ring until the rings
are between the marks on the motor tube.
Step 5 – Apply glue around the outside of
the thrust ring and insert into the motor tube
at the end where the motor hook is inserted.
Push in until against the motor hook and flush
with the end of the motor tube.
Step 6 – Loop the yellow kevlar shock cord
through the thrust ring end of the motor tube.
The rings should be positioned as shown.

2
Inserting and Attaching
the Motor Mount
Step 1 – Using a Q-tip or your little finger
apply glue around the inside end of the body
tube about ½” in at the end of the slotted for
the fins.
Important: Do the following motor mount
insertion in one move. Do not stop until the
motor mount is in the correct position.
Step 2 –Insert the motor mount and push
in until the bottom of the motor tube is flush
with or slightly below the bottom of the body
tube. Both rings should be clear of the fin
slots. Clean any residue glue from the slots
and set aside to dry.
Preparing and
Attaching the Fins
Step 1 – Press or break out the balsa fins
from the laser cut sheet.
Step 2 – Sand the leading edge and the tip
of each fin round. Leave the root of the fin
where it inserts and attaches to the body tube
square.
Step 3 – Apply a bead of glue to the root
edge on each fin and insert the root tab of
each fin into the fin slots on the body tube.
The front root edge of the fins should glue
against the motor tube inside and the rear
root edge against the body tube outside.
Step 4 –Apply a thin bead of glue along the
length of the launch lug and attach to the
body tube where the launch lug line is
marked. Allow to dry for ½ hour or more.
Important: Keep the fins and the launch
lug aligned while drying. Make sure the fins
are aligned 120 degrees apart. Use the fin
guide on the next page to align the fins while
drying.

3
Preparing and
Attaching the Fins Continued…
Step 5 – After the fins and launch lug have
dried, apply a thin layer of glue between the
body tube and the fins, and the body tube and
launch lug with your finger to create a fillet
that will strengthen the fins and launch lugs.
Set aside to dry. Check the fin alignment to
make sure they are 120 degrees apart while
drying.
Assembling the
Payload Section
Step 1 – Apply glue to the hole in the
center of the plywood bulkhead. Screw in the
screw eye in the same hole. Apply glue to the
edge of the bulkhead and insert into the
coupler until flush with the end of the coupler.
Set aside to dry.
Step 2 – Apply a thin bead of glue around
the inside edge of the payload tube and insert
the bulkhead assembly until it is ½” from the
end of the payload tube.
Step 3 – Check the fit of the coupler in the
body tube. If necessary, sand with #240 grit
sandpaper for a friction fit (usually not
necessary). Wrap masking tape around the
shoulder of the nose cone for a snug fit in the
payload tube.
Attaching the Parachute
and Nose Cone
Step 1 – Feed the yellow kevlar shock cord
through the bottom of the body tube and pull
out through the top.
Step 2 – Tie both the white elastic shock
cord and the yellow kevlar shock cord
together with a single looping knot and pull
both shock cords apart to tighten the knot.
Step 3 – Tie the white elastic shock cord to
the screw eye on the payload section.
Step 4 – emove the parachute parts from
the parachute kit bag and follow the assembly
instructions printed on the parachute sheet.
Step 5 – Tie the end of the parachute
shroud lines to the screw eye on the payload
section.

4
Finishing Your Rocket
( ptional)
Step 1 – Using #240 grit sandpaper, sand
the fins of the rocket lightly to remove loose
grain and sand the nose cone so that the
paint will stick.
Step 2 – Apply sanding sealer to the fins
and let dry. Sand the fins with #240 grit
sandpaper between coats of sanding sealer.
e-do this process until the fins are smooth
and the balsa grain is filled.
Step 3 – oll up a sheet of paper and insert
into the bottom of the rocket body tube to
hold your rocket, apply a thin coat of flat
white or gray primer spray enamel to the
whole rocket using even back and forth
movements. Let the primer dry and sand
using #240 grit sandpaper. e-coat and sand
as necessary.
Step 4 – Apply a first thin color coat of
gloss spray enamel to the whole rocket using
even back and forth movements.
Let the first coat tack up for a few minutes.
Then follow up with a heavier coat. Do not
coat too heavily or the paint will sag. The best
results are obtained when the color coat is
just thick enough to gloss. If additional coats
are needed to cover the primer with full color,
re-apply after the color coat has tacked up
within the first hour or wait 24 hours until the
color coat is completely dry. Let the final coat
dry for 24 hours.
Step 5 – emove the pressure sensitive
decals from the backing paper and apply to
the fins and body tube. Use the picture on the
cover of this manual for a guide to decal
placement.
Flying Your Rocket
F ight check ist:
□ Model ocket
□ Launch Pad & Controller w/Batteries
□ ecovery Wadding
□ Model ocket Motors and Igniters
ecommended Motors for the Sword rocket
are A8-3. A6-4. B4-4, B6-4, C6-5 & C6-7
With heavy Payload B4-2, B6-2 & C6-3
Step 1 – Insert 2-3 crumpled recovery
wadding sheets into the body tube and the
shock cord after the recovery wadding.
Step 2 – Fold the parachute and roll up
small enough to fit into the rocket body tube.
Insert the parachute into the rocket body tube
and insert the nose cone to complete the
recovery assembly.
Step 3 – Install model rocket motor igniter
according manufacturers recommended
procedure.
Step 4 – Insert the rocket motor with the
nozzle/igniter end facing the rear of the
rocket. The motor should clip into place with
the motor hook retaining the motor.
IMPORTANT:
FOLLOW THE N.A. .
SAFETY CODE EGA DING
LAUNCHING AND THE USE OF MODEL
OCKET MOTO S