Kit Specifications:
Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed.
Length: 37" (94 cm)
Diameter: 2.6" (66 mm)
Weight (without motor): 22 oz (499 g)
Recovery Method: Nylon parachute—
22" Diameter
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Aerotech Wart-Hog
Rocket Kit
P/N: 07809
Price: $84.00
Note: There is a $2.00 freight surcharge due to the large size of the shipping carton, and the additional cost of postage.
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Aerotech Wart-Hog Rocket - 29mm Motor Choices
Estimated Altitude Predictions (generated using RockSim)
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Motor Used
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Motor P/N
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Comments
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Altitude - feet (meters)
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Motor Type
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51804
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w/included 24mm adapter
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529 feet (161 m)
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Reloadable (8 foot long rod required)
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52804
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w/included 24mm adapter
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567 feet (173 m)
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Reloadable
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53004
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w/included 24mm adapter
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576 feet (175 m)
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Single Use
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62404
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White Flame
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697 feet (212 m)
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Reloadable
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66037
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White Flame
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717 feet (219 m)
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Reloadable
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64204
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Blue Flame
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870 feet (265 m)
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Single Use
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77607
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Red Flame
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1731 feet (528 m)
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Single Use - Loadable
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77307
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Green Flame
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1854 feet (565 m)
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Single Use - Loadable
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63906
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w/included 24mm adapter
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796 feet (243 m)
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Reloadable
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66062
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Blue Flame
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748 feet (228 m)
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Reloadable
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67054
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Loud Roar, White Flame
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1361 feet (415 m)
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Reloadable, drill out 2 seconds of delay
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67104
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Blue Flame
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1403 feet (428 m)
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Reloadable, drill out 2 seconds of delay
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67079
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Loud Roar, White Flame
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1819 feet (554 m)
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Reloadable
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67077
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Red Flame
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1731 feet (528 m)
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Reloadable
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73305
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Lots of Black Smoke!
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1570 feet (479 m)
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Reloadable, a great motor for truly impressive flights!
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76407
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Loud Roar, White Flame
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2012 feet (613 m)
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Reloadable, this is one of our favorite motors!
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77107
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Red Flame
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1809 feet (551 m)
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Reloadable
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77507
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Green Flame
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1944 feet (593 m)
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Reloadable
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See the video below for help in selecting rocket motors. Rocket motors are sold separately from the kit. If you are unsure which one to pick, start with the one recommended for the First Flight, and then another for a more impressive launch. Most motors listed in this chart are available through Apogee Components. For other motors that are not listed here, download the RockSim file to see if it will work in this rocket kit. See also Technical Publication #28 for guidance on selecting appropriate rocket engines other than those listed in this chart. If you don't already have Technincal Publication #28, give us a call, and we'll be happy to let you download it free (you have to ask though).
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The Wart-Hog is like a brute-strength truck, ready to haul ordnance!
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Styled as a military missile, this kit is for the person who doesn't want a pretty rocket. You want an industrial look that is mightily impressive.
If you want to build sturdy mid to high-power rocketry, the Aerotech Wart-Hog is the best way to add to your arsenal. It is a big, rugged rocket kit that has a lot of features you'd typically find in beginner-level starter sets. Because of this, the basics go together very quickly and easily. At the same time, it has some scale-like details that give it a tremendously satisfying realistic quality.
It has the serious surface-to-air shape that has everyone wondering what kind of heat it's packing. From its ogive snout to the sounding rocket style fins with molded-in rivets, this is a seriously bulked-up rocket. The decals are extensive and excellent, giving the Wart-Hog the look of a real threat.
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This kit uses pre-molded plastic fins. These are not whimpy fins though; they are extra thick to increase the durability of the rocket so it can survive those hard landings.
Click on the picture at right to see a video of a perfect launch of the Wart-Hog.
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The Wart-Hog uses pre-slotted tubes and through-the-wall fin tabs to ensure that the fins are attached at the right angle and with the correct spacing. The precision alignment and spacing of the fins helps to keep the rocket on an arrow-straight trajectory. And the tab on the fin also increases the strength of the fin joint so that your fins will never simply pop off. This hefty engineering can really save your bacon.
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Basic Features Of Aerotech Kits
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Aerotech kits are the gold standard for materials quality. The attention to detail is amazing: these kits are an order of magnitude better than most of the rest of the kits on the market. High power fliers recognize them immediately when you start loading up, and respect for your choices in hardware is the immediate result.
This kit comes with these features:
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You can tell that a lot of effort was put into the development of this kit by the amount of time and money that was spent to produce the plastic fins and the unique motor mount system. Aerotech has even patented the fin-lok system (U.S. Patent 5,004,186) and the plastic ejection baffle with the steel mesh (U.S. Patent 5,054,397). The manufacturing of the centering rings used in the kit also requires a special hydraulic punch because the resin reinforced paper is so tough.
About the only drawback to the kit might be the assembly instructions. They could be clarified a bit more with better illustrations.
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- We rank the Aerotech Wart-Hog in the top 5 percent of all kits for quality. Most manufacturers don't put as much money into the development of their products as Aerotech does with its kits. This kit was originally released in the 1990s, and because of its high quality, it has easily withstood the test of time.
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- Engine Adapter: This kit comes with an engine adapter to allow you to fly the Wart-Hog with 24mm motors, such as the Aerotech E30-4 motor.
- The premium, thick-walled, high power tubes make assembly easy. The engine mount tube has even been marked with a longitudinal line so you can build the rocket faster.
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- The large airframe tube is pre-slotted so the fins are evenly spaced around the tube and to ensure that they are perfectly straight. This is done to ensure the rocket will fly as straight as an arrow when you launch it.
- Besides slots for the through-the-wall fins, there are pre-cut slots for through-the-wall launch lugs. The purpose is to make sure the two launch lugs are aligned perfectly so there is no binding on the launch rod.
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- This kit comes with a lightweight plastic nose cone. The most noticeable feature is how long it is. Pinocchio would be jealous. The exposed portion is a full 13 inches long.
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- As mentioned above, the centering rings in this kit are made from a very tough resin impregnated paper. They require a hydraulic punch to cut through the material; the edges are crisp and clean and don't have the burn residue that you get from a laser cutter. Each ring is also notched to fit over the metal engine hook. The fit of these rings is much better than other manufacturers, and allows assembly without sanding.
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- Pre-molded Fin-Lok™ rings: The rings serve a couple of functions. First, they hold the engine hook to the engine tube. They also have a receptacle to hold the tabs on the fins. The part that is patented is the little hook that grips the molded ridge of the fin tab. That allows the fins to snap into place.
- There is also a molded ejection charge retainer that retains the metal baffle. This also functions as the anchor for the elastic shock cord. What an elegant build!
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- Heat sink baffle system: Aerotech calls this patented ejection baffle the labyrinth system. Essentially it uses a steel mesh to absorb the heat of the rocket engine's ejection charge.
After a number of flights, it collects residue from the ejection charge, so it should be inspected regularly to make sure air can still flow through it.
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- Spring steel engine hook: Aerotech is the only high-power manufacturer that uses hefty metal engine hooks on its kits. The combination of the hook and baffle system makes it extremely quick and easy to swap out rocket motors between flights. Once you recover your previous flight, it literally takes only seconds to prep for your next flight.
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- Molded plastic launch lugs: They are square in shape, they work great on a round 1/4-inch launch rod. There is also a small tab on the bottom side of the part that engages the small pre-cut slots on the main airframe tube. To our knowledge, the Aerotech kits are the only ones that use through-the-wall tabs on the launch lugs.
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- Molded plastic fins: They have an industrial look with a wedge shape molded in, plus a leading edge that looks like a wraparound panel that's riveted on. Just think how much time this will save you during construction. Just slot them into the rocket, and they're ready to paint.
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- The through the wall tab on the fins is special (which is why it is patented). First, notice that the tab is deeper in the middle. This is so that it touches the engine mount tube like a normal through-the-wall-tab. The shallow ends engage the forks in the molded fin-lok rings. Not only does it align the fins perfectly vertical, but it also prevents the fin from shifting forward/aft; So all the fins on the rocket are positioned perfectly.
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- When all the fins are attached to the engine mount, the system transfers the flight forces evenly, making a very strong engine mount. It is engineered just like a real aerospace research rocket.
- One common mistake most people make when building their first Aerotech kit is gluing the engine thrust ring in foreward of the engine hook like the design in Estes rockets. No. It glues in aft of where the hook enters the motor tube.
- One downside to the system: it is a bit heavier than other models of the same size. But you want to fly those bigger, louder engines, right?
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- Large sticker-type decals: Just cut them out and put them on your rocket. They look great without a lot of hassle on your part. They reinforce the industrial design, "We're seriously military, and we're coming to get you". They also make it clear to other rocketeers that this is no second-rate rocket, that you fly only the best.
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- Lightweight nylon parachutes: Aerotech uses the lightest weight rip-stop nylon cloth that we've ever seen. It almost has the feel of a silk chute. This allows them to be packed in a very tight space, even though there is plenty of room in this kit for two big chutes. These are chutes you'll probably steal if you need a parachute in a smaller rocket that doesn't have enough room.
- Elastic shock cords: The black elastic has a high-tech look, and fortunately, Aerotech has not skimped on the length. That means that even with huge, beefy hardware on the two chutes, there's almost no chance of shock cord failure.
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Tools needed to assemble this rocket kit:
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Masking Tape
- Hobby Knife
- 5-Minute Epoxy or super glue
- Wood Glue
To Launch This Rocket Kit, You'll Also Need:
- Rocket Motors (Not included with this kit - See the motor selection above)
- Launch Pad (see below for suggestions) & Launch Controller (Not included with this kit)
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Frequently Asked Questions about the Aerotech Wart-Hog kit:
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Q. What launch pad should I use to launch the Aerotech Wart-Hog rocket kit?
- A. Since this is a big rocket, you'll need very stable launch pad. We offer the Aerotech Mantis Launch Pad.
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Q. What launch controller can I use to ignite the motors?
- A. We offer two different controllers that can be used for mid-power size rockets. The Aerotech Interlock and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.
Q. What do you think about using the Wart-Hog as a payloader?
- A. Plastic nose cones are ideal for this. Just cut the shoulder apart and tape it back together after installing the payload. You could add a light and fly it at night, add a GPS and engage in covert tracking missions, or use it as an egg lofter; your imagination is the only limitation.
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Q. I need help selecting motors. What should I do?
- A. Watch this YouTube video.
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To see how the Aerotech Wart-Hog looks and performs with each motor configuration, download the FREE RockSim design file (click here). This file can be opened with the FREE demo version of RockSim (click here). Both Windows and Macintosh versions are available.
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What is a RockSim Design file? The RockSim software gives you a lot of information about the flight characteristics of this rocket: how high, how fast, where it will land, how will it react to wind, etc. The "design file" is intended to save you time. All the parameters (size, shape, weight, fin design, etc.) of this rocket have already been entered into the RockSim program, and saved as an electronic database file. You can just open it up in your copy of RockSim and start loading different rocket motors to run launch simulations. It's fun and educational to see the rocket zoom skyward, even before you built it. For more information about RockSim and to download a FREE 30-day demo version, click here. Windows and Macintosh versions are both available.
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What is expected when you launch your model rocket?
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Are you new to rocketry? Do you think you know what happens when you launch your rocket? Now you can learn about the events that occur as your rocket is launched into the air. So when you launch your rocket, you'll be prepared and you'll be able to show off your knowledge to observers watching your rocket. This article also gives you links to other references that will give you even more background information about rocketry, so you can become a true rocket scientist and expert.
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"You do a great job. I especially appreciate the detailed information on your products as it helps to learn more about the product and the hobby." — Steven Stein
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Shipping and Handling Fees:
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To estimate the shipping charges, please see our shipping information page. This page also explains how items are shipped, as well as offering you additional shipping options.
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