Skill Level 3

CZ-2E (Scale Model)

Kit Specifications:

Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed
Length: 13.38” (34.0 cm)
Diameter: .87” (22 mm)
Motor Mount Size: 18mm diameter
Weight (without motor): 1.8oz (50 gm)
Recovery Method: 12 inch plastic parachute

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Sky CZ-2E Rocket Kit Rocket Kit

P/N: 07151
Price: $15.17

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Rated 2.8/5 stars (130 votes cast)

Recommended Motors: B6-4, C6-5, D10-5

CZ-2E (Long March 2E)

The Chinese Chang Zheng-2E (English translation: "Long March 2E") is a heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle with a lifting capability in the same class as the Titan rocket, or the Russian Proton rocket. This is a 1:150th scale model of the rocket, and is perfect for displaying on your rocket shelf, as it stands 13.38 inches (34 cm) tall.

The CZ-2E rocket can fly with standard size rocket engines and is just as impressive in the sky as on the launch pad. It descends to the ground with a 12 inch diameter parachute.

Apogee Components is pleased to import this model rocket kit from Shaanxi Zhongtian Rocket Technologies Co., Ltd, which is based in central China. They go by the name of "Sky" model rockets.

The quality of the kit is comparable to those made by other manufacturers. I'm impressed by the quality of the plastic parts, such as the injection molded fins, and the blow molded nose cone. The tubes are all convolutely wound, which is different from the traditional spiral-wound tubes made by other manufacturers. Other than that, about the only difference is that the engine mount is ever so slightly larger due to a small difference between the rocket motors flown by Chinese modelers versus the standard 18mm diameter motors flown here in the USA. But 18mm diameter motors work just fine in this kit; no modifications are needed. If you like the Sky CZ-2E model rocket kit, be sure to check out the other kits made by the "Sky" rocket company.

Kit Features
Convolutely wound paper body tubes. The tubes and rings of the CZ-2E rocket are unique in that they are convolutely rolled, as opposed to the spiral-wound tubes that are in other rockets. Convolutely wound means a whole sheet of paper was rolled up to make a tube. It is a little bit stronger than a spiral wound tube because there are no seams along the length of the tube. The other advantage of this is that the pattern of the rocket can be printed right on the model! With this rocket, you'll get a multi-color pattern that looks great when sitting on your display shelf.
Injection molded plastic nose cone. The quality of the molding is near perfect, there are no seam lines at all! And this has got to be the thickest walled plastic I've ever seen in a model rocket. But for this model, it needs the extra weight to insure the rocket is stable when flown. The fins are a bit small, so I'd even recommend a few extra grams of clay shoved into the nose cone to give it more stability. Elastic shock cord - Used to prevent the rocket from separating into multiple pieces.
Plastic Fin Unit. The clear (actually a milky-white color) fins can be installed for flight, or if you are only displaying this model, they can be left off for a more accurate representation of the real rocket. The plastic used in the fins is flexible, so the rocket can take a really hard landing and the fins will always survive.
Plastic display nozzles. The simulated nozzles are glued to the base of the fin can, and give your rocket a nice finished look. They stay on during flight, just in case you were wondering. Easy-to-Follow English Instructions. Apogee Components did the translation, so you know that they will be easy to follow.
*Molded-plastic Conformal Launch Lug* with built-in stand-off. Because the nose cone diameter is larger than the tube, the launch lug needs a short stand-off. The Sky model rocket company chose to go with extra quality and mold a plastic launch lug. The base of the lug is rounded so it conforms to the curvature of the body tube. It is very cool, and is a nice touch that I'm sure you'll appreciate. High-Quality Pressure Sensitive Decals. While the tube is pre-printed with the correct markings, there are a couple of stickers that have to be placed on the nose cone. I'm very impressed by the quality of the decals. For being 'sticker-type' decals, they are very thin and therefore almost seem like they were silk-screened right onto the rocket. They are so thin in fact, that they include a clear acetate to protect the decal while you apply the decal to the rocket. Not only does it help to protect the decal while you're handling it, you don't touch the adhesive on the back of the decal and leave fingerprints or oil residue that might cause the edges to peel up. Once the decal is placed on the rocket and burnished down, you then peal off the clear protective plastic. It is really slick and well thought out! The 12 inch diameter brightly-colored parachute that comes with the model makes it easy to see in the sky and when it lands on the ground. You'll feel a thrilling sense of accomplishment the first time you see that parachute blossom open in the sky. Watch the faces of the kids as they chase the rocket, and you'll see why rocketry is so much fun. Quick-release metal engine hook**, that lets you swap out engines between flights in just seconds. The engine mount accepts the standard 18mm diameter rocket engines.

What Makes This a Skill Level 3 Rocket?

The one thing that I'd say puts this rocket into the Skill Level 3 category is the attachment of the strap-on boosters. You have to use a bit of care when assembling the rocket to make sure that they slide into the rings correctly. On the rocket I built, one tube was a little tight, so I had to sand out the inside of the ring slightly so the tube would slide in.

In all other respects, this rocket is straight-forward to build, and it can go together in less than an hour.

About the Real Chinese CZ-2E Rocket

The Chang Zheng-2E (English translation: "Long March 2E") is classified as a three-stage launch vehicle. But it has 4 liquid propellant strap-on boosters that assist the main engines at lift-off. It designed for delivery of satellites of 3,300 kg mass into geosynchronous transfer orbit, which puts in in the same payload capacity as the Russian Proton rocket. The 163 feet tall, 11 feet diameter rocket was first launched in 1990, and the last launch was in 1995.

For more information on this rocket, check out these web sites:

Encyclopedia Astronautica

Wikipedia

Tools needed to assemble this rocket kit:

Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Masking Tape
Hobby Knife
Wood Glue or White Glue
Plastic Model Cement
Thin CA (super) 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)
Recovery Wadding

Frequently Asked Questions About the Sky CZ-2E Kit

Q. What launch pad should I use to launch this kit?

A. We recommend the Sky Launch System. This rocket flies just fine off this inexpensive launch pad.

Q. I need help selecting motors. What should I do? Can you teach me how to select them myself?

A. Watch this YouTube video - How to Select Model Rocket Engines

We encourage you to learn the proper motor selection technique. Please watch our YouTube video that will walk you step-by-step through the process

To see how the Sky CZ-2E rocket 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.

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.

What is expected when you launch your model rocket?

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

Related Items and Optional Accessories That Go Great With This Kit:

Rocket Motors

This is a reminder that this kit does not come with rocket motors. See the chart at the top of this page to see which motors will work in this particular rocket kit.

AltimeterOne

See how high your rocket flew! This is the one altimeter you'll use in all your rockets because it does not require a separate payload bay. It is far more durable than any other altimeter because it is encased in ABS-plastic. It also is the first inexpensive altimeter to have a LCD screen that displays the altitude that the rocket reached during flight. Better get two, because your friends are going to steal this out of your range-box!

AltimeterTwo

See how high your model rocket flew, how fast it took off and 8 other flight statistics with this durable altimeter and accelerometer. It uses state-of-the-art technology to measure the atmospheric pressure and G-forces in 3 directions to give you a numeric anatomy of your flight. The results are displayed on a screen so you can quickly see the results of your flight.

Sunward Nomex Ground Cover Blanket

Provide a bit extra fire protection to the grass under the launch pad with the 5-by-5 foot nomex blanket.

Epoxy Clay

While it has a 1,001 uses around the house, it works great on rockets to make super-strong fillets where the fins attach to the rocket. Better than regular epoxy because it stays in place and doesn't ooze all over the rocket. So you can get perfect fillets on all your fins, without having to do them one at a time.

Model Rocket Design and Construction

This 328-page book contains a gold-mine of information on building model rockets. When you get this book in your hands and start flipping through the pages, the very first thing you'll notice is that it is stuffed full of illustrations and pictures. The reason for this is that pictures is the perfect way to make complex subjects easier to understand. Even youngsters will be able to grasp the concepts in this book because of all the illustrations. Because of this, the book makes a great gift for your student that has an interest in rocketry.

Rocket Scientist Wings

Show others that you indeed are a true rocket scientist by wearing this classy lapel pin. Not only is it a statement about your qualifications, but you can use it to show your generosity and appreciation by removing the pin from your jacket, and awarding it to some deserving young rocketeer when they complete a magnificent launch. Can you see it now? They'll be beaming from ear-to-ear from receiving your recognition, and you'll have earned a warm spot in their heart.

Actual Customer Comment:
"I really appreciated the complete information from your message. Also do find that the Apogee web store is the clearest, easiest to use, most visually appealing on the WWW. Thanks again. I'll definitely be a future customer." -- Steve Groskreutz

CZ-2E (Scale Model)

Kit Specifications:

Sky CZ-2E Rocket Kit Rocket Kit

Tools needed to assemble this rocket kit:

To Launch This Rocket Kit, You'll Also Need:

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