Kit Specifications:
Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed.
Length: 13.38” (34.0 cm)
Diameter: .87” (22 mm)
Weight (without motor): 1.8oz (50 gm)
Recovery Method: 12 inch plastic parachute
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Sky CZ-2E Rocket Kit
P/N: 07151
Price: $14.73
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Recommended Motors: B6-4, C6-5, D10-5
The Chinese Chang Zheng-2E (English translation: "Long March 2E") is a heavy-lift satellite launch vehicle with a lifting capablility 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.
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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.
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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 advanatage 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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What Makes This a Skill Level 3 Rocket?
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The one thing that I'd say puts this rocket into the Skill Level 3 category is the attachement 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.
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About the Real Chinese CZ-2E Rocket
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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 Russiona 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
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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:
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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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"The epoxy clay that I purchased from you worked great! I used it on my estes Executioner, which was the very first rocket that I ever built. It produced a very nice finished look, and reinforced, the fins and the motor mount of the rocket. I also appreciate you, Tim, taking the time to talk to me some about my build. I will definitely be a returning customer."
-- Matthew Gregory
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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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