Va-Va-Varoom!

The King Krãken is a powerful and sexy
space creature from the future.

Kit Specifications:

Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed
Length: 41" (104 cm)
Diameter: 3" (76 mm)
Motor Mount Size: 38mm diameter
Weight (without motor): 38 oz (1071 g)
Recovery Method: 30" Nylon parachute

ORDER This Kit NOW! Just click on the "Add to Cart" button below.

Pemberton Technologies King Krãken Rocket Kit

P/N: 07570
Price: $99.00

Sorry, Back-ordered
(12/20/11)

Note: There is a $2.00 freight surcharge due to the large size of the shipping carton, and the additional cost of postage. Additional shipping fees may apply for Hawaii, Alaska and US Protectorates and international orders.

King Krãken Rocket - 38mm Motor Choices
Estimated Altitude Predictions (generated using RockSim)

Please click on the motor links below to find pricing and any necessary hardware for using the motors.

Motor Used

Manufacturer

Comments

Altitude
Feet (Meters)

Motor Type

Quick Purchase

G54-6W

Aerotech

White flame. Loud. Drill out 1-2 seconds of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

537ft (164m)

Reloadable

$17.11
1 pack

18⁺

G104-6T**

Aerotech

Loud, blue flame. Drill out 1 second of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

586ft (179m)

Reloadable

$17.11
1 pack

18⁺ | L1*

G53-5FJ

Aerotech

Huge volume of black smoke. Perfect for the first flight (no delay adjustment).
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

663ft (202m)

Reloadable

$17.11
1-pack

18⁺

G77-7R

Aerotech

Red flame. Drill out 1 second of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

810ft (247m)

Loadable

$26.74
1-pack

18⁺

G79-7W

Aerotech

White flame. Drill out 1-2 seconds of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

855ft (261m)

Loadable

$26.74
1-pack

18⁺

G71-7R

Aerotech

Red flame. Drill out 1-2 seconds of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

869ft (265m)

Reloadable

$14.97
1-pack

18⁺

On permanent hold per Aerotech

G78-7G

Aerotech

Green flame. Consider painting the inside of the tube fins green. Drill out 1 second of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

916ft (279m)

Reloadable

$26.74
1-pack

18⁺

G76-7G

Aerotech

Green flame. Consider painting the inside of the tube fins green. Drill out 1-2 seconds of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

974ft (297m)

Reloadable

$17.11
1-pack

18⁺

Sorry,
Back-ordered
(12/16/11)

G64-7W

Aerotech

White flame. Best altitude of the motors we sell. Drill out 1 seconds of delay.
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

1000ft (305m)

Reloadable

$17.11
1-pack

18⁺

H153-13**

Cesaroni

Great 38mm motor.
Drill out 3 seconds of delay.

2504ft (763m)

Reloadable†

I154-10J**

Aerotech

Smoky blackjack.

3614ft (1102m)

Reloadable†

$50.28†

18⁺ | L1

H160-11SK**

Cesaroni

Skidmark motor (pours out a huge volume of sparks, great for night flights!)
Use with an optional 29/38mm adapter.

2126ft (648m)

Reloadable†

† With the King Krãken, some of the reloads listed above may require additional nose weight for stability. String test to be sure. Altitudes listed above are shown without the additional nose weight, so you'll lose a little altitude if you have to add nose weight.

1. *Hazmat fee required with these motors

2. **L1 certification required to purchase these motors (click for more info on getting certified).

3. 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 the many 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 Technical Publication #28, give us a call, and we'll be happy to let you download it free (you have to ask though).

4. Set delays using the Aerotech Delay Drilling Tool or the Cesaroni PRO-DAT Tool.

Pemberton Technologies King Krãken sculpted tube fin rocket.

A Mid and High Power Creature from Ancient Sea Lore

At the top of the page, I said the Krãken is sexy. That's not just marketing-speak. You wouldn't believe how many people pick up our display model and run their hands over the smooth surface, a sly, guilty smile on their lips. It's surprising, and magic. The Pem-Tech King Krãken (pronounced krã'-kin), named for the dark, sinister creature of ancient sea lore, is a one-of-a-kind sport flier featuring Pemberton's unique, sculpted tube-fin design. She is as much a fantastic flying machine as she is a work of art, created by you. Unlike traditional, and boring, tube fins the King Krãken sports a canted leading edge tube fin with a short full tube that has been reported to be 30% more stable than square cut tube fins.

Get ready to spend a few days on this kit. The builder cuts those cool fins using a hobby knife with a brand new, sharp blade. It's not hard, but it takes patience. We know a lot of you will want to get right to the flying part, and that's great; if you assemble it, do some sanding and filling, and then paint it, the kit will look spectacular and fly straight. Your King Krãken will impress every other flyer on the field. Pemberton recommends building this way in the "destructions".

For our display rocket (see photo at right) I did all the sanding, filling and final paint before assembly, then added the tube fins. This results in a gorgeous rocket, but if you elect to do the same, think of this as a Skill Level 4 kit instead of 3. When you sand and fill the tube fins inside and out, the resulting showpiece leaves fellow fliers slack-jawed, "Holy Cow... how in the world did you do that?" Some of the guys we showed the King to at our last launch just said, "Wow!"

This futuristic single-staged denizen of deep space is so cool it's spooky. That doesn't mean it's hard to assemble. It is actually an easy to build kit. For example, the destruction step you may spend the most time on is cutting the tube fins and doing the prep work for painting. The tube cutting destructions are very clear, and, believe it or not (spoiler warning), it's a straight cut, created with a flexible straightedge. Pemberton reveals a cool tube painting trick, too, and you don't even have to do any masking. You'll find yourself flying this model after just a couple days of pleasurable build time.

G Motors are Perfect for this Kit

The G motors listed above are reloads, which cost less per flight than single-use motors. With altitudes of 537 to 1000 feet depending on which G you use, you have great options for altitude, loudness, and color of flame.

After you do your Level 1 Certification with the King Krãken, you can step up to H and I motors. With the extreme-altitude Rocksim prediction on I motors, though, you might want to bring binoculars.

I love this kit! It's big, distinctive, mean-looking, and sleek.

Squidly

TEXT HERE

Pemberton does something creative with the visual impact of this kit that solves an engineering problem, too. I admire designers who solve multiple problems with a single solution. Layne calls the canards on the nose cone "squidly". They do have a decisively squidish look, and they give the kit that extra detail that defines it as the King Krãken. But lookin' good is not all they do. With nose cones molded in this particular type of plastic, it can be hard to get nose weight to stay up in the tip. Even if it's epoxied, it can come loose during a launch, which can result in a Very Bad Day.

Advanced builders solve this problem by putting dowels or long screws through the area of the nose cone where the weight is going to go, then sanding them off smooth and flush. Here's what is so cool: the canards have tabs that protrude through the wall. While they don't glue onto a tube inside the nose cone, they do physically key in to the nose weight epoxy inside, resulting in an incredibly strong and substantial attachment for the nose weight. Great thinking!

King Krãken Rocket. Imagine flying this into deep space.

Why is this a Skill Level 3 Rocket?

There are only three steps in the rocket that require more than basic building skills. These are cutting the tube fins, slotting the plastic nose cone for the canards (you'll want a Dremel tool for this), and some extra time sanding and filling. Since you can use some bigger (heavier) motors, you need to test the King Krãken with the heaviest motor you plan to use, and add nose weight until it's stable. You probably won't need to add any nose weight, but check stability to make sure. It does take a little extra care and patience to use the rear bulkhead method of motor retention, too. Otherwise, construction is straightforward.

The King Krãken is a bigger rocket that uses heavy wall tubes. It also has substantial interior lead and epoxy nose weigh to provide added stability. While the tubes and weight don't make the rocket any harder to assemble, extra safety precautions are required when a rocket this big is flown. Patience and acquired flying skills to know when and where NOT to fly are just as important as quality construction techniques.

Who Is Pemberton Technologies?

Flash back with me, if you will, to a time when handsome, brave, wide shouldered, square jawed, homogenized white guys in jump suits made the universe safe for all mankind. Heroes such as Captain Video, Flash Gordon, Tom Corbett and Buzz Corry came to the rescue every week, thrashing bad guys and thrilling youngsters across the land.

From out of that Wonder Bread world of the 50's, Pem-Tech brings you the coolest science fiction spaceships of all time: Sleek, silver, beauties like the King Krãken and the glorious golden hotrods like Bucky Jones Space Cadet.

Layne Pemberton is famous for his "destructions". The humor infects everything from motor selection to your household pets. Trust us, they're fun. The photos could use some upgrades to good quality line diagrams to improve legibility, but the destructions are otherwise good.

King Krãken Kit Features
Super Strong Plastic Nose Cone - Made from polyethylene plastic, this heavy-wall nose cone can really stand up to any amount of abuse you might give it. The 11.5 inch exposed length is just one feature. It has a molded-in shock cord attachment, and a 1/4 inch steel eyebolt can be added (recommended). You'll need a Dremel tool to cut the canard slots in this baby.
Premium Body Tubes - These body tubes are quality pieces, with small spirals so they finish quickly. They're thick walled for those high power flights. One is used for the main body, another for the 4 tube fins.
Canards - These 5-layer high quality plywood canards are laser-cut. They hold the nose weight in. Plus, they're "squidly".
Plywood Centering Rings - These 1/8" thick 5-ply centering rings are a thing of beauty. They provide plenty of heft for G, H, and I motors and they fit perfectly, so they don't need sanding. The motor tube is 38mm, so you are set up to fly high from the get-go. There is no retention provided, so you need to add AeroPak retainers or use another method.
Quality Recovery Hardware - You get a monstrous 10' shock cord of 9/16" tubular nylon. The mounting system on the motor mount end is an innovative, inexpensive, yet strong design that works great.
A Great Parachute - 30-inch diameter rip-stop nylon cloth parachute. A kit this big, you have to have a cloth chute for the extra durability; and you get one! You could almost jump out of a perfectly good airplane with this chute.

Tools needed to assemble this rocket kit:

Pencil
Ruler
Scissors
Masking Tape
Hobby Knife
Dremel too
Wood Glue or 5-Minute Epoxy

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 - Disposable | Reusable

Frequently Asked Questions about the King Krãken kit:

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

A. Since this is a big rocket, you'll need very stable launch pad. We offer the Aerotech Mantis Launch Pad and the Estes Porta Pad-E.

Q. What launch controller can I use to ignite the motors?

A. We offer two different controllers that can be used for mid and high-power size rockets. The Aerotech Interlock and the Pratt Hobbies GO-BOX Controller.

Q. How do I go about getting High Power Certified?

A. Click here for more information on getting Level 1 certified.

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

Download the RockSim design file for this kit. Click Here to download.

To see how the King Krãken rocket looks and performs with in each motor configuration, download rocket design file now (click here). This file can be opened with the FREE demo version of RockSim (click here). This kit is included as one of the sample designs that comes with the demo software. 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.

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

Rouse-Tech High Power Monster Motors

We've added all the big reloadable motor casings to our line-up. Plus, we've organized things to make it easier for you to pick and find the right casing for your big project.

24mm Dia. Motors (power: E - F )
29mm Dia. Motors (power: F - G )
29mm HPR Motor (Power: G - I )
38mm Dia. Motors (power: G - J )
54mm Dia. Motors (power: I - K )
75mm Dia. Motors (power: K - M )
98mm Dia. Motors (power: K - N )

Cesaroni Reloadable Rocket Motors

Cesaroni (also known as CTI) is a manufacture of reloadable rocket motors. These motors are made in the standard diameters, so they will fit into your current fleet of rockets without having to do any further modifications.

Aero Pack Engine Retainers

Want to hold in your rocket engines securely without using tape or other unsightly methods? Then they Aero Pack retention system may be what you're looking for. There is a retainer available for all the common high power tube sizes that we carry (LOC, Blue Tube, and Fiberglass), as well as for the mid and high-power rocket kits on this web site.

Motor Mount Adapters

These adapters allow you to put a smaller diameter motor into a rocket that has a motor mount tube up to two sizes larger. This is a great way to save money by putting a smaller motor in a big rocket.

Sky Angle Parachute Deployment Bags

A deployment bag is a device to help ensure that parachute inflates properly and in the correct order. It forces the lines to completely stretch out first, and then the canopy is released so that it can properly inflate. It also minimizes the loads on the suspension lines to prevent tears, and it gives additional protection from the heat of the ejection charges. If you're doing high power rockets, you really need this extra insurance to make your project a success.

Parachute Swivels

Ball bearing swivels for attaching your parachutes to help reduce risk of twisting and line entanglement. Come in 3 sizes - 200lb, 300lb and 500lb

Quick Links

Use Quick Links to quickly attach and detach components of your rocket. Great for connecting parachute shroud lines and electronic or payload bays to shock cords and swivels or replacing lost quick links in your Tender Descender.

Nomex Wadding

While not required, this would be a useful addition to this kit. If you don't use a heat shield, you'll have to use disposable wadding to protect the parachute from the heat of the ejection charge. And for a large diameter kit like this, it will take a lot of disposable wadding.

Shock Cord Protectors

While not required, this would be a nice upgrade to most high power rockets. A shock cord protector prevents the shock cord from getting too scorched by the ejection charge.

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.

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!

Entacore's AIM USB Altimeter

This is a programmable dual-event altimeter with data recording capabilities. That means that after the flight, it not only beeps out the peak altitude, but you can download the data into your computer so you can get a plot of altitude versus time. Great for determining the parameters of your rocket's flight.

G-Wiz Flight Computers

The ultimate in flight control for large and expensive rocketry projects. These onboard flight computers control when the flight events (like staging, parachute ejection) occur during the trajectory. Uses both barometric and accelerometer sensors to get the most accurate determination of the rockets altitude and orientation, so it provides extra reliability to control the flight. Available with or without data recording capabilities.

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.

Modern High Power Rocketry 2

The most extensive book ever written about "how to build LARGE high power rockets." Recommended for all modelers getting ready to take a jump to those bigger and more powerful rocket engines. It takes you step-by-step in the process of how to prepare for Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 high power certification.

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

Actual Customer Comment:
"Yes, my order arrived, and I was VERY pleased with how quickly it got here. Thanks so much for your quick shipment! My previous order was handled well, and if anything, this one was even better. I'm sure we'll be returning to your site for future purchases. Thanks again for your prompt service." -- Tom J. McConnell, Ph.D.