Brief:
Mid to High Power rocket with inverted fins that leads to plenty of ribbing from your fellow rocketeers until they see how well it flies!

Construction:
The Wolf 2.1 is a kit from European high power rocket vendor Rebel Rocketry. Although English is a second language for the vendor, the instructions are well-written, easy to follow, and included many photographs to help guide in the rocket's construction. The rocket's construction required no special supplies or tools, although a Dremel tool always makes construction chores much easier. Other than the unique fin design for this rocket, it is a basic mid to high power design that goes together with 15 or 30 minute epoxy. As for me, I wanted this rocket to last, so I beefed up the airframe by glassing the Public Missiles (PML) phenolic airframe with two wraps of two ounce fiberglass cloth.

The kit comes with a 54mm PML phenolic airframe, a plastic nosecone, two 54/38mm centering rings, a 12 inch 38mm phenolic motor tube, three 0.062 inch fiberglass fins that look inverted, three fiberglass cutter fins, tubular nylon shock cord, a 24 inch parachute, and a fin alignment guide. After construction, especially with the reinforced airframe, this thing was rock solid.

Finishing:
I finished it with Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy Paint and painted the upper half of the rocket white and the bottom half black. Epoxy paint is very strong and withstands scratches quite well.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
I used a Cesaroni H153 for her maiden flight in the belief that the glassed rocket would be a little heavier than normal. Instead of wadding, I used LOC/Precision Kevlar® cloth for small body tubes. I also had a Radio Shack personal alarm in the rocket attached to the recovery harness to help find the rocket on the ground.

As I approached the RSO, everyone teased me about the inverted fins. So be prepared for people to continually show how clever they think they are by commenting on your building skills every time you fly this rocket.

Once the countdown reached zero, the Wolf 2.1 took off like a bat out of hell and streaked into the sky. It definitely went above 3000 feet on that motor and flew beautifully. However, recovery took it a good half mile away and it was a long trek through the sage at Brothers, Oregon to find it.

During its second flight, I used an AeroTech G64-7 White Lightning motor and the rocket flew beautifully on that little motor, too. In fact, a lot of the fliers thought there was an H motor in the rocket due to how smartly it lifted off the pad. So even with the extra reinforcement of the fiberglassed airframe, this rocket does well on G motors and will knock your socks off on an H motor. Although it could take an I motor, you run a substantial risk, even with a personal alarm in it, of losing it. Putting a J motor in it is really living dangerously!

Recovery:
I used the 24 inch parachute for recovery and 1/2 inch Kevlar® strap for the shock cord. The rocket uses motor ejection and recovered well on both occasions. After the second flight, one of the cutter fins fell off. I cut a replacement from some fin stock I had around and glued it on with JB Weld. Hopefully, that will keep it from coming off in the future. Other than that, the rocket landed without a scratch and was ready to fly with very little prepping.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
I promised Rebel Rocketry's owner, Frank De Brower, that I wouldn't include a RockSim file or be specific about the measurements in order to protect his ability to avoid having clones made of his rocket. However, even with the exchange rate differential, the price and shipping costs for this rocket aren't bad and I feel that it's a good deal considering this vendor's fabulous service and the impressive performance of this rocket.

If you're looking for a nice, easy-to-build and easy-to-prep high performance rocket that can fly on 29-38mm F-J motors with a unique, eye-catching look to it, then buy a Wolf 2.1 and become a Rebel!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5