Custom Rockets Satellite Drone

Custom Rockets - Satellite Drone {Kit} (10022)

Contributed by Kevin Drayson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Length: 17.75 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 3
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

[Picture]Brief:
This kit is a single stage, "fantasy scale" rocket, arrr, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

Construction:
T' kit arrived with all t' necessary parts included, shiver me timbers, and in good shape. Aye aye! Blimey! T' balsa and t' tubes appear t' be identical t' Estes parts. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' nose cone and centerin' rings, arrr, however, I found t' be sub-standard. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' centerin' rings were very thin and flimsy- I used them, matey, but reinforced them with bits o' Balsa t' strengthen them. Blimey! Blimey! I'd be frightened t' fly this thin' without this mod! Blimey! T' nose cone appears t' be sone cheap plastic, me hearties, nay t' higher-quality stuff I'm used t' from Estes, arrr, TLP, and other companies. T' parts all went together easily enough, but t' rin' tail gave me some trouble. Aye aye! Blimey! T' span o' t' fins was just a bit too short, shiver me timbers, so I wound up havin' t' hold t' rin' in place while t' glue dried. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' rest o' t' kit be very straight-forward. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' finished product is a smart-lookin' Man-O-War. Arrr! Blimey! T' narrow fins that go on just ahead o' t' rin' are pretty fragile, shiver me timbers, but t' rest is solid enough.

Finishing:
Paintin' t' kit is simple enough. Prime, matey, me bucko, me hearties, spray t' whole Man-O-War white, and paint t' nose red. Begad! After that, t' decals go on. I haven't put t' decals on mine just yet, I got distracted with some other projects, me bucko, arrr, and t' rocket looks good enough without them! Overall, me hearties, I'm givin' a ratin' o' 3 for construction/finishing. Arrr! T' score would be much higher if t' centerin' rings, which I consider a safety issue, ya bilge rat, were made o' sturdier stuff. T' poorly-fittin' ring/fin arrangement costs them as well.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I've had two flights on me Satellite Drone so far, arrr, both very successful. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first nearly ended up in a tree, ya bilge rat, but was recovered. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' second resulted in a short hike, but be otherwise uneventful. Avast, me proud beauty! Both flights were on C6-3's.

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that be included. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, even before t' first flight. Blimey! It still drifts considerably. Begad! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, shiver me timbers, but I'm worried about breakin' those narrow forward fins.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' final product is a very nice looking, shiver me timbers, unique Man-O-War. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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