Brief:

T' MRS-Vega is part o' Q Modeling's Mega Retro Series. T' series comprises upscale semi-clones o' some classic designs, that also includes t' Mars Snooper, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, NikeX & WACC. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I say semi-clones, because t' kits have been rescaled and designed from scratch usin' new parts and t' latest techniques. T' Vega is described as an upscale o' t' original Estes Starship Vega, matey, me bucko, rather than a clone o' t' larger, and later, Estes Super Vega, shiver me timbers, and builds t' an impressive 820mm tall rocket. Well, blow me down!

I was supplied with this kit by Deepsky Rocket Shop, shiver me timbers, on t' proviso that I write a review for their spankin' new web site, an offer which I found far too good t' refuse. Begad! If you haven't checked out Deepsky's new web site yet, me hearties, I strongly suggest you do. It nay only has a large range o' kits and materials, but also tips, recommendations, customer reviews and a great online ordering system. Avast!

Construction:

T' kit includes:-

• 1 x Main Nose cone - cast resin
• 1 x Main Nose Cone Plug - laser cut basswood
• 1 x Eye Hook
• 1 x Main Body Tube
• 3 x Upper Fins - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Primary Fins - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Secondary Fins- laser cut balsa
• 2 x Launch Lugs - these must be cut from a single piece
• 1 x Engine Hook
• 1 x Motor Mount - foil lined
• 1 x Rear Centrin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 1 x Thrust Rin'
• 4 x Hex Rings - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Support Brace - laser cut balsa
• 3 x Fin Brace - laser cut balsa
• 1 x Forward Centerin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Pad - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Centerin' Pad - laser cut basswood
• 3 x Landin' Gear Tube
• 3 x Landin' Gear Shaft - need t' be cut from a single length o' dowel
• 9 x Landin' Gear Centerin' Rin' - laser cut basswood
• 16 x Water-Slide Decals
• 1 x Stick-On Decal
• 1 x Snap Swivel
• 1 x Heat Shield - Nomex
• 1 x Parachute - pre assembled nylon
• 1 x Shock Cord - Keelhaul®©™
• 1 x Small Spider

Yes, that's right, a spider. Avast! Ya scallywag! It was dead when I opened t' bag, ya bilge rat, but had been very much alive when I first received t' kit. Arrr! I be quite relieved when I found it dead, since I didn't know whether it had jumped aboard at Deepsky or Q Modeling, and I'm nay sure what kinds o' spiders they have in California!

T' 18 page instruction manual for this kit is o' t' highest quality. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' build is broken down into major sections, Nose Cone Preparation, arrr, Engine Mount Assembly & Installation, Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly, Final Assembly, arrr, Makin' a D-Engine Spacer, and Finishing. Each section has an estimated time for completion, ya bilge rat, though I can't comment on their accuracy, matey, me bucko, as I be simultaneously workin' in had two or three kits. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty!

Each major section is further broken down into a number o' steps. For each of these steps, matey, thar be a detailed diagram and textual description. Arrr! I dare say that you could build exclusively from either t' pictures or text alone! There is even a comprehensive pre-launch check list. T' instruction manual is labelled Version 7, me bucko, so it looks like Q Modelin' issue revisions from time to time. T' t' latest version o' t' instructions is available for download, me hearties, in Adobe Portable Document Format, from t' Q Modelin' web site, so it's worth checkin' t' see if thar have been any updates, before you begin. Ya scallywag! Nose Cone Preparation

As previously mentioned, me hearties, arrr, t' nose cones appear t' be cast from some kind of resin. There are a few mould lines but, bein' resin, shiver me timbers, they are very easy t' sand out. There is a little excess resin on t' shoulder o' t' cones, left over from t' casting. T' instructions suggest removin' this excess with a modeling knife or razor saw, me hearties, but it's quite thick and I found it easier t' accomplish with a razor saw. Begad!

Engine Mount Assembly & Installation

Initially I be puzzled by t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, as it seemed unnecessarily elaborate. Avast, me proud beauty! It was only really when I came t' build it that I realized it be an innovative solution t' t' perennial problem o' fin alignment. Begad! T' result is an interlockin' construction formin' rigid slots into which t' fins may be inserted. Aye aye! T' rigidity and alignment o' these slots ensure perfectly-aligned fins every time. Begad! A triumph o' design and laser cutting!

Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly

For me, this was t' most interestin' part o' t' build, t' spring-loaded feet are really cool. Begad! Begad! Given t' attention t' detail shown in t' rest o' the parts, arrr, it's strange that t' three landin' gear shafts are provided as a single piece that must be cut t'

length. I'm nay really complainin' though, it would feel odd t' build the whole kit and nay t' have t' cut somethin' out! Blimey!

You have t' be a bit careful with t' assembly o' t' landin' gear. Arrr! It's important that t' glue doesn't stray onto t' movin' parts, me bucko, ya bilge rat, otherwise t' Vega would be in for some hard landings! As always though, t' instructions are very clear and straightforward, so no-one should have any trouble.

There are only really two additions I would make t' t' instructions. The first is t' suggest fillin' t' gaps around t' landin' gear nose cones with light weight filler, arrr, me hearties, rather then t' suggested wood glue. Ya scallywag! T' wood glue shrinks as it dries and doesn't really do a good job o' fillin' what is quite a deep gap. Avast!

T' other suggestion I would make is t' paint the landin' gear shafts before assembly. Arrr! T' reason bein' that t' additional thickness o' t' paint can interfere with t' movement. Avast! Avast! T' landin' gear on my kit be very free movin' before painting, me bucko, but sticks a bit now that t' paint is on. I'll probably sand them down and repaint before flyin' again, but it's goin' t' be a fiddly job.

T' be fair, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' instructions do mention t' take care durin' paintin' and not t' gum up t' landin' legs, but it's hard t' apply paint and nay build up additional thickness.

As previously described, t' alignment of the main fins is due t' t' novel motor mount. Avast! You really can't go wrong. Avast, me proud beauty! The other fins are surface mounted, but because o' t' thickness o' t' fins, me hearties, this is easily accomplished. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' instructions suggest mountin' them with CA and then addin' wood glue fillets, arrr, and this worked very well. Avast! Ya scallywag!

Makin' a D-Engine Spacer

A curious omission really. Well, me bucko, blow me down! It wouldn't have added much t' t' cost t' include this in t' kit. Arrr! But, shiver me timbers, as suggested, it's easy enough t' make from a spent motor casing. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!

Finishing

I used Halfords high-build primer on t' main fins. Aye aye! Begad! This helps t' fill the grain, ya bilge rat, and smooth out any imperfections in t' filler around t' landin' gear pods. Ya scallywag! Once dried and sanded I coated t' entire rocket with ordinary white primer t' create a consistent base coat. Well, blow me down! A little more light sandin' and then two coats o' Halfords Diamond White be applied.

T' provided water slide decals are very good. Avast! Avast! Really quite thin, but not thin enough t' be easily broken. Begad! They do have a slight tendency t' stretch though, possibly die t' t' large size. Avast, me proud beauty! So you need t' take care, particularly when applyin' t' large decals t' t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! One o' t' decals is o' t' self adhesive kinds. Ahoy! I don't normally like self adhesive decals, as they are usually thick and curl up at t' edges. This one is relatively thin, shiver me timbers, arrr, however, and it's difficult t' see how else t' metallic finish could have been achieved. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! You do have t' be a bit careful though T' black pattern on mine has smudges in one area. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Nay quite sure what I might have had on me fingers t' achieve that!

A final coat o' Halfords lacquer was applied t' help seal t' decals and protect from t' inevitable finger and scuff marks. Ahoy! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight

As mentioned above, there is a pre launch check list included in t' instruction manual. Arrr! Obviously most o' us won't need that, but it's a great introduction for any newcomers to the hobby. Arrr! Once t' Vega had been painted, matey, I test-flew it at t' WRS launch on 10th April 2004. Begad! I had wanted t' wait until t' decals had been applied, me bucko, but I ran out o' time. Well, blow me down! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' weather conditions at t' launch were almost ideal for a first flight, as thar was very little in t' way o' wind, just a gentle breeze. Well, me hearties, blow me down!

T' recommended motors are Estes D12-3 and E9-4, shiver me timbers, arrr, but I see no reason why single use or RMS AP motors, me hearties, with suitable delay, shiver me timbers, could nay be substituted. Avast! Well, me hearties, blow me down! For the first flight, me hearties, I chose t' stick with Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' boost was really straight, with deployment at apogee. T' descent was really quite gentle and stable. Blimey! If it hadn't landed in a ploughed field, ya bilge rat, it might have stayed upright on its feet.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Q Modelin' can't be faulted for this kit. Begad! Arrr! It's an excellent interpretation o' a classic design and builds into an impressive rocket. At £46.95, t' Vega can't be described as cheap, but very few corners have been cut here. Blimey! T' combination o' top quality components, innovative design and comprehensive instruction manual, arrr, me bucko, matey, means that even a novice should have no trouble buildin' and flyin' this kit. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4½ out o' 5