(02/23/08) "This one is like a luxury aircraft, but built for space travel."

So says Dynastar website. Ya scallywag! T' Orion Transport is a neat, me bucko, futuristic-lookin' rocket with nice lines and decals t' make it stand apart from others. Aye aye! Blimey!

T' rocket includes a single white BT-70 (2.2") body tube that is 18" long. Begad! This with its 11" long plastic nose cone and cardstock thrust nozzle make up t' total 28.5" length.

It comes with die-cut balsa fins (x" thick), 1/4" launch lugs and a 24mm motor mount. Begad! Aye aye! For recovery it comes with a big (32"), me hearties, yellow Dynastar plastic parachute... sure t' be seen in t' sky.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 8 pages with excellent illustrations and easy t' read and follow directions. Ahoy!

Dynastar calls this kit a "Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed". Ahoy! If you have a few skill level 2 kits under your belt, me bucko, matey, this will nay be a challenge for you.

I only ran into one problem durin' t' build. Arrr! T' fin-markin' template was too big for t' body tube and overlapped too much. T' picture shows t' problem (out o' focus a bit). Arrr! I was able t' make t' needed adjustments t' have t' fins go on symetrically.

T' nose cone was nay a snug fit and required a little maskin' tape t' snug it up.

I built this rocket some time ago and held off writin' a review due t' bein' extremely busy with work and such. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' two reviews below capture many o' t' buildin' aspects that I would cover although I didn't have a missin' thrust rin' nor a missin' fin-markin' template. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Again, me hearties, I found t' kit t' be easy t' build and t' instructions excellent.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Begad! Nay sure what happended on t' fin-markin' template, shiver me timbers, but if you have experience, matey, then you will be able t' work around it. Well, blow me down! I did report it t' Dynastar back in 2005 when I first discovered it, arrr, so no doubt it has been corrected.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Dynastar recommends t' followin' motors:

Dynastar indicates that t' rocket should weigh 4.76 ounces.

My finished rocket weighed in at 6.5 ounces with a CG at 16.75" from t' nose cone.

I decided t' fly it for t' first time on a D12-5. Nice looking, a bit slower, shiver me timbers, lift-off. Ya scallywag! Begad! It be straight and true. T' rocket hit apogee and was startin' t' head down at ejection. Ya scallywag! T' large yellow parachute provided a very, shiver me timbers, very slow descent. Ya scallywag! Too slow for me. So, arrr, I significantly reefed t' parachute leavin' only 1/3rd t' length o' t' shroud lines t' open.

T' next couple o' flights were on D15-4's. Ya scallywag! Both nice flights, shiver me timbers, so you could add that t' t' recommended motor list.

I flew it a year later at NYPower on a D12-5. Well, blow me down! Took this picture o' t' lift-off.

Then I flew it on an E9-6. Well, blow me down! It really went up thar and I didn't see t' ejection. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! But I did see that big yellow parachute.

T' rocket looks good and has nay suffered damage from these flights.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, arrr, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. Nay a 5 because I think t' parachute is too large. Ya scallywag! Some may disagree.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Arrr! It certainly looks good and comes with nice lookin' decals. Aye aye! T' nozzle cone is a nice touch. Overall flights and performance were excellent.