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, shiver me timbers, "fantasy scale" rocket, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

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

Finishing:
Paintin' t' kit is simple enough. Well, blow me down! Prime, spray t' whole ship white, me hearties, and paint t' nose red. Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! After that, matey, t' decals go on. I haven't put t' decals on mine just yet, I got distracted with some other projects, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and t' rocket looks good enough without them! Blimey! Overall, me bucko, me hearties, I'm givin' a ratin' o' 3 for construction/finishing. T' score would be much higher if t' centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, which I consider a safety issue, 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, both very successful. T' first nearly ended up in a tree, matey, but was recovered. Arrr! Begad! T' second resulted in a short hike, arrr, but be otherwise uneventful. Arrr! Begad! Both flights were on C6-3's.

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that was included. Ahoy! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, even before t' first flight. It still drifts considerably. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, arrr, me bucko, unique ship. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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