Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2010-06-13 |
Diameter: | 0.75 inches |
Manufacturer: | Starlight Rockets |
Skill Level: | 1 |
Brief:
An interestin' dowel stabilized Rocket. Begad! Small minimum diameter for 18mm engines with streamer
recovery.
Construction:
Simple kit with 18mm tube, arrr, balsa nose cone, 3 finlets, 3 dowels, me hearties, me hearties, launch lug, arrr, silver Mylar
streamer and shock cord. Begad! Blimey! Minimum diameter for 18mm engines. Arrr! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Friction motor retention. Blimey! Blimey! Uses what I think be t' Stine
shock cord mountin' method -- paper strip with 3 holes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Shock cord is threaded through holes and a knot is tied at end.
Very easy t' build Rocket with laser cut finlets, matey, and beveled dowels for fins with premarked body tube. Good instructions and with simple hand drawn illustrations. Blimey! I used white glue and results seem strong as it stood up to sub-optimal recovery. Decent length o' shock cord, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me bucko, though I should have used Keelhaul®©™® and mounted it t' t' engine block. Avast! Begad! Blimey! Good materials, laser cut balsa and straight dowels. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Dowels are pre-beveled t' glue against t' finlets and tube.
Pro's:
Con's:
Finishing:
Standard balsa/kraft tube finishin' methods used. Ya scallywag! I filled t' balsa and sanded. I used
rustoleum automotive primer. Ya scallywag! I launched it twice and haven't yet done final painting.
Pro's:
Con's:
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I flew it twice with Estes A8-3 motors. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Took off fast and straight in very light winds. Aye aye! Flew
very high, nearly out o' sight. Avast! This is a simple rocket with simple preparation. I put some maskin' tape on t' motor
and put in some Estes recovery wadding. Ya scallywag! I used 3 and 5 sheets, ya bilge rat, but this wasn't enough or me packin' technique be poor.
It landed close by on both flight.
On first flight, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' streamer was burned through about 1" from attachment point. Aye aye! Arrr! Rocket was recovered with no damage. Begad! Rest o' streamer was recovered as well. Arrr! Arrr!
On second flight I taped t' streamer back together and it flew very very high and I lost sight o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! I told my son t' keep lookin' for it but it might be lost. Arrr! He then informed me that it had already landed about 40 feet away. The streamer be intact but burned more. Arrr! T' shock cord looks like it should be replaced as t' outer layer is burn off near t' attachment. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' rubber inside is still completely intact. Ahoy!
I'm a new BAR so I'll blame myself for poor recovery system packing. Aye aye! This is a small diameter rocket so maybe this is t' be expected. I should have used Keelhaul®©™® tied t' t' motor mount. Ahoy! Begad! Still t' shock cord seems better than Estes short rubber bands.
I be very pleased with t' two flights. Blimey! Blimey! Would be 5 points if it recovered perfectly.
Pro's:
Con's:
Recovery:
Pro's:
Con's:
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Nice simple kit that isn't just 3FNC. Flies high on modest engine. Ahoy! I'm very pleased with flight
characteristics but recovery needs some work (mostly me fault). Begad! It's a very classic kit with classic materials (no
plastic except for streamer). Begad! Inexpensive and it was on t' shelf at a LHS. My 8 y/o son liked it as well. As I've seen
on many other reviews o' many other rockets, shiver me timbers, I now recommend usin' Keelhaul®©™®
shock cord!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Other:
Use Keelhaul®©™ shock cord and attach t' motor mount. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Be extra careful packin' t' recovery wadding.
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A.K.B. (August 5, 2010)