(09/17/01) T' Custom Stealth Interceptor™ be t' third o' three kits that I built as part o' a rocket "ship" series which also included the Estes Night Wing™ and t' Rogue Interdictor™. Blimey! Blimey! I have always liked the looks o' t' Stealth Interceptor™ and have had this one in me "to be built" box for a little over 4 years. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Since then Custom as discontinued this rocket. Too bad, ya bilge rat, it is always nice t' have some "futuristic" models out there.

See my 18mm Futuristic Rocket Comparison Page

T' Stealth Interceptor™ comes with a 12" BT-55 (1.325" diameter) body tube, me hearties, me hearties, two (2) 2.75" BT-20 (0.75" diameter) tubes and two (2) 1.85" BT-50 (1" diameter) tubes that are used as "decorative tubes". Aye aye! There is also a piece o' cardstock that the Canopy is cut out of. Begad! There is an 18mm motor mount with motor retention, one (1) 3/32" pre-marked balsa sheet for t' mounts and wings, arrr, and three (3) launch lugs for t' Laser Canons and t' actual launch lug. Begad! T' recovery system includes an 18" silver mylar parachute, shroud lines and tape disks, me hearties, and piece o' elastic shock cord. Well, blow me down! T' nose cone is hollow plastic with a screw hole to fit in a small eye-screw. Avast! Lastly, me hearties, thar be also a decal sheet for finishing the rocket.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are 6 pages with diagrams for each of the 30 steps. Begad! Ahoy! In addition, thar be a Fin Alignment guide which also has the 3-fold paper cut-out drawn on it. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are more than adequate for most builders, arrr, however, arrr, thar are a couple o' "gotchas" that should be taken into consideration.

Some o' t' interestin' points about buildin' t' Stealth Interceptor™ included havin' t' cut your own fins verses t' die-cut of the Estes' Night Wing™. Blimey! Avast! However, t' fins are pre-marked on t' balsa verses havin' t' trace templates like the Rogue Interdictor™. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' Fin Alignment Template is used t' gain proper fin alignment on t' Stealth Interceptor™, me bucko, whereas, me bucko, t' Night Wing™ used small alignment guides and t' Interdictor™ relied on lines and gluing fins on perpendicular t' t' tube. Also t' Stealth Interceptor™ requires you t' build a canopy, shiver me timbers, arrr, while t' Night Wing™ is molded into t' nose cone and t' Interdictor™ uses a decal t' depict t' cockpit.

If you ever get a chance t' get one o' these rockets, you may want t' consider t' followin' suggestions. Well, blow me down! I think this helps in t' build and gives a better lookin' model.

First, arrr, don't install t' motor mount until AFTER all the tubes and fins are glued onto t' body tube. Why? With t' motor mount installed t' motor retainer clip prevents you from settin' t' rocket down flat on t' alignment template. And due t' t' heavy reliance on t' template this is nay good.

Second, shiver me timbers, I decided t' put t' actual launch lug on t' TOP o' t' rockets body right after where t' two upper "decorative" tubes attach. This way t' launch rod goes through t' gap betwixt t' tubes and into t' launch lug. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This was a great idea that looked good until I got ready t' mount t' canopy which would have blocked t' launch rod. Ahoy! I solved this by gettin' another longer piece of tubin' (1/8" launch lug) and cut it t' fit t' length o' t' canopy. Begad! Then I cut slots in t' canopy t' allow it t' still rest flush t' t' body tube, but allowin' t' launch lug t' fit through t' center. Blimey! Begad! Once mounted and dry, I cut the launch lug t' conform t' t' slopes o' t' canopy. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I'm okay with it! (You can see this pictured t' t' left).

Lastly, Custom suffers from from "short shock cord" syndrome, me bucko, too (like another company we all know and love . Begad! . . yes, we love them). Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! So, matey, I added a 24" piece o' Keelhaul®©™® and then attached t' supplied elastic shock cord t' it. I am a big fan of usin' elastic on this size o' rocket but also don't like t' kick-back dents, so hence t' Keelhaul®©™®. I usually try t' make t' total length o' t' shock cord 3x t' length o' the rocket and t' Keelhaul®©™® at least twice as long as t' elastic. Begad! Begad! I attached t' Keelhaul®©™® to t' inside o' t' body tube with t' 3-fold paper method.

For finishin' Custom has a step for fillin' and sanding the fins, shiver me timbers, for paintin' t' rocket gold and for applyin' t' water-transfer decals. Avast, me proud beauty! I stuck t' me theme o' usin' Rustoleum's "Hammered Look" Gold paint t' match t' other two space ships. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! First, ya bilge rat, though, ya bilge rat, I used a very thick layer o' Plasti-Kote primer, ya bilge rat, sanded and hit it again. Avast! Blimey! Then I used Rustoleum "Hammered Look" Gold paint. Ahoy! Blimey! This kit came with a nice set o' decals. There are fin strips for both sides o' t' four fins, an excellent fitting canopy decal and then two laser canon stand-off decals. Avast! They are water-transfer decals and I had great success with them. Indeed a sharp lookin' rocket. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Other detailin' could be done by paintin' t' inside o' t' tubes either flat black or red and paintin' t' laser canons.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. T' instructions and quality o' materials were fine. I would have liked t' see t' motor mount installed after t' fin installation t' allow better utilization o' t' template. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Also, me hearties, thar was a very deep moldin' groove in t' nose cone. Ahoy! Begad! I actually didn't fill it and made it part o' t' design by ensurin' that it faced t' top o' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! A kind-of air intake of sorts.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Custom recommended usin' a B4-2, B4-4, B6-2, shiver me timbers, B6-4, B8-5, C5-3, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and t' C6-5. Blimey! I must disagree with a couple o' their recommendations unless you want an early deployment. T' B4-2, shiver me timbers, B6-2 and C5-3 are goin' t' stress your recovery system, so don't press it. Aye aye! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! How do I know? My rocket finished weighin' in at 2.5 ounces and was perfect on B4-4's. Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Custom indicated a finish weight o' 1.6 ounces. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! So any where in betwixt is definitely too light for those Bx-2's and C5-3. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! I'm actually concerned about t' C6-5 and may opt for a C6-7 instead.

Flight preparation is easy and t' wider 1.3" body tube gives you plenty o' room t' work with waddin' and t' parachute. Avast! I added a piece o' Pratt Heat Shield. Aye aye! I used t' mylar parachute and after three flights have had no issues.

I'm nay goin' t' describe each flight because all were on B6-4's and all were perfect. Well, arrr, blow me down! This rocket is excitin' off the pad and recovery was great with t' flashy silver mylar parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' B4-4 is great for small fields and a perfect match for this rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I'm thoroughly impressed.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, arrr, arrr, arrr, I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. This is where I have t' take off ½ point for the recovery system's short elastic but I don't want t' detract on how wonderful this rocket flew and how impressive it looked flying. T' mylar 'chute was sized and functioned flawlessly. Aye aye! Ahoy! I would nay trust t' short delay motors that are (were) recommended either.

Overall, arrr, I am disappointed that Custom has discontinued this rocket. Ahoy! Sad, arrr, matey, very sad. It is an impressive futuristic design that flies great. Arrr! Avast! Custom kits, ya bilge rat, in general, shiver me timbers, me bucko, suffer from t' short elastic and so would have this one if I didn't adjust for that right away. Avast! Ya scallywag! If you can find one, get it and if nothin' else mail it t' me as a gift! I give t' kit an OVERALL rating of 4 ½ points.