Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | U.S. Rockets ![]() |
Brief:
This is an up-scale o' t' old classic Starlight from t' 1960's. Blimey! Blimey! It flies on
29 or 38mm motors with adaptors provided. Begad! Blimey!
Construction:
Picture seen is after cuttin' out all t' fins and strakes. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Kit includes:
There are lots o' surfaces t' sand and miles o' fillets t' do. Blimey! This is nay a weekend job but only requires moderate buildin' skills. Avast! Aye aye! T' first thin' I did was t' cut out all t' fins. Well, blow me down! You need t' take your time and use a sharp knife with a long straight edge because t' wood is so thick. Avast, me proud beauty! T' key here is accuracy. Begad! Inaccurate cuts will make t' build tough as t' components will be difficult t' fit together. Begad! Arrr! A little patience and extra effort here will pay of later. Arrr! Note: I left all t' fin edges square. Ahoy! Begad! This made it easier t' paint later and is how t' original kit from t' 60's be built.
I then very liberally sealed t' edges o' t' tube fins with CA. The cardboard rings were on t' rough side. Aye aye! Preppin' t' rings took some effort but nothin' too difficult.
I deviated from t' kit by installin' small rail buttons on t' rings. Aye aye! The kit contains two sets o' different size large launch lugs. Aye aye! But because I have rails, I felt that it be a better way t' go.
One minor thin' I didn't like about t' instructions was that in t' body of t' text it calls out part numbers. Ahoy! Blimey! It says t' Glue a CR-16-11-1/2 to each end." What t' hell is a CR-16-11-1/2? You can figure out what each part is durin' t' build but it can become annoying. Begad! Blimey!
Finishing:
T' kit is even harder t' paint that in appears. Well, blow me down! I don't use sandin' sealer, so
several coats o' primer be needed t' seal all t' wood. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! Because thar be so
much surface area, ya bilge rat, two cans o' primer were required. Avast! Blimey! Blimey!
T' white paint coat be t' most difficult. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Gettin' a good coat o' paint on t' ID o' t' rings, and t' area where t' rings meet t' strakes was difficult at best. Begad! Avast! Several coats and patience is mandatory here. Blimey! Ya scallywag!
T' paint all t' edges red would have required endless hours o' tedious masking. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I cheated by paintin' t' edges with a Uni-Paint paint pen. Begad! Because the edges were left square, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' paint pen technique actually came out pretty good. Ahoy!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' motors are held in place usin' t' maskin' tape friction fit method. Begad! I have
done this on countless rockets so thar be nothin' new here. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!
T' kit comes with a nice elastic shock cord but no parachute. Well, me hearties, blow me down! I chose a 30" nylon chute o' t' Aerotech variety.
T' first flight was on a G38 7. This was a bit weak for t' rocket, but a good flight. Blimey! This was also t' last flight for me. Begad! Begad! A 12 year old kid thought that t' rocket was t' coolest thin' he ever saw so I gave him t' rocket. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! It was an excellent opportunity t' spark a kid's imagination and pay forward.
Recovery:
T' delay was a bit long, but t' laundry came out and recovery was fine
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a moderately difficult kit t' build. Aye aye! If you like up-scale rockets but
are afraid t' design your own, this be t' kit for you. Arrr! It's guaranteed t' turn
heads at every launch.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Other:
Read t' directions! Blimey! I got ahead o' myself and missed a step. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' kit is
designed t' have t' shock cord attach t' t' aft end o' t' rocket with a cord
runnin' from t' aft centerin' up t' t' nose cone/BT joint. Arrr! Blimey! This is t' avoid
breakin' t' fins on landing. I got way ahead o' t' instructions and built it
the conventional way. Once I realized what I had done, it be too late. Ya scallywag! I
anticipate repairin' lots o' fins. Begad! Hind sight is 20/20. I should have put the
rings on after everythin' was painted. T' instructions mentioned that as an
option. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! You may want t' consider that when buildin' yours. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey!
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