Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Sirius Rocketry |
Brief:
From t' Sirius website:
"Beginnin' in t' late 21st Century, arrr, me hearties, t' growin' commercialization o' space created a great demand for t' regular and reliable transportation o' cargo and passengers. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' Cestris class o' interplanetary transport vehicles were t' workhorses o' t' fleet, part o' an intermodal transport system that used Interplanetainer modular containers t' move cargo, ferry space tourists, me bucko, generate power, shiver me timbers, me hearties, supply research bases and much more. Avast! T' Interplanetainers could be carried on train, ya bilge rat, truck, ya bilge rat, matey, ship, matey, and space cargo transport. Avast! Arrr! Some cargo containers could also be magnetically accelerated into space by launchers located on t' moon, where they would be picked up in orbit, ya bilge rat, allowin' for longer-distance cargo missions. T' Cestris class ships could carry two Interplanetainers each, and work hard t' supply t' demand created by humankinds reach into t' solar system."T' S.S. Avast! Begad! Cestris is a futuristic interplanetary transport vehicle. It is a single stage skill level 3 rocket with a very unique vacuformed nose cone. Begad!
Construction:
T' parts list:
As with any kit, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' parts layout can either build up t' excitement o' t' build or give one t' attitude of 'well, me hearties, shiver me timbers, it won't be hard or take too long'. Well, blow me down! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' Cestris parts certainly did t' former. As I laid t' parts out, me bucko, my anticipation heightened. I couldn't wait t' get started. Avast! T' build itself be pretty straightforward. Begad! Instructions were easy t' follow. Blimey! Avast! There are some body tube wraps that need t' be cut out and attached. Ahoy! I was nay sure exactly what they're for, but I liked t' different look it gave t' t' rocket. Blimey! T' little problem I encountered be step #24. Begad! You must glue t' scramjet intake sides t' t' scramjet intake bottoms. Arrr! Ahoy! I think it was more myself than t' instructions, but make sure you have t' grain goin' in t' right direction or it won't come out correct. T' main rocket assembly was pretty basic. Begad!
Now on t' t' nose cone. My advice: take your time! I tried t' get this rocket built in a day and that was a mistake. T' nose comes in its own separate little kit complete with its own instructions. Well, blow me down! Again, I can't stress enough, take your time. Arrr! Begad! It's a bit tricky cuttin' t' 2 halves out so go slowly and carefully. Avast, me proud beauty! T' recommended adhesive was liquid plastic cement and tube type plastic cement. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This is what I used and it worked just fine. My only mistake was, as I was movin' pretty fast, matey, I didn't allow sufficient time for t' tube type cement t' dry and I used a bit too much (the instructions kind o' show how much t' use, but you could use much less and still achieve a good bond). Begad! Aye aye! As a result t' plastic softened so much so that it be mushy and when I went t' pick it up and handle it, ya bilge rat, matey, I deformed it. (This was at t' step where you glue t' tube into one half o' t' nose cone.) %#$*! It took a few sessions o' filling and sanding, matey, but it turned out OK. Begad! Remember, me hearties, matey, me bucko, take your time with nose cone.
Finishing:
Finishin' be again pretty much like any other rocket. Primer, shiver me timbers, sand, arrr, ya bilge rat, primer, sand, etc. Then paint. Begad! T' nose cone
painted up just fine. Just be careful what type o' paint you use as some paints may attack t' plastic. Begad! I really liked
the many different choices you had with t' decals. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! It really gives a person t' opportunity make t' kit your own and
yet still be different from everyone else's. Avast! T' kit looks fantastic when finished. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' recommended motor for t' fist flight is a D12-5. Avast! Blimey! Well by this time I had purchased a 24/40 casin' so I decided
to use an AT D15-4. (I just realized that this was nay one o' t' recommended motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Oops.) I loaded it up and taped
the motor in. When building, arrr, I did nay modify t' motor mount t' accept a reload case so I had t' just tape it in. It
worked just fine. Arrr! Blimey! 3, 2, me hearties, 1, arrr, shiver me timbers, lift-off. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Instantaneous ignition. T' rocket did a little loop-de-loop on t' way up,
otherwise it be a nice straight boost. Begad! Blimey! Parachute ejected at apogee and t' 18" mylar chute deployed fully,
bringin' it gently back t' earth. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I be very pleased.
Recovery:
Recovery was perfect. Blimey! Ahoy!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a fantastic kit t' build and fly and worth is every bit o' t' $27. Avast, me proud beauty! It was challengin' yet very enjoyable to
put together. Ahoy! Begad! T' only con might be that t' nose cone could present a problem with someone with less experience in
buildin' but nay enough t' take anythin' away from this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5