Brief:
Retro lookin' budget kit for 18mm motors.

Construction:
T' cover art doesn't do justice t' this kit, it looks a lot better in t' flesh than t' cream example used in t' photograph. Apart from finishing, and laminatin' t' fins with printer paper, t' kit was built as per t' instructions. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! All parts were present.

T' instructions weren't a surprise t' me as I have built a number o' Starlight kits, but if you are used t' Estes and Quest instructions, arrr, get ready for a shock. Ahoy! Instructions are typewritten and illustrations are hand drawn. This isn't so bad, but when measurements are hand written, and t' instructions have measurements like t' 2 !/2" [sic] example above, newer modelers may find themselves confused. However, shiver me timbers, arrr, this is nothin' that a few hours with a computer and a good proofread wouldn't fix.

On with construction. My BT-20 (called a BT-7 in t' instructions) was unevenly cut, so I re-cut t' ends first. Well, blow me down! T' motor hook provided is made from music wire, and despite bein' glued and taped t' t' motor mount, matey, t' wire simply rotates around its long axis allowin' t' motor t' be kicked on ejection (more on that later). Both body tubes are good quality, with fine spirals.

Three centerin' rings hold t' BT-20 in t' larger, shorter, me hearties, BT-60 (called a BT-16). Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! This gives t' Asteroid Probe its great 'Hot Dog' looks. Ahoy! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Top and bottom centerin' rings sit flush with t' ends o' t' larger body tube.

T' balsa used in t' fins and nose cone is fairly soft. Well, blow me down! I decided t' bevel t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins and laminate them with PVA (white glue) and printer paper. Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone required a lot o' filling.

Fin attachment is easy. Aye aye! T' body tube is pre-marked with blue lines for fins and a red line for t' cardboard launch lug. I used gel CA for initial attachment o' t' fins, then filleted with 5 minute epoxy.

T' shock cord is a good length o' round elastic anchored with a Stine style paper mount. Well, blow me down! A good quality 30cm (12 inch) mylar parachute kit is included with t' Asteroid Probe.

Finishing:
Finishin' was simple. Ahoy! I sprayed t' rocket with 3 coats o' Plasti-Kote Super Primer and 3 coats o' white enamel. Avast! Red for t' nose cone and front centerin' ring, blue for t' rear. Avast, me proud beauty! Stripes on t' fins were done with Tamiya paint pens.

One sheet o' decals are provided. Arrr! Red text that says 'Asteroid Probe' in an MICR style font, matey, ya bilge rat, a gold band, shiver me timbers, matey, and a couple o' small arrows. Arrr! Avast! I decided nay t' use them on this build. Instead I made a wrap o' adhesive art paper on which I printed a shark's mouth, matey, some eyes, me hearties, and other gubbins.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
I flew me Asteroid Probe a total o' 8 times. Begad! Boost was always very straight with a minimum o' weathercocking. T' motor was always taped in as t' music wire motor hook simply rotated out o' any position where it could have been any use in holdin' t' motor. Aye aye! B6-4s and C6-5s give excellent flights.

T' mylar parachute is a tight fit in t' BT-20 body tube. Avast! A liberal dustin' with talc immediately before packin' gave a good deployment every time.

On 6 flights t' Probe detached a fin on landing, arrr, and strangely it be always at t' fin root. Blimey! Blimey! There was never a snapped fin. One flight yielded no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! T' final flight was a ballistic lawn dart on a C6-5 which tore t' shock cord mount out o' t' inner body tube. I'll miss t' flights, but nay t' landings.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay me first experience with Starlight's budget range o' kits, havin' previously built a Queeze-Bee, me hearties, Hyperon, ya bilge rat, matey, and Sparrow. Well, blow me down! Arrr! There are a couple o' their other kits waitin' in t' build queue. Begad! Starlight's kits are a mix o' good and nay so good, and t' designs are quite neat, but t' translation into kits leaves a bit t' be desired. Begad! This had t' potential t' be a fantastic kit, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but as they say, t' devil is in t' detail.

PROs: Unusual styling. Well, blow me down! Begad! Pre-marked body tube. Well, blow me down! Low price.

CONs: Instructions. Avast! Motor hook. Fins are easily damaged.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5