Photo Courtesy o' Dynastar            

Brief:
This is a single stage futuristic 24mm motor rocket. Well, blow me down! It uses Estes and Aerotech motors, rangin' from C11-3 t' F21-8.

Construction:
This kit came with excellent quality parts including:

• 1 BT-70 main body tube
• 1 NC-70 nose cone
• 1 sheet o' paper centerin' rings (BT70-24mm)
• 1 motor mount tube (24mmx4")
• 1 thrust ring
• 1 centerin' rin' for paper nozzle
• 1 paper nozzle
• 1 32" chute
• 1 Keelhaul®©™shock cord
• 1 3"x1/4 launch lug
• 3 aft fins
• 2 wings

This be a simple kit t' build, shiver me timbers, however thar be no thrust rin' included in me kit. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This be no problem--I just made me own. I modified mine with an Estes "E" motor hook for retention as well. Aye aye! Begad! This kit uses no (mechanical) motor retention otherwise. T' Keelhaul®©™shock cord is mounted t' t' thrust rin' with a small groove cut into it with a X-Acto knife. Finally, t' centerin' rings were glued on and set t' dry. Ya scallywag! This kit uses a paper template t' mark where t' fins go. There are three main fins and two wings. T' three fins are one piece each and t' wings are two pieces each. Begad! I would have preferred havin' t' mount t' fins through t' wall, but t' kit was designed for them t' be surface mounted. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' nosecone doesn't require anythin' special, just a piece o' tape around it for fit. Finally, I slid t' motor mount inside t' body tube so that 5/8" o' t' motor tube stuck out t' back. Begad! Next, I glued t' launch lug under t' left wing. Ahoy! Begad! T' parachute went together easily. It required cuttin' out, stickin' on o' tape rings, and shroud line cuttin' and attachment. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' final step be cuttin' out t' paper nozzle and gluin' it t' t' thick centerin' ring. Avast, me proud beauty! This slides over t' back o' t' motor mount for a futuristic look.

I give this kit a 2 1/2 because o' t' missin' thrust rin' and it could use TTW fins. Begad! Blimey! Also, a longer motor mount and smaller parachute would help a lot.

Finishing:
This rocket be simple t' finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I primed it with Rustoleum and painted it white. I then put Korean flags on t' wings (I do Tae Kwon Do) and painted t' fins red, white, ya bilge rat, blue, and black. Begad! I used me airbrush t' do t' flags. Once dry, I put on t' decals supplied with t' kit.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' Orion's first flight, ya bilge rat, I chose an E9-4. Avast! This is a great motor for t' rocket and it boosted t' about 900 feet. However, shiver me timbers, it does nay fly straight even if you are precise with fin alignment. Begad! Blimey! Ejection be a little early but t' 4 second delay will do. Begad! Avast! Blimey! It flew t' same way again on its second flight on an E9-4.

Recovery:
Both times t' shroud lines stuck t' t' chute and it never unfolded. Well, matey, blow me down! T' rocket never broke any fins on landin' however. Ya scallywag! An 18" chute would be more than sufficient t' do t' trick. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Save t' 32" chute in t' kit for somethin' worth that size.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay a great kit but it is nay truly horrible either. It seems kind o' mediocre and nay well thought out, arrr, however, ya bilge rat, it does look really cool when finished.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5