Custom Rockets Satellite Drone

Custom Rockets - Satellite Drone {Kit} (10022)

Contributed by Kevin Drayson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Length: 17.75 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 3
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

[Picture]Brief:
This kit is a single stage, "fantasy scale" rocket, arrr, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

Construction:
T' kit arrived with all t' necessary parts included, me hearties, matey, matey, and in good shape. Ya scallywag! T' balsa and t' tubes appear t' be identical t' Estes parts. Ahoy! Blimey! T' nose cone and centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, however, shiver me timbers, I found t' be sub-standard. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' centerin' rings were very thin and flimsy- I used them, matey, but reinforced them with bits o' Balsa t' strengthen them. Avast! Blimey! I'd be frightened t' fly this thin' without this mod! Blimey! T' nose cone appears t' be sone cheap plastic, nay t' higher-quality stuff I'm used t' from Estes, TLP, and other companies. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' parts all went together easily enough, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but t' rin' tail gave me some trouble. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! T' span o' t' fins be just a bit too short, matey, ya bilge rat, so I wound up havin' t' hold t' rin' in place while t' glue dried. T' rest o' t' kit was very straight-forward. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' finished product is a smart-lookin' ship. T' narrow fins that go on just ahead o' t' rin' are pretty fragile, me hearties, but t' rest is solid enough.

Finishing:
Paintin' t' kit is simple enough. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Prime, me bucko, spray t' whole ship white, shiver me timbers, and paint t' nose red. After that, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' decals go on. Begad! Blimey! I haven't put t' decals on mine just yet, I got distracted with some other projects, ya bilge rat, and t' rocket looks good enough without them! Blimey! Overall, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I'm givin' a ratin' o' 3 for construction/finishing. T' score would be much higher if t' centerin' rings, arrr, which I consider a safety issue, were made o' sturdier stuff. Begad! Blimey! T' poorly-fittin' ring/fin arrangement costs them as well.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I've had two flights on me Satellite Drone so far, matey, both very successful. T' first nearly ended up in a tree, but was recovered. Blimey! T' second resulted in a short hike, but be otherwise uneventful. Avast! Both flights were on C6-3's.

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that was included. Aye aye! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, shiver me timbers, even before t' first flight. It still drifts considerably. Ahoy! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, me bucko, me hearties, but I'm worried about breakin' those narrow forward fins.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' final product is a very nice looking, ya bilge rat, unique ship. Aye aye! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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