Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 0.98 inches |
Length: | 14.50 inches |
Manufacturer: | Custom Rockets |
Skill Level: | 1 |
Style: | Ring/Tube/Cone Fin |
Brief:
T' Razor is a tube-finned, no-paint-necessary, arrr, arrr, easy t' assemble rocket from Custom. Avast! It comes with a 12" parachute for recovery and will take a number o' different engines, me hearties, per t' manufacturer.
Construction:
Since this was t' first Custom kit I had built, I wasn't sure what t' expect. Upon openin' t' kit, I was impressed with t' packagin' & parts. Aye aye! each 'section' o' t' rocket had its own packaged parts (motor mount/chute/tube fins) and all were high quality. Ahoy! T' nose cone had some flashin' which needed t' be trimmed and sanded. Avast! Blimey! T' engine hook was a bit thin, me hearties, me hearties, but worked out fine. Begad! Begad! T' shock cord be a thin piece o' elastic. Begad! Blimey! T' pre colored tubes looked quite good and sturdy, with no apparent defects.
Construction was straightforward with easy t' follow instructions. Begad! This was also t' first tube fin rocket I had ever built, arrr, even in me first incarnation as a rocketeer, arrr, me bucko, so it was new. T' kit went together easily without t' need for anythin' besides glue and a hobby knife. Begad! Ahoy! T' tube fins were a snap, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and I drizzled a bit o' thin CA betwixt t' tubes t' make them more stable. Begad! Blimey! This is nay in t' directions, me hearties, arrr, but I think it makes for a more stable kit. Avast! I also did a mod on t' shock cord, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, usin' a length o' Keelhaul®©™®. Arrr! I attached t' Keelhaul®©™® cord usin' t' supplied cord mount (which needs t' be bigger!). Aye aye! I then attached t' supplied shock cord t' a loop in t' end o' t' cord, me bucko, shiver me timbers, much like t' Quest kits. Avast! Arrr! T' elastic cord is then tied t' t' nose cone. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! One other mod I did was t' ditch t' supplied parachute and use a streamer instead. T' kit is so light, me hearties, it would drift forever on t' chute. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used a 2 1/2 foot piece o' Mylar for a streamer which be attached via a snap swivel. T' nose cone required a couple wraps o' tape around t' shoulder t' have a good fit. Arrr! Overall construction be easy and best o' all, ya bilge rat, fun.
Finishing:
Since this was a pre-colored kit, finishin' consisted o' puttin' on t' water-slide decals. These were quite thin, arrr, and one tore. Blimey! I wasn't overly impressed with them, ya bilge rat, but they looked OK.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Flyin' t' kit be fun. Nay knowin' what t' expect from a tube-fin kit, I went with t' A8-3 on first flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! It went decently high (it is a very light kit after all) and was recovered without incident. T' streamer worked nicely. Begad! Second flight was on a B6-4, me hearties, and boy does it rip off t' pad on this. Aye aye! Arrr! Very high, and almost tough t' see. Ahoy! Aye aye! Very little drift, and landed near t' pad. Well, blow me down! On a "C" engine, shiver me timbers, this thin' would go out o' sight. Wonder what would happen on an Aerotech "D"? :) PROS: Nice high flights on low powered motors CONS: tough t' track at higher altitudes
Recovery:
As stated above t' shock cord be modified with a length o' Keelhaul®©™. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I do this t' all me kits now and have nay had one incidence o' burn-through on ejection. Begad! Avast! Also, use a streamer. Ahoy! Given how high this can go on relatively low powered motors, it would drift off in even t' most light o' winds if t' supplied parachute is used.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Overall, this is a fun, easy t' assemble and fly kit. Begad! Its unique looks make it interesting, and its high flights are great.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Brief: Easy to build, nice performing tube fin rocket. It has parachute recovery and flies on 18mm motors. Construction: 1 - BT-509 yellow body tube 1 - PC-50 nose cone 6 - tube fins 1 - 12" parachute 6 - TD-6 tape disks for parachute 1 - SL-72 shroud line set 1 - EC-2 motor clip 1 - ET-20 2.75" motor tube 2 - CR-2050 centering rings ...
A local hobby shop was going out of business and I bought everything that was left for $100. I figured it to be about $300 worth of stuff. In that, I gained a Custom Razor and since I like tube-fin rockets I went ahead and built this one. This kit is designed as a Skill Level 1 for the beginner and starter. Yes, you build it, but it is not necessary to paint it as it comes with gloss yellow ...
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V.C. (September 1, 1999)