Custom Rockets Razor

Custom Rockets - Razor {Kit} (10017)

Contributed by Michael Doherty

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

 

Other Reviews
  • Custom Rockets Razor By Duane Boldt (August 26, 2010)

    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 ...

  • Custom Rockets Razor By Nick Esselman

    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 ...

Flights

Comments:

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V.C. (September 1, 1999)
It really is a terrific performer. Try it on a B6-6 or a C6-7 and watch it go. The tube fins make it amazingly stable, and since the kit is quite light (no wooden fins) it goes like crazy. Watch out, though: it will be tough to track on a C6-7.
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D.S. (April 1, 2000)
I'm now on my third Razor. The first one floated away and I bought 2 more to replace it! I love this bird, it's unusual looking and a great performer. It's very tough, stable and simple to build. Every rocketeer should own one of these unique little rockets.
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J.A. (June 1, 2000)
The Custom Razor is my favorite small rocket in my fleet. I usually launch it first as it always flies straight and true and makes an excellent wind tester. I switched the parachute included in the kit for a large "police line - do not cross" streamer. It'll get way up there and drift quite a ways with a c engine on a parachute.
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J.B. (January 1, 2001)
The Custom Razor was a true pleasure to fly. My 5 year old son built most of the rocket with my help, its easy for young ones because there are no fins to align. We flew it today for the first time. WOW what a nice performer, I recommend this rocket to anyone looking for a nice low altitude rocket for kids. We launched it twice on a Estes A8-3 and she went up straight as an arrow and came down on its 12" chute with only a slight drift. I snatched it from the air on its first flight and my 7 year old daughter did on the second.
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unknown (August 1, 2001)
The Razor is a winner. The kit builds up quickly (I used yellow glue with CA drops as "tackers"). Flight performance is excellent with minimal weathercocking. Great performance on an A8-3. I haven't got the nerve to a C motor yet and when I do it'll be on a streamer-this lil' doggie moves high.
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D.B.Jr (January 24, 2002)
What a nice little kit! This was also the first Custom kit that I've built and since the quality was as good as all the Estes kits I've built, it probably won't be the last. I also replaced the parachute with a streamer. I did find the motor clip a little cheesy but even after five flights, the rocket has not spit any motor casings. I've only flown mine on A8-3's and just recently the newly released A8-5 for a nice flight. Next up is a B6-4 or B6-6. Then maybe a C6-7 when I get really brave. I would highly recommend this kit to anyone.
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H.E. (May 16, 2002)
This was one of my sons first rockets ,It was simple to build and has gone through a lot, More than worth the money for the amount of times he has flown it. When he first got it he replaced the chute with a streamer. The only problem that I have with this rocket is after he flew it once on a Aerotech D21 he won't use the Estes motors for it anymore, So now cost more per flight. After I don't know how many flights it does look like it has gone through the war, He says it is now retired but he still takes it when we go to the launchs, I am sure he will fly it a few more times.
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G.A.D. (June 25, 2002)
As the review says, this is a great kid's rocket. You should also believe the reviewers and stick to A and B impulse motors, as this bird really zips. Ditch the parachute for a streamer, and don't make it too long. This is a light rocket and you won't snap a fin on landing. It's cheap and we fly it a lot.
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S.K. (June 5, 2004)
2004 update. Just built with my 8 year old daughter, who has previously built a Mosquito and some E2Xs. Razor now comes with stickers, instead of decals, and parachute has "through the sticker" attachments. Directions were clear enough that she could build the rocket herself. Only potential sticky points were getting the motor mount in (before "glue lock" occurred), cutting the parachute shroud line into 3 equal pieces, and lining up the striped sticker. Enough new things to let her skills grow, but nothing with the potential to ruin the fun. Outstanding rocket for an early builder with instructions readable by a 2nd grader. Really has given her a great sense of accomplishment. Would have gone with a longer shock cord and streamer, but wanted her to experience building the kit as designed.

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