Custom Rockets Razor

Custom Rockets - Razor {Kit} (10017)

Contributed by Nick Esselman

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Diameter: 0.98 inches
Length: 14.50 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 1
Style: Ring/Tube/Cone Fin

A local hobby shop was goin' out o' business and I bought everythin' that was left for $100. I figured it t' be about $300 worth o' stuff. Blimey! In that, me hearties, 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 t' beginner and starter. Yes, me bucko, you build it, but it is nay necessary t' paint it as it comes with gloss yellow tubes and a black plastic nose cone. Ya scallywag! So I just built it t' way t' kit was originally intended.

See me Tube-Fin Rocket Comparison Page

T' Razor comes with a plastic nose cone, a single 9" body tube, six (6) 1 7/8" tube fins, an 18mm motor mount with a motor retainer clip, a short (12") piece o' elastic shock cord and a plastic 12" parachute. Ahoy! Begad! There are some water transfer decals for t' finishin' touch.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions for t' kit were thorough and allowed for any skill o' builder t' be successful in assembly o' t' Razor. They include diagrams t' ensure accuracy. Avast, me proud beauty! They also included finishin' (although that is only puttin' on t' decals) and flight instructions.

As mentioned, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I planned t' build this rocket smartly and with no plans t' paint it since t' body and fin tubes were already gloss yellow and t' nose cone was black. Blimey! I literally assembled this rocket in 5 minutes. Begad! Aye aye! All except t' shock cord and parachute. Blimey! I used Quick Grab glue on this model (additional comments about Quick Grab glue) for everythin' except gluin' t' 3-fold shock cord mount into place.

I decided nay t' use t' 12" piece o' elastic because I feel it is too short, shiver me timbers, so I added 18" o' 1/16" Keelhaul®©™® t' it. Ahoy! Blimey! I used t' Keelhaul®©™® in t' 3-fold method o' shock cord attachment. Avast! I also replaced t' parachute with a 18" x 3" plastic streamer just t' help in recovery. Ahoy! It is such a light rocket that I would rather see it drop faster.

Even though t' kit is designed so that you don't have t' paint, t' tube spirals are very evident. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' black water-transfer decals include tube stripes, me hearties, t' numbers 1 through 6 for each tube and t' word "Razor".

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. It's fast and easy, ya bilge rat, like a skill level one should be but also has too short o' a shock cord and this would have been a good candidate for a streamer (like Custom's Serval came with).

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Custom recommended t' followin' motors: 1/2A6-2, A8-3, shiver me timbers, B4-4, matey, B6-4, C6-5, and C6-7.

T' first day I could fly t' Razor be perfect! No wind and so I loaded it up with a C6-7 for its first flight. I had added a piece o' Rogue Perma-waddin' so preparation was easy. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! At ignition, ya bilge rat, this little guy be out o' here and it went very high, arrr, in fact I lost track until t' trackin' smoke. Arrr! It was clear that it be still goin' up upon ejection. T' streamer deployed and it was recovered close by.

T' next opportunity I had t' fly was also very nice, arrr, so I loaded up t' Apogee C10-7 and let her rip! Wow, arrr, zoom off t' pad and straight up, except for a little tight tail swing. Aye aye! It be way up thar and I could track t' position by t' nice amount o' trackin' smoke in t' C10. Begad! Begad! It arced over and ejected and then I heard t' ejection a split second later. Begad! T' streamer be folded/rolled and got caught in t' shock cord and t' rocket fell t' t' ground with no damage. However, ya bilge rat, t' poor Rogue Perma-waddin' just isn't cut out t' handle t' powerful Apogee motor ejection charges!

T' third flight, me bucko, in t' same day, was also on an Apogee motor, t' C4-5. This time I used some waddin' and t' remains o' t' Perma-wadding. Aye aye! Again, ignition and a straight flight (no wiggle this time) and you could hear t' extra time in t' burn. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! It was at apogee, me bucko, perfect, me bucko, ya bilge rat, arrr, when t' ejection charge fired. Avast, me proud beauty! I followed t' rocket down only t' find it missin' t' nose cone and steamer.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, I would rate this kit 4 points. It is definitely a fun flier after changin' t' shock cord and addin' a streamer. Blimey! You can fly it on 1/2A's, A's and B's, shiver me timbers, but I be takin' it t' its limits. Avast, me proud beauty! Make sure you have a calm day and a large field with C motors and have some fun!

Overall, t' Razor is good first rocket for someone lookin' for a Tube-Fin. Begad! It is fast t' assemble and gives nice flights. Make t' modifications though, because otherwise I fear you'll only be gettin' a couple o' flights on it before bangin' t' body tube, me hearties, breakin' t' shock cord or losin' it on a parachute. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Avast! Blimey!

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 Michael Doherty

    The Razor is a tube-finned, no-paint-necessary, easy to assemble rocket from Custom. It comes with a 12" parachute for recovery and will take a number of different engines, per the manufacturer. Since this was the first Custom kit I had built, I wasn't sure what to expect. Upon opening the kit, I was impressed with the packaging & parts. each 'section' of the rocket had its own packaged ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.
avatar
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.

comment Post a Comment