Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Qmodeling ![]() |
Brief:
T' MRS-Vega is part o' Q Modeling's Mega Retro Series. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' series comprises
upscale semi-clones o' some classic designs, arrr, that also includes t' Mars
Snooper, me hearties, NikeX & WACC. Well, blow me down! I say semi-clones, because t' kits have been
rescaled and designed from scratch usin' new parts and t' latest techniques.
T' Vega is described as an upscale o' t' original Estes Starship Vega, rather
than a clone o' t' larger, and later, ya bilge rat, Estes Super Vega, and builds t' an
impressive 820mm tall rocket. Ahoy!
I be supplied with this kit by Deepsky Rocket Shop, arrr, on t' proviso that I write a review for their spankin' new web site, ya bilge rat, an offer which I found far too good t' refuse. Blimey! Blimey! If you haven't checked out Deepsky's new web site yet, me hearties, I strongly suggest you do. Blimey! Blimey! It nay only has a large range o' kits and materials, but also tips, shiver me timbers, recommendations, customer reviews and a great online ordering system. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
Construction:
T' kit includes:-
Yes, me bucko, that's right, a spider. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It was dead when I opened t' bag, but had been very much alive when I first received t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I was quite relieved when I found it dead, me bucko, arrr, since I didn't know whether it had jumped aboard at Deepsky or Q Modeling, and I'm nay sure what kinds o' spiders they have in California!
Instruction ManualT' 18 page instruction manual for this kit is o' t' highest quality. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' build is broken down into major sections, arrr, arrr, Nose Cone Preparation, arrr, me bucko, Engine Mount Assembly & Installation, Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly, Final Assembly, matey, shiver me timbers, Makin' a D-Engine Spacer, me bucko, and Finishing. Each section has an estimated time for completion, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, though I can't comment on their accuracy, matey, as I was simultaneously workin' in had two or three kits. Ahoy!
Each major section is further broken down into a number o' steps. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! For each of these steps, thar be a detailed diagram and textual description. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I dare say that you could build exclusively from either t' pictures or text alone! Blimey! There is even a comprehensive pre-launch check list. Begad! Blimey! T' instruction manual is labelled Version 7, so it looks like Q Modelin' issue revisions from time to time. Begad! Blimey! T' t' latest version o' t' instructions is available for download, in Adobe Portable Document Format, from t' Q Modelin' web site, me bucko, arrr, so it's worth checkin' t' see if thar have been any updates, before you begin. Blimey! Blimey! Nose Cone Preparation
As previously mentioned, t' nose cones appear t' be cast from some kind of resin. There are a few mould lines but, arrr, bein' resin, arrr, they are very easy t' sand out. There is a little excess resin on t' shoulder o' t' cones, left over from t' casting. Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions suggest removin' this excess with a modeling knife or razor saw, ya bilge rat, but it's quite thick and I found it easier t' accomplish with a razor saw. Avast, me proud beauty!
Engine Mount Assembly & Installation
Initially I be puzzled by t' motor mount, me hearties, matey, as it seemed unnecessarily elaborate. Avast! It was only really when I came t' build it that I realized it was an innovative solution t' t' perennial problem o' fin alignment. T' result is an interlockin' construction formin' rigid slots into which t' fins may be inserted. T' rigidity and alignment o' these slots ensure perfectly-aligned fins every time. Blimey! A triumph o' design and laser cutting!
Landin' Gear / Primary Fin Assembly
For me, me hearties, this be t' most interestin' part o' t' build, t' spring-loaded feet are really cool. Begad! Given t' attention t' detail shown in t' rest o' the parts, it's strange that t' three landin' gear shafts are provided as a single piece that must be cut t'
length. Aye aye! I'm nay really complainin' though, it would feel odd t' build the whole kit and nay t' have t' cut somethin' out!
You have t' be a bit careful with t' assembly o' t' landin' gear. Begad! It's important that t' glue doesn't stray onto t' movin' parts, shiver me timbers, otherwise t' Vega would be in for some hard landings! As always though, t' instructions are very clear and straightforward, so no-one should have any trouble. Blimey!
There are only really two additions I would make t' t' instructions. Avast! Blimey! The first is t' suggest fillin' t' gaps around t' landin' gear nose cones with light weight filler, shiver me timbers, rather then t' suggested wood glue. Aye aye! Blimey! T' wood glue shrinks as it dries and doesn't really do a good job o' fillin' what is quite a deep gap. Ahoy! Blimey!
T' other suggestion I would make is t' paint the landin' gear shafts before assembly. T' reason bein' that t' additional thickness o' t' paint can interfere with t' movement. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! T' landin' gear on my kit be very free movin' before painting, but sticks a bit now that t' paint is on. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! I'll probably sand them down and repaint before flyin' again, but it's goin' t' be a fiddly job.
T' be fair, t' instructions do mention t' take care durin' paintin' and not t' gum up t' landin' legs, but it's hard t' apply paint and nay build up additional thickness.
Final AssemblyAs previously described, t' alignment of the main fins is due t' t' novel motor mount. Avast! You really can't go wrong. The other fins are surface mounted, arrr, but because o' t' thickness o' t' fins, this is easily accomplished. Avast! Arrr! T' instructions suggest mountin' them with CA and then addin' wood glue fillets, matey, and this worked very well.
Makin' a D-Engine SpacerA curious omission really. Avast, me proud beauty! It wouldn't have added much t' t' cost t' include this in t' kit. Begad! But, as suggested, shiver me timbers, it's easy enough t' make from a spent motor casing. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty!
Finishing
I used Halfords high-build primer on t' main fins. Ahoy! This helps t' fill the grain, and smooth out any imperfections in t' filler around t' landin' gear pods. Begad! Once dried and sanded I coated t' entire rocket with ordinary white primer t' create a consistent base coat. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A little more light sandin' and then two coats o' Halfords Diamond White was applied. Blimey! Ya scallywag!
T' provided water slide decals are very good. Ya scallywag! Really quite thin, arrr, shiver me timbers, but not thin enough t' be easily broken. They do have a slight tendency t' stretch though, matey, possibly die t' t' large size. Begad! So you need t' take care, shiver me timbers, particularly when applyin' t' large decals t' t' fins. Well, matey, blow me down! One o' t' decals is o' t' self adhesive kinds. I don't normally like self adhesive decals, as they are usually thick and curl up at t' edges. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This one is relatively thin, me bucko, however, ya bilge rat, and it's difficult t' see how else t' metallic finish could have been achieved. You do have t' be a bit careful though T' black pattern on mine has smudges in one area. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Nay quite sure what I might have had on me fingers t' achieve that!
A final coat o' Halfords lacquer was applied t' help seal t' decals and protect from t' inevitable finger and scuff marks. Begad!
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
FlightAs mentioned above, there is a pre launch check list included in t' instruction manual. Begad! Avast! Obviously most o' us won't need that, but it's a great introduction for any newcomers to the hobby. Once t' Vega had been painted, shiver me timbers, I test-flew it at t' WRS launch on 10th April 2004. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I had wanted t' wait until t' decals had been applied, matey, but I ran out o' time. Begad! T' weather conditions at t' launch were almost ideal for a first flight, as thar was very little in t' way o' wind, me hearties, just a gentle breeze. Well, blow me down!
T' recommended motors are Estes D12-3 and E9-4, but I see no reason why single use or RMS AP motors, with suitable delay, me bucko, could nay be substituted. Ahoy! For the first flight, I chose t' stick with Estes. Begad! T' boost be really straight, with deployment at apogee. Begad! T' descent was really quite gentle and stable. Ahoy! Aye aye! If it hadn't landed in a ploughed field, it might have stayed upright on its feet.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
ConclusionQ Modelin' can't be faulted for this kit. Well, blow me down! It's an excellent interpretation o' a classic design and builds into an impressive rocket. At £46.95, me hearties, me bucko, t' Vega can't be described as cheap, me hearties, but very few corners have been cut here. Blimey! T' combination o' top quality components, innovative design and comprehensive instruction manual, means that even a novice should have no trouble buildin' and flyin' this kit. Begad! Ahoy!
Overall Rating: 4½ out o' 5
Brief: Upscale of an Estes vintage exotic kit. Construction: 2 17" cardboard body tubes, 3 cardboard tubes for landing leg pods, steel springs for the shock-absorbing landing legs, high-quality, laser-cut balsa fins and motor mount "exoskeleton," reflective, heat-resistant coating inside 24 mm motor mount, steel engine retaining hook (long enough for a BP ...
Brief: This kit is a beautiful upscale and upgrade to the Estes classic Starship Vega. Magnificently engineered and loaded with top-quality components and features, this rocket would be a great addition to any BAR's fleet. From what I can tell, upgrades to the original design include nose cones on the wing pods/landing gear, a fully functional set of shock absorbers in the landing gear, ...
QModeling of Temecula, CA has put together a great looking upscale remake of the old Estes Vega rocket. The kit has always been one of the more interesting looking "retro" rockets put in to flight and QModeling has done a fine job with this kit. She is a single stage, single motor, parachute recovered (with real spring loaded landing pods as part of the fins) model made of paper tubes, ...
![]() |
![]() |
Date | Flyer | Rocket | Altitude |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
![]() |
Sponsored Ads
![]() |
![]() |
R.L. (September 11, 2003)