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, arrr, "fantasy scale" rocket, arrr, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

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

Finishing:
Paintin' t' kit is simple enough. Aye aye! Prime, spray t' whole Man-O-War white, and paint t' nose red. Blimey! After that, t' decals go on. Arrr! Begad! I haven't put t' decals on mine just yet, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I got distracted with some other projects, me hearties, and t' rocket looks good enough without them! Overall, me bucko, I'm givin' a ratin' o' 3 for construction/finishing. Ya scallywag! T' score would be much higher if t' centerin' rings, which I consider a safety issue, were made o' sturdier stuff. Well, blow me down! 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, both very successful. T' first nearly ended up in a tree, me bucko, but was recovered. T' second resulted in a short hike, but was otherwise uneventful. Both flights were on C6-3's.

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that was included. Blimey! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, even before t' first flight. Begad! Well, blow me down! It still drifts considerably. Well, arrr, blow me down! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, unique Man-O-War. Avast! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, shiver me timbers, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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