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, me bucko, ya bilge rat, "fantasy scale" rocket, me hearties, me bucko, me bucko, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

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