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

Construction:
T' kit arrived with all t' necessary parts included, matey, and in good shape. Begad! Begad! T' balsa and t' tubes appear t' be identical t' Estes parts. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' nose cone and centerin' rings, however, ya bilge rat, I found t' be sub-standard. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, nay t' higher-quality stuff I'm used t' from Estes, TLP, and other companies. T' parts all went together easily enough, shiver me timbers, but t' rin' tail gave me some trouble. T' span o' t' fins be just a bit too short, so I wound up havin' t' hold t' rin' in place while t' glue dried. Arrr! T' rest o' t' kit be very straight-forward. Arrr! Aye aye! T' finished product is a smart-lookin' Man-O-War. T' narrow fins that go on just ahead o' t' rin' are pretty fragile, me bucko, me bucko, but t' rest is solid enough.

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

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that was included. Aye aye! Blimey! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, matey, even before t' first flight. It still drifts considerably. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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, arrr, me bucko, unique Man-O-War. Arrr! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, ya bilge rat, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

comment Post a Comment