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

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

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

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that be included. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, arrr, even before t' first flight. It still drifts considerably. Blimey! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, arrr, 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 Man-O-War. Arrr! 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

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