Brief:
A nice size payload LPR with an inventive stair step tube fin configuration. Recovery is by 12" mylar parachute. Arrr! Starlight kits are nay categorized by skill level, but I would consider this a skill level 1 kit.

Construction:
T' kit contains:

• 1 12"x 1" body tube
• 4 4"x 1" body tube
• 2 2"x 1" body tube
• 1 0.976" engine mount tube
• 1 balsa nose cone
• 1 balsa tube coupler
• 1 engine block rin'
• 2 engine mount rings
• 1 launch lug
• 1 shock cord mount
• 24" shock cord
• 1 engine hook
• 1 screw eye
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 12" mylar parachute sheet
• 1 length o' shroud line
• 1 sheet o' tape discs

T' Starlight Saber's build and flight instructions are printed on 3 panels o' 8.5" x 11" paper with very basic illustrations. Ya scallywag! T' display card indicates that the body tube is pre-marked t' ease fin alignment. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This is correct on other Starlight kits with balsa fins but is nay true on t' Saber. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Havin' some previous build experience, this did nay throw me, shiver me timbers, but it may confuse some. Well, blow me down! It is t' display card however and should reflect t' features o' t' kit accurately. Aye aye! T' build is very straightforward however, me hearties, and if t' builder has any experience with tube rockets and works on a flat surface, he or she will have no problem assemblin' this kit.

First t' motor mount is assembled in t' standard fashion with a 1/16" diameter wire engine hook, thrust ring, me hearties, and centerin' rings installed, glued, and set aside to dry. Ahoy! Blimey! Next, t' payload section is assembled terminatin' its aft end with a balsa block and screw eye glued in place. Well, blow me down! T' tube fin assemblies begin with two sets o' 4" x 1" tubes bein' glued together and set aside t' dry. On a flat work table, t' tubes are easy t' align, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, however, me hearties, matey, me four 4" tubes showed a variance in length by about 1/16" o' an inch. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It didn't really bother me but some may choose t' sand t' ends uniform. Avast! T' 2 partial tube assemblies are set aside t' dry and t' dry motor mount assembly is now installed in t' primary body tube. T' cardboard centerin' rings needed a significant amount o' sandin' t' accomplish installation without damagin' the primary tube. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This may have been due t' swellin' from natural humidity changes. T' 2" long tubes are now glued t' t' 4" long tube assemblies with 1/2" o' overhang. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! Once t' 2 completed tube fin assemblies are dry, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, they are glued t' opposite sides o' t' body tube with a 1/2" o' overhang and the engine hook centered betwixt them.

T' launch lug is then attached t' t' upper side o' one o' t' 4" fins, which places it t' t' outside o' t' rocket's structure as opposed to centered on t' primary tube. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' round elastic shock cord is attached inside the body tube with a Harry Stine-style three hole shock lock mount. Begad! T' mylar parachute is assembled stock with tape discs. Aye aye! Blimey! I chose t' thread and tie the shroud lines through t' mylar which I reinforced on both surfaces with notebook reinforcements.

Finishing:
T' nose cone be t' only component which requires sandin' sealer (2-3 coats) as t' fins are all tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' spirals were tight enough t' me satisfaction to not require sealer. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions say t' paint t' Saber silver if you want to match t' rocket on t' cover, arrr, while t' display card looks like silver fadin' t' deep blue. I chose t' paint t' Saber silver, copper, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and black to accentuate its stair step design. Ya scallywag! T' decals consist o' two name decals printed on adhesive paper. Begad! When applied, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' backin' paper is nay transparent and looks blocky over t' paint. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I felt that their appearance degraded t' elegant shape rather than enhancin' t' look o' t' overall model so I chose t' leave them off. Avast! Two coats o' acrylic gloss and t' Saber looks nice.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Saber is prepped like most LPR rockets with 3-4 sheets o' recovery wadding. Recommended motors are A8-3, arrr, arrr, B6-4 and C6-5. T' motor hook is 1/16 inch round piano wire and it holds t' motor secure just fine. Blimey! Aye aye! As mentioned in t' build, the launch lug is mounted 1 1/4" t' t' outside o' t' center o' the primary body tube on a fin. Ahoy! In me opinion thar be no reason t' nay mount the launch lug centered on t' primary tube. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Flights on A, B, and C motors all had a significant, me bucko, although nay dangerous, arc and caused t' launch rod t' whip moderately. Well, blow me down! Given t' large surface area o' t' tube fins, t' gentle wind may have been responsible for some o' t' arc so I wouldn't recommend launchin' the Saber in moderate t' heavy winds. Begad! Blimey! I feel it's more likely t' offset o' the launch lug which be t' cause o' t' arced flights and rod whip. Begad! Ahoy! On t' C6-5, the Saber had it's smoothest, straightest flight and reached an altitude of about 250-300 feet. Ahoy! Aye aye! I suspect t' surface area and drag o' t' 6 fin tubes is what keeps this rocket lower in altitude. Blimey! I may move t' launch lug t' the center and report back. I think this would improve stability on takeoff thereby also increasin' altitude.

Recovery:
T' mylar parachute is attached by a Harry Stine style shock lock mount. Avast! The 12" parachute slowed t' descent o' t' Saber appropriately without the model driftin' too far in a gentle wind. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Blimey! After three flights t' recovery system showed no sign o' damage or wear. Begad! T' combination o' t' mylar parachute and t' tube fins make t' Saber a great rocket t' fly in colder temperatures. Mylar parachutes open more reliably in temperatures below 40 degrees F and the tube fins are durable when landin' on frozen ground.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is an easy t' build rocket right out o' '50s sci-fi. Arrr! T' instructions and materials are average but at a retail price o' around $8.00, me bucko, arrr, me hearties, I consider the Saber t' be a good value. Avast, me proud beauty! T' end product is tall and sleek and flies reasonably well. If you fly in small t' medium fields, me bucko, ya bilge rat, you may appreciate the lower altitude fully visible flights that t' Saber offers. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5