Sirius Rocketry S.S. Cestris

Sirius Rocketry - S.S. Cestris

Contributed by Tim Blohm

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Sirius Rocketry

Brief:
From t' Sirius website:

"Beginnin' in t' late 21st Century, matey, t' growin' commercialization o' space created a great demand for t' regular and reliable transportation o' cargo and passengers. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' Cestris class o' interplanetary transport vehicles were t' workhorses o' t' fleet, part o' an intermodal transport system that used ”Interplanetainer” modular containers t' move cargo, me bucko, ferry space tourists, matey, shiver me timbers, generate power, supply research bases and much more. T' Interplanetainers could be carried on train, matey, truck, me hearties, ship, matey, shiver me timbers, and space cargo transport. Ya scallywag! Some cargo containers could also be magnetically accelerated into space by launchers located on t' moon, where they would be picked up in orbit, shiver me timbers, me bucko, allowin' for longer-distance cargo missions. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Cestris class ships could carry two Interplanetainers each, and work hard t' supply t' demand created by humankind’s reach into t' solar system."
Sirius Rocketry Cestris Sirius Rocketry Cestris T' S.S. Ya scallywag! Begad! Cestris is a futuristic interplanetary transport vehicle. It is a single stage skill level 3 rocket with a very unique vacuformed nose cone. Arrr!

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1/8" diameter dowel 1-1/4" long
  • 1/8" dia. Blimey! Blimey! dowel 3" long (2)
  • 1/8" dia. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! dowel 3-1/4" long
  • Motor Mount tube BT-50 2-3/4" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x12" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x16" long
  • Main body tube BT-55 14" long
  • Intake body tubes BT-50 14" long (2)
  • Command Cone kit (Nose cone, me hearties, comes in it own little kit)[P/N # S-0102]
  • S.S.Cestris assembly manual
  • 18" dia. Begad! Blimey! Mylar chute kit
  • Fin pattern sheet (P/N S-0013-02)
  • Intake tube cuttin' and markin' guide (P/N S-0013-03)
  • Self Adhesive detail wrap sheets (P/N S-0013-01)
  • CR-5055 centerin' rings (2)
  • Thrust ring/ engine block
  • Engine hook 2-3/4" long
  • 3/16" launch lug 2" long
  • 1/4" wide elastic shock cord- 36" long
  • Keelhaul®©™® Cord 18" long
  • Decal sheet #1 (P/N S-0013-04)
  • Decal Sheet #2 (P/N S-0013-05)
  • Decal Sheet #3 (P/N S-0013-06)

As with any kit, t' parts layout can either build up t' excitement o' t' build or give one t' attitude of 'well, it won't be hard or take too long'. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! T' Cestris parts certainly did t' former. Avast! As I laid t' parts out, my anticipation heightened. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! I couldn't wait t' get started. T' build itself was pretty straightforward. Aye aye! Blimey! Instructions were easy t' follow. There are some body tube wraps that need t' be cut out and attached. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! I was nay sure exactly what they're for, shiver me timbers, but I liked t' different look it gave t' t' rocket. T' little problem I encountered was step #24. Arrr! Blimey! You must glue t' scramjet intake sides t' t' scramjet intake bottoms. Ahoy! Blimey! I think it was more myself than t' instructions, but make sure you have t' grain goin' in t' right direction or it won't come out correct. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' main rocket assembly was pretty basic. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey!

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Now on t' t' nose cone. Ahoy! My advice: take your time! I tried t' get this rocket built in a day and that was a mistake. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' nose comes in its own separate little kit complete with its own instructions. Again, I can't stress enough, ya bilge rat, take your time. It's a bit tricky cuttin' t' 2 halves out so go slowly and carefully. Aye aye! T' recommended adhesive was liquid plastic cement and tube type plastic cement. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This is what I used and it worked just fine. Begad! Begad! My only mistake was, arrr, as I be movin' pretty fast, I didn't allow sufficient time for t' tube type cement t' dry and I used a bit too much (the instructions kind o' show how much t' use, but you could use much less and still achieve a good bond). Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! As a result t' plastic softened so much so that it be mushy and when I went t' pick it up and handle it, ya bilge rat, I deformed it. (This was at t' step where you glue t' tube into one half o' t' nose cone.) %#$*! It took a few sessions o' filling and sanding, but it turned out OK. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Remember, take your time with nose cone.

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Finishing:
Finishin' was again pretty much like any other rocket. Ya scallywag! Primer, arrr, matey, sand, arrr, primer, sand, me hearties, etc. Aye aye! Then paint. Blimey! Ahoy! T' nose cone painted up just fine. Arrr! Just be careful what type o' paint you use as some paints may attack t' plastic. Begad! I really liked the many different choices you had with t' decals. Ahoy! It really gives a person t' opportunity make t' kit your own and yet still be different from everyone else's. Arrr! Arrr! T' kit looks fantastic when finished.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Sirius Rocketry Cestris

Flight:
T' recommended motor for t' fist flight is a D12-5. Begad! Blimey! Well by this time I had purchased a 24/40 casin' so I decided to use an AT D15-4. Aye aye! Avast! (I just realized that this be nay one o' t' recommended motors. Oops.) I loaded it up and taped the motor in. Ya scallywag! When building, me bucko, me bucko, I did nay modify t' motor mount t' accept a reload case so I had t' just tape it in. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! It worked just fine. Begad! 3, ya bilge rat, 2, matey, 1, arrr, matey, lift-off. Blimey! Instantaneous ignition. Avast! Avast! T' rocket did a little loop-de-loop on t' way up, otherwise it be a nice straight boost. Parachute ejected at apogee and t' 18" mylar chute deployed fully, bringin' it gently back t' earth. Avast, me proud beauty! I was very pleased.

Recovery:
Recovery was perfect. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fantastic kit t' build and fly and worth is every bit o' t' $27. Aye aye! It was challengin' yet very enjoyable to put together. Arrr! T' only con might be that t' nose cone could present a problem with someone with less experience in buildin' but nay enough t' take anythin' away from this kit. Begad! Ahoy!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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