Photo Courtesy o' Dynastar            

Brief:
This is a single stage futuristic 24mm motor rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It uses Estes and Aerotech motors, rangin' from C11-3 t' F21-8.

Construction:
This kit came with excellent quality parts including:

• 1 BT-70 main body tube
• 1 NC-70 nose cone
• 1 sheet o' paper centerin' rings (BT70-24mm)
• 1 motor mount tube (24mmx4")
• 1 thrust ring
• 1 centerin' rin' for paper nozzle
• 1 paper nozzle
• 1 32" chute
• 1 Keelhaul®©™shock cord
• 1 3"x1/4 launch lug
• 3 aft fins
• 2 wings

This was a simple kit t' build, however thar was no thrust rin' included in me kit. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! This be no problem--I just made me own. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I modified mine with an Estes "E" motor hook for retention as well. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit uses no (mechanical) motor retention otherwise. Avast! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™shock cord is mounted t' t' thrust rin' with a small groove cut into it with a X-Acto knife. Well, blow me down! Finally, t' centerin' rings were glued on and set t' dry. Arrr! Blimey! This kit uses a paper template t' mark where t' fins go. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There are three main fins and two wings. T' three fins are one piece each and t' wings are two pieces each. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! I would have preferred havin' t' mount t' fins through t' wall, me hearties, but t' kit was designed for them t' be surface mounted. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! T' nosecone doesn't require anythin' special, just a piece o' tape around it for fit. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Finally, arrr, I slid t' motor mount inside t' body tube so that 5/8" o' t' motor tube stuck out t' back. Next, I glued t' launch lug under t' left wing. Aye aye! T' parachute went together easily. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It required cuttin' out, stickin' on o' tape rings, ya bilge rat, and shroud line cuttin' and attachment. Blimey! Blimey! T' final step was cuttin' out t' paper nozzle and gluin' it t' t' thick centerin' ring. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! This slides over t' back o' t' motor mount for a futuristic look.

I give this kit a 2 1/2 because o' t' missin' thrust rin' and it could use TTW fins. Begad! Also, ya bilge rat, a longer motor mount and smaller parachute would help a lot.

Finishing:
This rocket was simple t' finish. I primed it with Rustoleum and painted it white. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I then put Korean flags on t' wings (I do Tae Kwon Do) and painted t' fins red, me bucko, white, ya bilge rat, blue, ya bilge rat, and black. I used me airbrush t' do t' flags. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Once dry, I put on t' decals supplied with t' kit.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' Orion's first flight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I chose an E9-4. Arrr! This is a great motor for t' rocket and it boosted t' about 900 feet. However, arrr, it does nay fly straight even if you are precise with fin alignment. Begad! Aye aye! Ejection be a little early but t' 4 second delay will do. Aye aye! Ahoy! It flew t' same way again on its second flight on an E9-4.

Recovery:
Both times t' shroud lines stuck t' t' chute and it never unfolded. T' rocket never broke any fins on landin' however. Begad! An 18" chute would be more than sufficient t' do t' trick. Avast! Arrr! Save t' 32" chute in t' kit for somethin' worth that size.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay a great kit but it is nay truly horrible either. Begad! It seems kind o' mediocre and nay well thought out, matey, however, shiver me timbers, me bucko, it does look really cool when finished.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5