Photo Courtesy o' Dynastar            

Brief:
This is a single stage futuristic 24mm motor rocket. Ahoy! It uses Estes and Aerotech motors, me bucko, 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 be a simple kit t' build, shiver me timbers, matey, however thar was no thrust rin' included in me kit. Blimey! This be no problem--I just made me own. I modified mine with an Estes "E" motor hook for retention as well. Begad! Arrr! This kit uses no (mechanical) motor retention otherwise. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Keelhaul®©™shock cord is mounted t' t' thrust rin' with a small groove cut into it with a X-Acto knife. Ya scallywag! Finally, t' centerin' rings were glued on and set t' dry. Arrr! This kit uses a paper template t' mark where t' fins go. There are three main fins and two wings. Aye aye! T' three fins are one piece each and t' wings are two pieces each. Avast! Well, blow me down! I would have preferred havin' t' mount t' fins through t' wall, shiver me timbers, but t' kit be designed for them t' be surface mounted. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' nosecone doesn't require anythin' special, just a piece o' tape around it for fit. Well, blow me down! Finally, me hearties, me bucko, 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. Blimey! T' parachute went together easily. Begad! Begad! It required cuttin' out, me bucko, stickin' on o' tape rings, shiver me timbers, and shroud line cuttin' and attachment. Ya scallywag! T' final step was cuttin' out t' paper nozzle and gluin' it t' t' thick centerin' ring. 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. Avast! Also, a longer motor mount and smaller parachute would help a lot.

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

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' Orion's first flight, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I chose an E9-4. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This is a great motor for t' rocket and it boosted t' about 900 feet. Aye aye! However, it does nay fly straight even if you are precise with fin alignment. Ahoy! Ejection be a little early but t' 4 second delay will do. 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. Arrr! Begad! T' rocket never broke any fins on landin' however. Begad! An 18" chute would be more than sufficient t' do t' trick. Blimey! 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. It seems kind o' mediocre and nay well thought out, shiver me timbers, arrr, however, shiver me timbers, it does look really cool when finished.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5