Photo Courtesy o' Dynastar            

Brief:
This is a single stage futuristic 24mm motor rocket. Ya scallywag! 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 be a simple kit t' build, shiver me timbers, however thar was no thrust rin' included in me kit. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This was no problem--I just made me own. I modified mine with an Estes "E" motor hook for retention as well. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This kit uses no (mechanical) motor retention otherwise. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™shock cord is mounted t' t' thrust rin' with a small groove cut into it with a X-Acto knife. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Finally, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' centerin' rings were glued on and set t' dry. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This kit uses a paper template t' mark where t' fins go. There are three main fins and two wings. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' three fins are one piece each and t' wings are two pieces each. I would have preferred havin' t' mount t' fins through t' wall, but t' kit was designed for them t' be surface mounted. Begad! Blimey! T' nosecone doesn't require anythin' special, just a piece o' tape around it for fit. Finally, shiver me timbers, I slid t' motor mount inside t' body tube so that 5/8" o' t' motor tube stuck out t' back. Next, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I glued t' launch lug under t' left wing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' parachute went together easily. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It required cuttin' out, shiver me timbers, stickin' on o' tape rings, me bucko, and shroud line cuttin' and attachment. T' final step was cuttin' out t' paper nozzle and gluin' it t' t' thick centerin' ring. 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. Aye aye! Arrr! Also, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, a longer motor mount and smaller parachute would help a lot.

Finishing:
This rocket was simple t' finish. Begad! Ya scallywag! I primed it with Rustoleum and painted it white. Aye aye! I then put Korean flags on t' wings (I do Tae Kwon Do) and painted t' fins red, white, blue, matey, and black. Well, blow me down! I used me airbrush t' do t' flags. Arrr! Once dry, arrr, arrr, I put on t' decals supplied with t' kit.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' Orion's first flight, matey, ya bilge rat, I chose an E9-4. Arrr! This is a great motor for t' rocket and it boosted t' about 900 feet. Well, blow me down! However, ya bilge rat, it does nay fly straight even if you are precise with fin alignment. Ejection was 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. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket never broke any fins on landin' however. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! An 18" chute would be more than sufficient t' do t' trick. Well, blow me down! 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, matey, however, me hearties, it does look really cool when finished.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5