Brief:
T' Centuri Mercury Redstone is a highly detailed 1/35 scale model o' t' launch vehicle that launched America's first men into space. Arrr! It was classified as a "super-scale model" in t' famous Centuri Engineerin' Company's line o' fine scale models. Blimey! Ya scallywag! It had dual parachute recovery, a baffle ejection system that eliminates t' need for recovery wadding, matey, shiver me timbers, and a very detailed all plastic Mercury capsule with Launch Escape Tower.

I managed t' find this kit at some hobby shop in t' early 1980's and bought it before I left t' hobby in 1982 due t' a career change. Begad! It stayed in t' packagin' with hang tag for some 20+ years before I became a BAR in late 2003. Several years after that, I decided it be time t' pull this kit out o' its' long hibernation and build it for display and sport flying.

In addition t' t' instruction sheet, ya bilge rat, t' model also includes another instruction sheet specifically for the Mercury Capsule as well as a very nifty Mercury Redstone Historical Brochure that is sure t' be a collector's item. Blimey! Arrr!

Construction:
T' KS-1 Mercury Redstone kit came with t' followin' parts:

• 1 Engine Lock
• 1 Engine Tube
• 1 Thrust Ring
• 1 Notched Centerin' Ring
• 1 Sleeve Tube
• 1 Centerin' Ring
• 2 Main Body Tubes
• 2 Sets o' Fins, Die-Cut into Balsa
• 4 End Plates
• 1 1/8" x 2" x 1" Balsa Strip from which t' Air Rudders are cut
• 2 Launch Lugs
• 2 Launch Lug Standoffs
• 2 Pull-Away Lugs
• 2 Baffle Disks
• 1 Sleeve Tube for Baffle Disks
• 1 Elastic Shock Cord
• 1 Shock Cord Fastener
• 1 18" Plastic Parachute for Main Body Section

Mercury Capsule Kit (All Plastic Parts):

• 3 Ladders
• 1 Base
• 1 Antenna Housing
• 1 Escape Motor Bottom
• 3 Escape Motor Nozzles
• 1 Separation Motor
• 2 Escape Motor Halves
• 1 Antenna Housin' Top
• 3 Capsule Segments
• 1 Aerodynamic Spike
• 1 12" Plastic Parachute for Mercury Capsule

Also thar was a decal sheet included with t' kit, me hearties, but since t' quality o' these decals had gone bad from over the years they had been stored in t' kit's bag, matey, arrr, I ordered a fresh set o' Mercury Redstone decals from Tango Papa. Begad! Blimey!

Tools needed for construction are:

• X-Acto Knife
• Ruler
• Spray Paint
• Centuri Superbond or White Glue (just love it when t' kit's manufacturer recommends their brand o' glue!)
• Balsa Fillercoat or Sandin' Sealer
• Fine Sandpaper
• Pencil
• Paint Brush
• Scissors and
• Plastic Glue (for capsule only)

Construction was pretty easy and straightforward as t' degree o' difficulty be no where near t' level of, shiver me timbers, say, Estes' first Mercury Redstone kit (you know, ya bilge rat, t' one with t' intricate fin & tower assembly with balsa). Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' only deviation I made from t' kit and instructions is I used t' standard Estes tri-fold shockcord attachment as I've had a few bad experiences with t' Centuri adhesive stick-on shock cord mount in some o' me previous models (Centuri SkyLab is one). Ahoy!

T' all plastic Mercury Capsule went together very well. Blimey! Begad! Only deviation I made from t' instructions be I went ahead and glued t' aerodynamic spike on top o' t' escape motor (the instructions specified that it be removed for flight, ya bilge rat, in order t' "avoid t' danger o' its sharp tip."). Since I was goin' t' rig t' recovery system so the Mercury capsule with LES is near horizontal with t' LES at a slight upward angle, me bucko, I felt thar would be no such danger with t' aerodynamic spike in place.

Finishing:
T' paint pattern is clearly given in t' instructions along with t' decal placement. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! Before I attempted t' use the Tango Papa decals, matey, ya bilge rat, I tried a piece o' t' original decals that came with t' kit and t' decal surface quickly dissolved a few seconds after soakin' in t' water. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! T' Tango Papa decals gave t' model a very nice finish overall. For t' 1/8" line that goes around t' body tube just above t' fins, me bucko, me hearties, I used a very thin scribe pen. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Since this model was built in early 2006, arrr, I've been able t' fly it three times. Blimey! T' first flight took place at our Challenger 498 club launch at Rushin' Park near Katy, TX on 5/7/06. Begad! I used a C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! T' flight was good, arrr, although a bit wobbly durin' boost, matey, probably because t' model was marginally stable. Begad! At ejection, only t' 12" chute for the Mercury capsule deployed while t' 18" main chute never left t' inside o' t' body tube. Probably due t' very weak ejection charge o' t' C6-3 used.

On reachin' where t' main body section, me bucko, I discovered t' hard landin' caused one o' t' fin's air rudder to break off damaged.

It be more than a year before I attempted another flight for this model. This time, arrr, I'd use CA t' attach a nickle t' t' strut support at t' base o' t' Mercury capsule t' move t' CG forward a little more. Well, blow me down! This second launch took place at Rushin' Park again, with t' Challenger 498 NARRRRR Section hostin' t' Scout Troop 941 from Fulshear, TX. Again usin' a C6-3, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' Mercury Redstone had a very solid flight with much improved stability thanks t' t' added nose weight, and both parachutes deployed for a nice, shiver me timbers, safe landing.

T' most recent flight was down at Challenger's new launch site in Needville, TX on 6/14/08. Again usin' a C6-3, shiver me timbers, this was t' best flight o' t' three on record. T' C6-3 this time seem t' have a lot more power than I've seen a C6-3 perform previously, me bucko, arrr, as t' Mercury Redstone soared solidly t' a higher altitude than before. Begad! Although t' 18" mylar parachute I used for t' main body section got stuck together in some places, both sections returned undamaged and ready for another flight.

Recovery:
I'm givin' t' Centuri 1/35 scale Mercury Redstone a 5 ratin' for flight even though t' first flight as partially successful (failed chute deployment). Arrr! I attribute this t' a weak ejection charge o' t' C6-3, arrr, which isn't t' fault of Centuri. Ahoy! Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
All PROs and no CONs. Avast, me proud beauty! I would like t' see a model o' this quality back on t' market if at all possible. Avast! Glad I bought it before it went OOP.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5