I always try t' look for somethin' a little unique in rockets and that is what t' Deep Surface Probe by Rogue is. Arrr! Aye aye! Rogue says it this way, me bucko, ya bilge rat, "Modelled upon a real NASA planetary probe, t' Deep Surface Probe (DSP) is sure t' attract attention at your next launch! T' "real" probe is intended t' be dropped t' a planet from orbit, arrr, slammin' into t' planet's crust at hypersonic speeds, arrr, shiver me timbers, buryin' itself deep within t' planet t' obtain rock samples and geologic data. Well, blow me down! Avast! Our model is stabilized solely by a unique set o' cone fins. Avast! Avast! A plastic nose and cardstock fins simplify construction. Well, blow me down! Flight is dramatic, with t' engine exhaust bein' pulled along behind t' rocket as it ascends by t' aerodynamic flow around t' lips o' t' cones. This bird doesn't fly high, but it flies dramatically!"

So with that excitin' description, I expected t' really have somethin' unique and I wasn't disappointed (for t' flight part).

T' Deep Surface Probe (DSP) comes with a red plastic nose cone and clay nose weight. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! It also comes with 3 cardstock sheets (red, white, and black) t' make t' cone-fins. Aye aye! There are two body tubes (17" and 7") and a coupler t' put them together. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount with a motor retention clip, two 1/8" launch lugs, matey, a 49" Keelhaul®©™ shock tether and a 24" elastic shock cord, a piece o' Perma-Waddin' and a 12" nylon parachute. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Lastly t' kit included some water transfer decals.

CONSTRUCTION:

I have built a couple o' other Rogue kits (Hex Courier and t' two-stage Crossfire) and find that t' instructions are thorough and easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! They are in a logical order and include photos, me hearties, 3D renderings, me hearties, and/or illustrations t' assist in t' construction steps. Avast! Begad! T' DSP be no different containin' 6 pages o' instructions. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Many times people say, ya bilge rat, "if you have built one or two Estes kits, matey, this will be no problem", but for Rogue's case, you could start with a Rogue kit (but maybe nay this one!).

You get t' find out what you're up against on t' very first construction step, matey, "Construct Cone Stabilizers". This step be t' turnin' point with respect t' me excitement about t' DSP. Begad! First you must cut out t' stabilizers from t' cardstock and gently curl them usin' t' edge o' t' table. I didn't have any trouble with this. Begad! Blimey! My trouble started when gluin' them together, arrr, especially t' white one which is a slightly thicker cardstock. Maybe it be t' glue I used (Titebond) or maybe me curl was nay quite right, shiver me timbers, but by t' time I got t' seam t' stick I had glue finger marks and roughened paper and aesthetically a mess. Functionally t' white cone seemed fine. Begad! This discouraged me a little so at this moment I decided t' complete assembly but I wasn't goin' t' paint t' rocket.

T' bulk o' t' rocket assembly is straightforward. Begad! Blimey! T' motor mount assembles with t' motor hook and thrust rings bein' attached t' t' motor tube in a typlical fashion. Ahoy! Blimey! There is a little work in cuttin' a notch on t' centerin' rin' for t' motor hook. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Also, shiver me timbers, t' Keelhaul®©™ shock tether is attached t' t' motor hook and this is done while assemblin' t' motor mount.

T' two body tubes are connected t' make one 24" tube and t' launch lugs are attached t' t' bottom section o' t' body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! Rogue could have used a single 24" body tube, arrr, but this two-section approach actually facilities t' positionin' o' t' launch lugs and t' Cone Stabilizers. Ya scallywag! It also probably helps in packagin' and shipping.

T' nose cone is assembled by pressin' t' clay into t' nose and then usin' CA or plastic cement t' glue t' nose cone shoulder into place. Blimey! I used CA.

Then back t' those Cone Stabilizers. Avast, me proud beauty! T' biggest (white) one is attached first. Ya scallywag! It is aligned around t' upper launch lug and even with t' body tube seam. Avast! Then you are instructed t' reverse t' direction o' t' black one and glue it up into and against t' white one. Blimey! T' fit depends on two things, t' accuracy o' your cuttin' along t' lines and whether you got t' cones symmetrical. Mine sealed okay but I used a lot o' glue t' do it, especially at t' cone seams. Last, shiver me timbers, you attach t' red stabilizer t' t' black stabilizer, again relyin' on cut and symmetricalness.

Lastly t' recovery system is assembled. Ahoy! Blimey! This includes a nice piece o' Perma-Wadding™ and a 12" nylon parachute. Avast! Blimey! These are attached t' t' Keelhaul®©™® tether and shock cord and then t' rocket ready t' be finished.

T' instructions describe finishin' and recommend that you do nay paint t' stabilizers warnin' that it could cause t' rocket t' become unstable. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! There is an insert titled "Tips for Usin' Decals" included with t' decals. Begad! Avast! As I stated earlier though, shiver me timbers, I decided nay t' paint it after all t' frustration I had over t' stabilizer cones.

Overall, shiver me timbers, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. I feel that t' cones are t' biggest challenge which should push t' skill level from Rogue's "2" t' a "3". I also feel that thar must t' be a better way t' instruct and glue t' cones together t' begin with. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' instructions are very well done and t' components all fit excellently.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Rogue recommends a B6-2 and a C6-3. Aye aye! I have flown t' DSP three times with t' first flight on t' B6-2 and t' next two on t' C6-3. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! This is where I must say t' frustratin' build pays off. Arrr! Arrr! This be neat. Arrr! Begad! Why? Well, arrr, a couple o' reasons.

First, matey, me DSP weighed in at 3 ounces. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! A standard 3FNC rocket with t' same length, me bucko, diameter and CP that also weighs 3 ounces would have an optimum delay for a B6 o' 3.3 second and for a C6 a delay o' 5.3 seconds. Blimey! Blimey! This shows you t' impact o' t' cone stabilizers, ya bilge rat, their drag brin' this rocket t' a standstill a lot faster, matey, matey, nearly twice as fast. This is observable in t' flight. Ya scallywag! You see t' motor thrust stop, and and t' rocket doesn't coast . Begad! . Ya scallywag! . Ya scallywag! it stops. This can actually be a problem as you will see from me 3rd flight.

Second, me bucko, those same cone stabilizers create a vacuum effect that pulls a cloud o' smoke behind t' rocket durin' thrust. Arrr! You have t' see it t' fully enjoy it. Aye aye! Just after me first flight, I felt that this is what makes this rocket worth t' price . Aye aye! . Well, blow me down! Well, matey, blow me down! . Begad! truly unique.

So me three flights allowed me t' enjoy three different perspectives. T' 1st flight on t' B6 be picture perfect and made me anticipate more. Ahoy! On t' 2nd flight with t' C6, it be essentially t' same but with greater altitude (still less than 400 feet), ya bilge rat, but this time once it slow and tipped horizontal t' ejection charge went, ya bilge rat, matey, matey, but t' 'chute did nay come all t' way out. Ahoy! It fell and hit t' ground, undamaged. Avast! T' 3rd flight be also on a C6. Avast, me proud beauty! This time after another straight flight I noticed that as soon as t' thrust stopped t' nose cone slid off o' t' top. With t' weight in t' nose cone and t' quick-stop action t' cone stabilizers induce, t' momentum o' t' nose cone be faster than t' "fit" could contain. Ahoy! Ahoy! I will need t' add a little more tape t' t' shoulder t' prevent this from happenin' again.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. Impressive, unique flights that make t' cone stabilizers assembly hassles worth it. Blimey! Begad! In fact, arrr, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' flight characteristics also demonstrate that even when you make t' mistakes I did that t' rocket still flies stable. This robustness is good in a kit.

Overall, t' Deep Surface Probe is a challenge t' an experienced builder (more than a Skill Level 2 in me opinion). Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' cone stabilizers are t' greatest challenge. T' rockets features are solid, motor retention, me hearties, Perma-Wadding™, arrr, and nylon parachute are all a cut above most other kits. Begad! Flights gives you somethin' t' talk about. Blimey! I'm now goin' t' look for t' smokiest 18mm motor out thar t' enhance t' effect o' t' cones. Ahoy! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Anyone have any idea? Oh, arrr, yes, and I just might clean up t' stabilizers and paint it too! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points.