Custom Rockets Galileo Probe

Custom Rockets - Galileo Probe {Kit}

Contributed by Lance Souther

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets

Brief:
Single stage futuristic rocket.

Rocket PicConstruction:
This rocket comes with one short body tube that is just slightly longer than an 18mm engine. Arrr! It primarily uses 1/8" diameter wooden dowels for fins. I say this due t' t' fact that you use small balsa pieces for t' dowels t' lay down on. Ya scallywag! They would be t' small t' act as fins however. Blimey! T' rocket comes with a balsa nose cone.

This is a fairly easy build. Well, blow me down! Avast! Due t' t' smallness o' it cuttin' t' balsa pieces that t' dowels lay on, arrr, it can be a bit tricky. Ya scallywag! If you take your time you will be fine. Well, blow me down! T' hardest part about this rocket is that you have a cardboard rin' that goes on t' outside o' t' body tube, ya bilge rat, arrr, which lines up with t' bottom. Ahoy! Ahoy! This is so you can roll it around t' main body, shiver me timbers, me hearties, which is a paper shroud around t' body t' get t' symmetrical shape. I must have held t' shroud together for nearly an hour t' ensure I had t' proper fit (make sure thar be a good TV show on), matey, as I wanted t' ensure it didn't bind up. Avast! I used Elmer's but should had used carpenters glue as I wouldn't o' had t' hold it as long. It came out lookin' fine though. Ya scallywag! Instructions are pretty straightforward. Begad! You also have t' drill a 1/4 inch hole near t' top o' t' body tube t' allow t' ejection gases t' release. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! If thar was a "gotcha", ya bilge rat, this is it. Avast! Make sure t' nose cone is nay goin' t' cover t' hole. Avast! Mine did and I had t' remove t' cone and cut some o' t' excess off. Ya scallywag! I would had liked more illustrations in t' instructions too.

Finishing:
Since it is such a small rocket, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, matey, it is easy t' paint. Ahoy! I decided t' paint mine mostly yellow as I wanted a brighter color t' make it easier t' find. It came out lookin' rather well. T' decals are small and due t' this are hard t' place, me hearties, matey, matey, but if you have put on several decals on other rockets, matey, then you should be fine.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Only recommended motor I had was t' A8-3. Begad! I prepped it and put t' motor t' t' edge o' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Rocket took off t' rod fine but about 20 feet up took a hard left and flew at about a 60 degree angle. Arrr! Then at ejection it sounded like a pow and when I recovered t' rocket I saw why. It blew one wood dowel with t' fin completely off. Ahoy! All parts recovered. Avast! Avast! I fixed it back up and flew it again several days later on an A8-3 and t' same thin' happened except this time every wood dowel blew off and two o' t' fins. Begad! Avast! Since t' rocket didn't go very high I was able t' salvage all t' parts. Once again I put it back together no problem, me hearties, but if I fly it again, shiver me timbers, it will with a 1/2A. Aye aye! Begad! For now it's just a display model.

Recovery:
Recovery is supposed t' be tumble but as you can read above I had no such luck. Ya scallywag! Let's call it t' explosion recovery!

Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5

Summary:
Nay sure about t' stabilization o' factory issued rocket. Avast! Blimey! Might need some nose weight. I might try gluin' a small washer t' t' base o' t' nose cone. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! O' course it might fly fine with a 1/2A as t' lift off will be slower.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Custom Rockets Galileo Probe By Chris Gonnerman (August 16, 2007)

    Brief: The Custom Galileo is a cute little helicopter recovery rocket. Mine was an Father's Day gift from my wife. This is a skill level 2 rocket. Construction: The kit contains standard BT-20 tube and ogive balsa cone, three small balsa fins, dowels, paper centering ring and transition, and nice waterslide decals. The instruction sheet was clear, logical, and easy to read. ...

  • Custom Rockets Galileo Probe By Ben Bentley

      Brief The Custom Galileo Probe is a small scale-looking rocket. It uses the 18mm 1/2A engines and is a great flier. It comes down on its nose cone unharmed every time. It is a cool looking and fun rocket. Construction The kit is a pretty simple one, packaged in a bag with all the pieces intact. It comes with a small length of BT-20, 3 balsa fins and dowels, a paper shroud pattern, a ...

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