Brief:
Retro lookin' budget kit for 18mm motors.

Construction:
T' cover art doesn't do justice t' this kit, matey, it looks a lot better in t' flesh than t' cream example used in t' photograph. Apart from finishing, shiver me timbers, and laminatin' t' fins with printer paper, me hearties, t' kit be built as per t' instructions. All parts were present.

T' instructions weren't a surprise t' me as I have built a number o' Starlight kits, but if you are used t' Estes and Quest instructions, get ready for a shock. Instructions are typewritten and illustrations are hand drawn. Begad! This isn't so bad, but when measurements are hand written, me bucko, and t' instructions have measurements like t' 2 !/2" [sic] example above, newer modelers may find themselves confused. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! However, arrr, this is nothin' that a few hours with a computer and a good proofread wouldn't fix.

On with construction. My BT-20 (called a BT-7 in t' instructions) be unevenly cut, so I re-cut t' ends first. T' motor hook provided is made from music wire, and despite bein' glued and taped t' t' motor mount, t' wire simply rotates around its long axis allowin' t' motor t' be kicked on ejection (more on that later). Avast, me proud beauty! Both body tubes are good quality, matey, with fine spirals.

Three centerin' rings hold t' BT-20 in t' larger, shorter, BT-60 (called a BT-16). Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! This gives t' Asteroid Probe its great 'Hot Dog' looks. Top and bottom centerin' rings sit flush with t' ends o' t' larger body tube.

T' balsa used in t' fins and nose cone is fairly soft. Aye aye! I decided t' bevel t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins and laminate them with PVA (white glue) and printer paper. Avast! T' nose cone required a lot o' filling.

Fin attachment is easy. Arrr! T' body tube is pre-marked with blue lines for fins and a red line for t' cardboard launch lug. Aye aye! Begad! I used gel CA for initial attachment o' t' fins, me hearties, then filleted with 5 minute epoxy.

T' shock cord is a good length o' round elastic anchored with a Stine style paper mount. A good quality 30cm (12 inch) mylar parachute kit is included with t' Asteroid Probe.

Finishing:
Finishin' be simple. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I sprayed t' rocket with 3 coats o' Plasti-Kote Super Primer and 3 coats o' white enamel. Red for t' nose cone and front centerin' ring, blue for t' rear. Blimey! Stripes on t' fins were done with Tamiya paint pens.

One sheet o' decals are provided. Ahoy! Arrr! Red text that says 'Asteroid Probe' in an MICR style font, a gold band, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and a couple o' small arrows. I decided nay t' use them on this build. Begad! Instead I made a wrap o' adhesive art paper on which I printed a shark's mouth, some eyes, and other gubbins.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
I flew me Asteroid Probe a total o' 8 times. Boost was always very straight with a minimum o' weathercocking. Avast! T' motor be always taped in as t' music wire motor hook simply rotated out o' any position where it could have been any use in holdin' t' motor. Blimey! B6-4s and C6-5s give excellent flights.

T' mylar parachute is a tight fit in t' BT-20 body tube. A liberal dustin' with talc immediately before packin' gave a good deployment every time.

On 6 flights t' Probe detached a fin on landing, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and strangely it be always at t' fin root. Blimey! There was never a snapped fin. Avast, me proud beauty! One flight yielded no damage. Begad! T' final flight was a ballistic lawn dart on a C6-5 which tore t' shock cord mount out o' t' inner body tube. Aye aye! I'll miss t' flights, but nay t' landings.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay me first experience with Starlight's budget range o' kits, me bucko, me bucko, me bucko, havin' previously built a Queeze-Bee, Hyperon, ya bilge rat, and Sparrow. Avast! There are a couple o' their other kits waitin' in t' build queue. Starlight's kits are a mix o' good and nay so good, ya bilge rat, arrr, and t' designs are quite neat, but t' translation into kits leaves a bit t' be desired. Well, blow me down! This had t' potential t' be a fantastic kit, but as they say, matey, t' devil is in t' detail.

PROs: Unusual styling. Begad! Avast! Blimey! Pre-marked body tube. Begad! Blimey! Low price.

CONs: Instructions. Motor hook. Avast! Fins are easily damaged.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5