ModelRockets.us Boostar-C

ModelRockets.us - Boostar-C {Component}

Contributed by Revell Walker

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: ModelRockets.us

Brief:
An affordable and easy way t' add 2 stage capability for t' Centauri, Super Centauri, Toob-oh, and Super Toob-oh model rocket.us kits and other BT-50 based rockets. Sister t' t' ring-finned Boostoh stagin' kit. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! Blimey! Availalble also in RTF form.

Construction:
T' kit consists of:

  • a laser cut booster section o' their special .988 dia BT-50 sized body tube, arrr, arrr,
  • laser cut fins, me hearties, matey,
  • centerin' rings, arrr, arrr, me bucko,
  • metal engine hook,
  • engine block, matey,
  • instructions,
  • laser etched 18mm engine tube.

Pros:

Instructions: T' instructions included with t' Boostar-C are concise and easy t' read and follow. They appear t' be written in plain language that a fourth grader can understand, with bold print and line illustrations in black and white. Begad! Begad! They also include a fin alignment guide t' help in installin' t' through-the-wall fins.

Ease o' Build: I was surprised and pleased at t' manufacturin' quality o' t' kit parts. Blimey! Blimey! Everythin' be laser cut and smooth. T' tube paper quality is sturdy and made in a thicker wall t' handle t' rigors o' buildin' and flying these models in novice hands. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! This standard is followed in all o' t' kits available from model rockets.us. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! Lasers are used t' cut out t' slots for t' TTW fins. It was gratifyin' t' punch out t' rectangles left by t' process by simply touchin' or blowin' on them! Blimey!

T' booster tube coupler, which is designed for use with their thick wall tubing, will fit most BT-50 style tube conformin' t' Estes/Custom Rockets specifications. Ahoy! Blimey! It was a very tight fit, however, for t' Quest 25mm tubing, ya bilge rat, and thus t' booster unit should nay be used with Quest's line o' single stage 25mm tube models. Avast! Blimey! It is advised t' make sure you allow for fit o' t' coupler in front o' sustainer rocket's aft motor centerin' rin' when match-buildin' a single rocket for use with t' Boostar-C

T' engine tube has laser-marked locators for t' centerin' rings and t' engine hook slot. Ya scallywag! Clearly designed for t' student who has never encountered buildin' a rocket model before. I had t' booster assembled and ready for fillets in t' fins in under 30 minutes. Aye aye! Avast!

T' fins need t' have their laser tabs cut away before they will fall out, matey, arrr, so be wary o' that lest you break them tryin' t' punch them out with your fingers. Begad! Blimey! They fit nicely into their body tube slots but will be loose so that you can still position them before t' glue dries.

Cons: I haven't found any, me bucko, t' kit is virtually addlepate proof, matey, shiver me timbers, but a class o' middle schoolers will surely find a way t' make a mess o' things.

Finishing:
Model Rockets.US uses hard balsa for their fins. Avast! I think this, shiver me timbers, a plus thanks t' its close grain, me hearties, me bucko, makin' it easier to seal with a spray coat o' Kilz followed by light sanding, ya bilge rat, then color o' your choice. Blimey! T' instructions guide t' novice as t' how t' correctly apply paints t' t' Boostar-C t' include t' maskin' o' t' coupler ring. Begad! Blimey! T' kit also includes a nice set o' Boostar-C markings you can add should you decide t' do so.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' Boostar-C with a scratch-built model o' me own design, a B6-0 for t' first flight. Ahoy! I was initially concerned about t' upper stage failin' t' ignite due t' t' distance betwixt t' engines, matey, but that worry soon vanished as t' broad-finned booster/sustainer combo cleared t' pad and gave me a straight up flight, me bucko, separatin' cleanly and tumblin' back t' earth.

Recovery:
T' Boostar-C followed standard booster practice and tumbled back after separating, arrr, nothin' unusual t' report on that

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Boostar-C is a fine addition t' your fleet in either kit or ready t' fly forms. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It will turn your skill level 1 rocket into a skill level 3 in one setting. Begad! Just remember that Quest 25mm tubes won't fit this unit and thus won't fly t' Payloader or Astra. Avast! Fit and finish o' t' parts are outstandin' for a relatively unknown manufacturer, and this quality can be found in all o' their kits. Ahoy! If you are an educator and have built t' Centauri or Blade kits, this a wonderful progression t' teach stagin' in preparation for TARC students.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other:
Just enjoy t' buildin' experience!

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