T' Nordic Rocketry Incorporated DELTA-X was me first rocket from this company, and I was pleasantly surprised with t' quality o' it. Aye aye! This is a good rocket if you're ready t' jump from regular black powder motors t' D composite power. Ahoy!

INSTRUCTIONS:

T' instructions were clearly numbered, illustrated and easy t' follow. This is nay a regular model rocket, you need epoxy or a similar glue t' build it. Arrr! Begad! I would nay recommend buildin' this rocket with white glue. Begad!

EASE OF BUILD:

This rocket is rated Skill Level 3 on t' package, ya bilge rat, arrr, but is surprisingly easy t' build. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! All t' parts were in me kit, matey, and fit was good. Arrr! Blimey! Some sandin' be necessary for t' shoulder o' t' nose cone t' get it t' fit into t' body tube, matey, me hearties, matey, and sandin' o' t' motor mount rings be necessary t' get them t' fit on t' motor mount tube and in t' body tube. Avast! Blimey! Also check t' motor mount tube with a motor t' make sure it fits, some sandin' may be required. Begad! Blimey!

TEST FIT ALL PARTS BEFORE GLUING. As t' instructions say, me bucko, arrr, you do nay want t' find out t' parts don't fit when your epoxy is "settin' up". Arrr!

Alignment was a bit tricky with t' X-design fins. Blimey!   An easy-to-use fin template is included, but a cardboard cut-out fin jig would have helped get t' proper angle for t' fins. Blimey! Blimey! After gettin' out t' ruler and proppin' up t' fins, this worked out okay. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If t' x-fin design totally freaks you out, you can always put t' fins on in t' typical 4-fin pattern found on most rockets. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

This rocket uses a novel shock cord attachment method. Aye aye!   Instead o' t' usual anchor, it uses a screw eye in t' forward motor mount ring. This makes for a very strong attachment, but also could cause catastrophic failure if ejection pulls t' motor mount out o' t' rocket.   I filleted t' motor mount rings and made sure they were solidly glued into t' body tube.

If your shock cord does come loose while flying, matey, puttin' it back on t' screw eye will be very difficult if nay impossible. Ahoy!   I plan t' use a typical three-fold cardboard anchor if this happens t' me. Begad!

QUALITY:

T' first thin' you notice when you open this kit is that it is nay an ordinary cardboard-and-balsa model rocket. Blimey! Blimey! No cheap plastic chute here, matey, a sturdy 14" nylon chute is included. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' fins and motor mount centerin' rings are sturdy 1/16" plywood. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' launch lugs are brass. Arrr! Blimey!   T' body tube has thicker walls than t' ordinary model rocket tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This rocket is obviously built t' take t' extra stress o' composite motors.

T' rocket comes with a rub-on DELTA-X decal, me hearties, which be a problem. T' decal rubbed on fine, but when I peeled off t' top layer, it took off t' paint job with it! This is a definite problem that needs t' be worked out. Blimey! I tried t' keep t' sticky stuff off t' rocket when applyin' t' decal, shiver me timbers, just like t' directions said. Arrr! Aye aye!   This is next t' impossible, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it likes t' stick t' t' rocket. Blimey! Blimey! It is like holdin' a piece o' scotch tape right next t' a piece o' paper, ya bilge rat, arrr, they have almost a magnetic attraction. T' top layer should nay have any adhesive on it, only t' decal letters should stick. Well, blow me down!

I decided t' paint mine in a fluorescent orange color t' match t' parachute. Ahoy! Ahoy! (Use a white primer coat under fluorescent colors) I touched up t' parts where t' paint peeled off and it looked okay. Arrr!

This rocket isn't anythin' special in looks (I tend towards military scale models) but isn't t' usual 3FNC (three-fins-and-a-nose-cone) either. Ahoy! T' X-fin design makes t' rocket look a bit more exotic than usual. Blimey! Begad!

CONSTRUCTION RATING: 3 points

FLYING:

This rocket flew well on an Estes C6-3 for t' first flight, shiver me timbers, arrr, me hearties, and an Aerotech D21-4 on me second flight. Arrr! Ahoy! T' launches and recoveries both were flawless, ya bilge rat, even with t' notorious Aerotech "copperhead" igniter, which has a well-known tendency t' misfire. Ahoy!

Performance was impressive. Ya scallywag! I didn't get altitude readings, but t' rocket went almost out o' sight and t' crowd o' experienced rocketeers was impressed. Aye aye! Begad!

Problems surfaced after t' second flight because o' t' tight motor mount tube. Begad! Although I be able t' remove t' C6-3 with pliers, me hearties, t' D21 motor broke into pieces and removal had t' be done back at t' workshop. Well, blow me down! T' problem may nay be with t' tube but with t' inner diameter o' t' motor mount ring. Blimey! I could nay insert t' motor mount tube into t' rings when I first tried, I had t' sand t' inner diameter t' get them t' fit. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It may have still been a tight fit and compressed t' tube so t' motors were a tight fit. Ahoy! This is a definite problem, matey, and you should test-fit this rocket with all engines you plan t' use, me bucko, sandin' t' inside o' t' motor mount tube as necessary t' ensure a smooth fit. Avast, me proud beauty!  

Although Aerotech D's pack a lot o' punch for a small motor, they do it for a steep price. T' D21 single-use motor retails for $7. Begad! Begad! 95 which is almost three times t' price o' Estes D12 motors, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, which have respectable power. Begad! (T' Estes D12 motors sell for $8. Aye aye! 79 a three pack)  Long-term users can purchase a 18mm reload case and then get D13 or D24 reloads for $8. Aye aye! 95 a three pack, but t' Aerotech 18mm motor case is a hefty $39. Begad! Begad! 95 retail. I prefer Estes "D" motors because o' this cost advantage and t' igniters are more reliable. Begad!

So, shiver me timbers, t' concept o' a rocket which can be used t' step up t' D power sounds like a good one until you look at t' price. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I think a a rocket with a 24mm motor mount and a 18mm adapter would serve this purpose for less cost t' t' user. Aye aye! Begad!

FLYING/RECOVERY RATING: 4 points

OVER ALL RATING:

I give this rocket 3 ½ points. Aye aye! Blimey! It is a very sturdy and well-designed rocket for 18mm composite motors. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' X-shape fins give it an exotic look. Aye aye! Blimey! I'm lookin' forward t' seein' what other surprises Nordic Rocketry has in store for us. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!