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

INSTRUCTIONS:

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

EASE OF BUILD:

This rocket is rated Skill Level 3 on t' package, me hearties, but is surprisingly easy t' build. All t' parts were in me kit, shiver me timbers, and fit was good. Begad! Some sandin' was necessary for t' shoulder o' t' nose cone t' get it t' fit into t' body tube, and sandin' o' t' motor mount rings was necessary t' get them t' fit on t' motor mount tube and in t' body tube. Avast! Also check t' motor mount tube with a motor t' make sure it fits, some sandin' may be required. Well, blow me down!

TEST FIT ALL PARTS BEFORE GLUING. Aye aye! Blimey! As t' instructions say, you do nay want t' find out t' parts don't fit when your epoxy is "settin' up". Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey!

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

This rocket uses a novel shock cord attachment method. Well, blow me down! Begad!   Instead o' t' usual anchor, matey, it uses a screw eye in t' forward motor mount ring. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! This makes for a very strong attachment, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, me bucko, blow me down!

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

QUALITY:

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

T' rocket comes with a rub-on DELTA-X decal, which was a problem. Begad! T' decal rubbed on fine, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I tried t' keep t' sticky stuff off t' rocket when applyin' t' decal, just like t' directions said. Arrr! Ya scallywag!   This is next t' impossible, it likes t' stick t' t' rocket. Aye aye! Aye aye! It is like holdin' a piece o' scotch tape right next t' a piece o' paper, matey, they have almost a magnetic attraction. Begad! T' top layer should nay have any adhesive on it, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, only t' decal letters should stick.

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

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. Avast! Ahoy! T' X-fin design makes t' rocket look a bit more exotic than usual.

CONSTRUCTION RATING: 3 points

FLYING:

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

Performance be impressive. Ahoy! I didn't get altitude readings, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but t' rocket went almost out o' sight and t' crowd o' experienced rocketeers was impressed. Well, blow me down! Avast!

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

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

So, 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. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I think a a rocket with a 24mm motor mount and a 18mm adapter would serve this purpose for less cost t' t' user. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

FLYING/RECOVERY RATING: 4 points

OVER ALL RATING:

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