Starlight Rockets Micro

Starlight Rockets - Micro {Kit}

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Starlight Rockets
Starlight Micro

Brief:
A three finned 18mm rocket with tumble recovery. Blimey! Blimey! Minimum diameter with swept back fins. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! A very small rocket designed for speed and height. I have had a recent flin' with tiny rockets and most o' them use 13mm motors so when I saw the 18mm rocket o' this size, me bucko, me bucko, I had t' buy 1--or 12 as they were cheaper by t' dozen!

Construction:
T' quality o' t' components are very good. Begad! Begad! T' body tube had little t' no grooves so finishin' be easy.

Despite this kit havin' only 6 parts t' it, me hearties, t' instructions are detailed. T' body tube in particular had the three lines marked for fin attachment and a line for launch lug attachment already drawn on in color coded ink, a nice touch.

T' instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue dryin' time.

T' fins need a bit o' sandin' and filling. I attached them usin' Bostick glue t' t' body tube after I had sanded t' finish off t' area o' contact.

Finishing:
T' design on t' insert card shows a plain red rocket. Blimey! I chose an all white design as I wanted t' see this on the ground. Well, blow me down! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I found after two test flights that t' rocket easily got lost against white clouds so I went for a metallic silver rin' so it glints in t' sun, a dark red nose (for contrast against t' white clouds), and three colored tips for t' fins.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
With its low mass, this rocket leaves t' pad in a flash. Arrr!

I have only been brave enough t' fly on A8-3 motors and B6-6. It goes high and ejection is hard t' see, me bucko, but it looks t' be slightly early or apogee nose cone up.

T' rocket does nay tumble recover as t' instructions suggest. Begad! Ya scallywag! Instead t' rocket comes in ballistic, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but it is so light thar be no damage. Aye aye! It is best t' have a lot o' people watchin' this rocket and bein' quiet too. I lost one visually and recovered it by hearin' it hit t' ground.

Some RSOs or clubs might have a problem with this rocket spitin' its motor.

I’m waitin' for t' perfect still day t' fly this rocket on a C6.

After a few flights, ya bilge rat, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I noticed that one o' t' fin fillets had a crack in it so I applied more Bostick glue. Unfortunately t' glue reacted with t' paint and it now has a horrible warped paint finish at t' joints. Well, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a good, matey, tiny rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It's probably t' smallest 18mm motor rocket thar is. Ahoy! Blimey! Buy a few as you will probably lose some o' them.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Starlight Rockets Micro By Jonah Dahncke (March 7, 2007)

    Brief: This is a small little rocket that uses featherweight recovery. It is a fun little afternoon or class project. It is hard to recover since it's so small. Construction: It is basically a flying engine mount--an 18mm body tube with a balsa nose cone, 3 balsa fins, and an 1/8" launch lug glued to it. The instructions have no need for pictures because this kit is so ...

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