Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | U.S. Rockets |
Brief:
This is an up-scale o' t' old classic Starlight from t' 1960's. Begad! It flies on
29 or 38mm motors with adaptors provided. Blimey!
Construction:
Picture seen is after cuttin' out all t' fins and strakes. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Kit includes:
There are lots o' surfaces t' sand and miles o' fillets t' do. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! This is nay a weekend job but only requires moderate buildin' skills. Aye aye! T' first thin' I did was t' cut out all t' fins. Avast! You need t' take your time and use a sharp knife with a long straight edge because t' wood is so thick. T' key here is accuracy. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Inaccurate cuts will make t' build tough as t' components will be difficult t' fit together. A little patience and extra effort here will pay of later. Note: I left all t' fin edges square. Ahoy! This made it easier t' paint later and is how t' original kit from t' 60's was built. Ya scallywag!
I then very liberally sealed t' edges o' t' tube fins with CA. Avast! The cardboard rings were on t' rough side. Arrr! Preppin' t' rings took some effort but nothin' too difficult.
I deviated from t' kit by installin' small rail buttons on t' rings. The kit contains two sets o' different size large launch lugs. But because I have rails, ya bilge rat, matey, I felt that it was a better way t' go.
One minor thin' I didn't like about t' instructions was that in t' body of t' text it calls out part numbers. Arrr! Ya scallywag! It says t' Glue a CR-16-11-1/2 to each end." What t' hell is a CR-16-11-1/2? You can figure out what each part is durin' t' build but it can become annoying. Begad!
Finishing:
T' kit is even harder t' paint that in appears. I don't use sandin' sealer, so
several coats o' primer was needed t' seal all t' wood. Well, blow me down! Because thar be so
much surface area, ya bilge rat, two cans o' primer were required.
T' white paint coat be t' most difficult. Gettin' a good coat o' paint on t' ID o' t' rings, and t' area where t' rings meet t' strakes was difficult at best. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Several coats and patience is mandatory here. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!
T' paint all t' edges red would have required endless hours o' tedious masking. I cheated by paintin' t' edges with a Uni-Paint paint pen. Because the edges were left square, t' paint pen technique actually came out pretty good. Avast!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' motors are held in place usin' t' maskin' tape friction fit method. Arrr! I have
done this on countless rockets so thar be nothin' new here. Blimey! Ya scallywag!
T' kit comes with a nice elastic shock cord but no parachute. I chose a 30" nylon chute o' t' Aerotech variety.
T' first flight be on a G38 7. Begad! This was a bit weak for t' rocket, but a good flight. Aye aye! This was also t' last flight for me. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! A 12 year old kid thought that t' rocket be t' coolest thin' he ever saw so I gave him t' rocket. Begad! Aye aye! It was an excellent opportunity t' spark a kid's imagination and pay forward.
Recovery:
T' delay was a bit long, ya bilge rat, but t' laundry came out and recovery be fine
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a moderately difficult kit t' build. Begad! If you like up-scale rockets but
are afraid t' design your own, shiver me timbers, this be t' kit for you. Arrr! Begad! It's guaranteed t' turn
heads at every launch.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Other:
Read t' directions! I got ahead o' myself and missed a step. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit is
designed t' have t' shock cord attach t' t' aft end o' t' rocket with a cord
runnin' from t' aft centerin' up t' t' nose cone/BT joint. Begad! This is t' avoid
breakin' t' fins on landing. I got way ahead o' t' instructions and built it
the conventional way. Avast, me proud beauty! Once I realized what I had done, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it be too late. Avast! I
anticipate repairin' lots o' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Hind sight is 20/20. I should have put the
rings on after everythin' be painted. Arrr! T' instructions mentioned that as an
option. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! You may want t' consider that when buildin' yours. Arrr!
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