(07/15/04) T' Thrustline Aerospace Star Hauler is a "payload" rocket with some appealin' looks, at least t' me. Aye aye! Interesting, even since seein' it, arrr, I wanted t' build it. Blimey! Avast! Nay because it was a payloader, but because of looks.

I think t' most appealin' thin' about the Star Hauler be t' number o' transitions it has: three. Blimey! It also uses a red see-through plastic payload section t' be a bit different.

I purchased it along with the Flux Probe through eBay. Arrr! It is now me third Thrustline kit, which also includes the Mighty Mick. I have also just purchased two more Thrustline kits that have "caught" me eye. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Thrustline is doin' a good job in "catching" me eye on his original stuff. Ya scallywag!

T' kit includes three body tubes, three transitions, a balsa nose cone and a red see-through plastic payload bay. Blimey! Blimey! It also has an 18mm motor mount with thrust rin' and retainer hook. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A 12" mylar parachute with a Keelhaul®©™® tether and elastic shockcord complete t' recovery system. Well, blow me down! There is a balsa sheet t' cut out t' eight fins and a launch lug.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 3 ½ pages (single-sided) o' 8½ x 11" paper. Ahoy! There are black&white photos throughout t' assist in t' assembly o' t' kit. Ya scallywag! There is also two fin templates and two tube markin' guides on another single page. Well, blow me down! Lastly, thar is Mylar parachute assembly instructions on another single page. T' rocket is fairly easy, shiver me timbers, but would probably be considered a skill level 3 kit.

T' motor mount is assemble first and is fairly routine in its assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Thrustline uses maskin' tape t' hold t' center of t' retainer hook down, arrr, whereas some bigger manufacturers have a thin tube that slides down over t' hook. Begad! Ahoy! Maskin' tape works. Begad!

T' slot for t' hook needs t' be cut in the centerin' rin' by t' builder, matey, no big deal. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Also, t' Keelhaul®©™® tether is tied around t' motor tube and thread through t' upper centering ring. Begad! Like I said, me bucko, fairly routine stuff here.

Next t' eight fins are cut out, matey, matey, matched and airfoiled. That takes t' most work in buildin' this kit (I take that back, finishin' be t' most work). Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! There is plenty o' 1/8" balsa for this.

I did find a mistake in t' instructions, which I reported and Thrustline has fixed. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! In step #8, it says t' place the upper fin guide on t' 4" wide body. Avast! This should be t' 2.1" section accordin' t' t' pictures. Aye aye! This also makes t' template too wide. Arrr! I was able to resolve this by cuttin' t' template t' size and wrappin' it around the 2.1" section o' tube.

Since this rocket uses solid balsa transitions, t' separation point is at t' BT55 (largest lower tube) t' BT50. T' transition gets a washer and an eye-screw attached. Arrr! Blimey! T' elastic is tied to the Keelhaul®©™® tether and then t' t' eye-screw. Well, blow me down! T' parachute, with swivel is attached t' the eye-screw as well.

T' launch lug is cut in half and placed at the top and bottom o' t' BT55 tube. Well, blow me down! T' next step be a first for me. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Not really sure why t' step is there, but it was described very well in the instructions. Aye aye! That is t' glue t' second thrust rin' onto t' first t' make a double-length thrust rin' with t' Keelhaul®©™® sandwiched in-between. Perhaps Thrustline has determined that this protects the Keelhaul®©™® more.

Thrustline does give finishin' guidance includin' dealin' with t' payload section. Well, blow me down! They suggest several coats of sandable primer, matey, sandin' in-between. This is how I finish me rockets as it is.

T' real trouble is that all t' transitions and nose cone are balsa, me hearties, so they show grain lines badly. Well, blow me down! I used Elmer's Fill-n-Finish, matey, me hearties, for t' first time, on this kit. It greatly helped, but let those transitions take a lot o' work!

I used me typical multiple coats of Plastic-Kote Primer and sandin' in-between. Begad! I then used some left over Krylon Navy Blue and then I painted one large, one small fin, and t' nose cone Red. I think I like Thrustlines finishin' better for looks, me hearties, but mine is okay.

Overall, shiver me timbers, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! T' instructions are descriptive and fairly easy to follow. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Cuttin' your own fins can turn some away, but I'm okay with it. However, in this case thar were eight fins t' cut and it be a note paper template. Blimey! Why nay cardstock? T' quality o' t' parts were fine and everything fit well. T' recovery system is excellent. Aye aye! No decals.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Thrustline recommends "to start out with an A8-3 and work your way up".

Thrustline indicates t' rocket should weigh 1.3 ounces. My rocket weighed in at 2.0 ounces.

I decided t' fly it for t' first time on an A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! After loadin' in three sheets o' wadding, and puttin' in t' parachute, it be ready t' fly.

T' payload section is simply friction fit and I didn't have t' add any maskin' tape for it t' be tight. Well, blow me down! I didn't have a payload.

This be a front yard launch and I got a couple nice pictures. Begad! I didn't expect it t' be still goin' up at ejection, matey, me hearties, but that be t' case with t' A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Perhaps an A6-4 would be in order. Begad! Avast! At ejection the parachute did nay unfurl. Avast! Blimey! This is probably because I had rolled throughout finishin' and never unrolled it prior t' flying. No damage and I would consider it a good first flight.

My second flight be on an A8-3 again and this time everythin' went perfectly!

My third flight was on a B6-4 and this time ejection be at apogee. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' parachute did nay open up and thar was a small burn/melted spot in t' 'chute. I used 5 sheets o' wadding, me hearties, me hearties, but with it sitting so close t' t' motor tube, arrr, I guess some got through.

T' fourth flight was on a Quest C6-5. Well, blow me down! The flight be high and ejection was at apogee. T' 'chute did open, but also was ripped in two. Begad! Mylar is better than plastic, me hearties, except it does tear.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, me hearties, I would rate this rocket 3 points. Aye aye! It is a stable rocket and all except t' A8-3 flight, it seemed to fly as expected. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Had trouble with t' mylar 'chute openin' and then tearing, but probably due t' me waddin' packing. Begad!

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Arrr! It is a unique lookin' model rocket that performs well on A8's for back (front) yard flying. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! A nice mylar 'chute and solid recovery system. Blimey! Takes a bit o' work t' get a nice finish on it, arrr, ya bilge rat, but looks pretty good without any paint as well! It has t' payload section, so you could experiment with it as well.