Custom Rockets - TriStar {Kit} (10027)

Custom Rockets TriStar

Custom Rockets - TriStar {Kit} (10027)

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Diameter:	0.98 inches
Length:	9.65 inches
Manufacturer:	Custom Rockets
Skill Level:	1
Style:	Futuristic/Exotic

(Contributed - by Kevin Johnson)

Rocket Pic Brief:
Futuristic transport design for 18mm motors and parachute recovery.

Construction:
T' kit includes 1 body tube, 1 motor mount, me hearties, arrr, 4 die cut balsa pieces, me bucko, ya bilge rat, a plastic nose cone and a 12 inch parachute kit. It also had a 1/8" launch lug and elastic shock cord.

I bought this kit t' have somethin' t' build while t' glue dried on one of my other projects. As I put it together though, me hearties, I couldn't wait t' get it finished and fly it!

T' instructions are typical for Custom kits, well laid out and with good illustrations for each step. Begad! One o' t' things I like about t' Custom instructions is they provide a template for fin alignment in t' instructions that you don't have t' cut out and tape around t' BT like in Estes kits. Begad! You drop t' tube onto t' drawin' and mark t' fin locations from that. Well, blow me down! Avast! Then run the line down t' length you need with a door jamb. Begad! Easy and quick. Arrr! Blimey!

Take care when cuttin' t' die cut fins from t' balsa blank.. Avast! Ya scallywag! thar are some small 90 degree cuts that you want t' make sure stay together. Aye aye! Begad! T' balsa in me kit be a little dry and t' die cuttin' wasn't as sharp as I've seen in other models. Ya scallywag! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! You will most likely need t' fill t' joint o' t' wings and the tips t' get a nice smooth, shiver me timbers, flat surface. Begad! I kinda cheated here and used the decals t' cover up t' joint.

Finishing:
T' suggested paint scheme is pretty slick. Begad! Aye aye! T' water-slide decals included with t' kit are great and add a lot t' t' design. Avast!

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I can only give you t' info from one flight due t' t' efforts o' one large, rocket-eatin' tree. Begad! For t' first flight I used an A8-3 because t' flying field was kinda small. Ahoy! I folded t' plastic chute, used three squares of waddin' and loaded it all up. Ahoy! T' boost was straight and much higher than I thought it would be. Begad! Ahoy! Nothin' like a small light rocket on an A engine. Begad! The recommended motors go up t' a C6-5, me bucko, but if you use one, shiver me timbers, you better have some sharp-eyed folks and a charge o' trackin' powder t' help you find it. Begad! Arrr!

Recovery:
T' 'chute came out fine and t' rocket started t' drift downrange.. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! right into the top o' a 75' tall tree. DRAT! Blimey! I would have liked t' have gotten this one back because it is such a neat lookin' and high flyin' rocket. Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PRO's: Slick looks and ease o' construction. Well, blow me down! A great flyer. Avast, me proud beauty! CON's: T' die cuttin' was a little rough in me kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Since I'll have t' get another one.. Well, blow me down! I'll compare and post a follow up.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews

Custom Rockets TriStar By Bill Eichelberger
The TriStar is a single stage rocket with a futuristic passenger rocket design using parachute recovery. I built this rocket for my nephew to fly at a recent family launch, but my nephew crushed it before it got the chance to see it's first flight. I repaired it as well as I could, didn't care for the results, and set it aside for two months. I found it sitting looking dejected today ...

Flights

Comments:

K.R.J. (July 1, 2001)

I agree with this reviewer. The nose cones are a horrible fit, and the shock cord was taken straight from Estes' play book. This was the second rocket my son had ever built, and the fins sheared off at apogee. Don't know why. This rocket will really boogie on a B motor, but he is afraid to fly it again because of the fin problem. So, I'll just have to get one for myself, strengthen the fins and fatten the nose cone, and see what a D21 will do!

J.W. (September 25, 2002)

The review is about what I had encountered. I built the kit per the instructions, and used Dupli-Color acrylic primer as a filler. I then sprayed the entire rocket Testors #2943 Bright White. I sprayed the nose cone a Testors Acryl Engine Blue and it did not match the decals. I later found that Testors #1211 matches the blue decals. My first flight was with an A8-3. The rocket looked great in flight, and ejected the parachute at apogee. The 2nd flight was with a B6-4 and went about 400 ft. At apogee, the nose cone and parachute came apart from the body. The body came down first and actually glides! I caught it and also was lucky to recover the nose cone a little later.

J.B. (May 24, 2008)

I think the review was accurate. The fins/wings are die cut balsa and require a little cutting to free them from the sheet. However, this is not a big deal and takes no longer than a few minutes. The nose cone fits way to loose. To fix that I just primed and painted the entire nose cone to build up the shoulder. Overall it's a nice kit, nice price, and well worth your time. Makes a very sharp rocket that?s more than a normal fin nose cone look.

P.L. (June 19, 2009)

My fins required a lot of blade work to free them from the sheet and a bit of sanding to get both fins of each set the same size. The nosecone was very loose but a couple of wraps of masking tape fixed that. It is a good tip to test fit the motor mount as I had to sand the centering rings down to get a nice fit. Apart from these setbacks, the model built up well, and at the end of the day it looks pretty good. It would have been good if the fins were laser cut, but all in all I like this kit.

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