I always try t' look for somethin' a little unique in rockets and that is what t' Deep Surface Probe by Rogue is. Arrr! Rogue says it this way, arrr, "Modelled upon a real NASA planetary probe, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' Deep Surface Probe (DSP) is sure t' attract attention at your next launch! T' "real" probe is intended t' be dropped t' a planet from orbit, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, slammin' into t' planet's crust at hypersonic speeds, buryin' itself deep within t' planet t' obtain rock samples and geologic data. Begad! Our model is stabilized solely by a unique set o' cone fins. Blimey! A plastic nose and cardstock fins simplify construction. Begad! Flight is dramatic, me bucko, me bucko, with t' engine exhaust bein' pulled along behind t' rocket as it ascends by t' aerodynamic flow around t' lips o' t' cones. Avast, me proud beauty! This bird doesn't fly high, but it flies dramatically!"

So with that excitin' description, I expected t' really have somethin' unique and I wasn't disappointed (for t' flight part).

T' Deep Surface Probe (DSP) comes with a red plastic nose cone and clay nose weight. Aye aye! Aye aye! It also comes with 3 cardstock sheets (red, matey, me bucko, me bucko, white, and black) t' make t' cone-fins. Begad! Ahoy! There are two body tubes (17" and 7") and a coupler t' put them together. Avast! T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount with a motor retention clip, me hearties, ya bilge rat, two 1/8" launch lugs, me hearties, a 49" Keelhaul®©™ shock tether and a 24" elastic shock cord, a piece o' Perma-Waddin' and a 12" nylon parachute. Blimey! Lastly t' kit included some water transfer decals.

CONSTRUCTION:

I have built a couple o' other Rogue kits (Hex Courier and t' two-stage Crossfire) and find that t' instructions are thorough and easy t' follow. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! They are in a logical order and include photos, 3D renderings, and/or illustrations t' assist in t' construction steps. Begad! T' DSP was no different containin' 6 pages o' instructions. Blimey! Many times people say, me hearties, me bucko, "if you have built one or two Estes kits, this will be no problem", ya bilge rat, but for Rogue's case, you could start with a Rogue kit (but maybe nay this one!).

You get t' find out what you're up against on t' very first construction step, me bucko, shiver me timbers, "Construct Cone Stabilizers". Avast! Avast! This step was t' turnin' point with respect t' me excitement about t' DSP. Blimey! First you must cut out t' stabilizers from t' cardstock and gently curl them usin' t' edge o' t' table. I didn't have any trouble with this. Ahoy! My trouble started when gluin' them together, especially t' white one which is a slightly thicker cardstock. Arrr! Maybe it be t' glue I used (Titebond) or maybe me curl be nay quite right, but by t' time I got t' seam t' stick I had glue finger marks and roughened paper and aesthetically a mess. Functionally t' white cone seemed fine. Avast! Blimey! This discouraged me a little so at this moment I decided t' complete assembly but I wasn't goin' t' paint t' rocket.

T' bulk o' t' rocket assembly is straightforward. Ya scallywag! T' motor mount assembles with t' motor hook and thrust rings bein' attached t' t' motor tube in a typlical fashion. There is a little work in cuttin' a notch on t' centerin' rin' for t' motor hook. Arrr! Also, t' Keelhaul®©™ shock tether is attached t' t' motor hook and this is done while assemblin' t' motor mount.

T' two body tubes are connected t' make one 24" tube and t' launch lugs are attached t' t' bottom section o' t' body tube. Arrr! Arrr! Rogue could have used a single 24" body tube, me hearties, but this two-section approach actually facilities t' positionin' o' t' launch lugs and t' Cone Stabilizers. Ya scallywag! Begad! It also probably helps in packagin' and shipping.

T' nose cone is assembled by pressin' t' clay into t' nose and then usin' CA or plastic cement t' glue t' nose cone shoulder into place. Begad! I used CA.

Then back t' those Cone Stabilizers. Begad! T' biggest (white) one is attached first. It is aligned around t' upper launch lug and even with t' body tube seam. Aye aye! Arrr! Then you are instructed t' reverse t' direction o' t' black one and glue it up into and against t' white one. Ya scallywag! T' fit depends on two things, me bucko, arrr, t' accuracy o' your cuttin' along t' lines and whether you got t' cones symmetrical. Well, blow me down! Mine sealed okay but I used a lot o' glue t' do it, arrr, especially at t' cone seams. Well, blow me down! Last, ya bilge rat, you attach t' red stabilizer t' t' black stabilizer, again relyin' on cut and symmetricalness.

Lastly t' recovery system is assembled. Ya scallywag! This includes a nice piece o' Perma-Wadding™ and a 12" nylon parachute. Arrr! These are attached t' t' Keelhaul®©™® tether and shock cord and then t' rocket ready t' be finished.

T' instructions describe finishin' and recommend that you do nay paint t' stabilizers warnin' that it could cause t' rocket t' become unstable. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! There is an insert titled "Tips for Usin' Decals" included with t' decals. Avast! As I stated earlier though, me bucko, me bucko, I decided nay t' paint it after all t' frustration I had over t' stabilizer cones.

Overall, shiver me timbers, me bucko, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Ya scallywag! I feel that t' cones are t' biggest challenge which should push t' skill level from Rogue's "2" t' a "3". I also feel that thar must t' be a better way t' instruct and glue t' cones together t' begin with. Arrr! Begad! T' instructions are very well done and t' components all fit excellently.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Rogue recommends a B6-2 and a C6-3. I have flown t' DSP three times with t' first flight on t' B6-2 and t' next two on t' C6-3. Begad! This is where I must say t' frustratin' build pays off. Begad! Well, blow me down! This be neat. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Why? Well, me hearties, a couple o' reasons.

First, me hearties, me DSP weighed in at 3 ounces. A standard 3FNC rocket with t' same length, diameter and CP that also weighs 3 ounces would have an optimum delay for a B6 o' 3.3 second and for a C6 a delay o' 5.3 seconds. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! This shows you t' impact o' t' cone stabilizers, ya bilge rat, their drag brin' this rocket t' a standstill a lot faster, ya bilge rat, matey, nearly twice as fast. This is observable in t' flight. Blimey! Blimey! You see t' motor thrust stop, and and t' rocket doesn't coast . Begad! Blimey! . Avast! Blimey! . it stops. Aye aye! Blimey! This can actually be a problem as you will see from me 3rd flight.

Second, those same cone stabilizers create a vacuum effect that pulls a cloud o' smoke behind t' rocket durin' thrust. You have t' see it t' fully enjoy it. Well, blow me down! Just after me first flight, me bucko, matey, I felt that this is what makes this rocket worth t' price . Ya scallywag! . . Ahoy! Ya scallywag! truly unique.

So me three flights allowed me t' enjoy three different perspectives. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 1st flight on t' B6 was picture perfect and made me anticipate more. On t' 2nd flight with t' C6, it be essentially t' same but with greater altitude (still less than 400 feet), me bucko, but this time once it slow and tipped horizontal t' ejection charge went, but t' 'chute did nay come all t' way out. Avast! Blimey! It fell and hit t' ground, undamaged. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' 3rd flight was also on a C6. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! This time after another straight flight I noticed that as soon as t' thrust stopped t' nose cone slid off o' t' top. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! With t' weight in t' nose cone and t' quick-stop action t' cone stabilizers induce, me bucko, t' momentum o' t' nose cone be faster than t' "fit" could contain. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I will need t' add a little more tape t' t' shoulder t' prevent this from happenin' again.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 5 points. Impressive, unique flights that make t' cone stabilizers assembly hassles worth it. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! In fact, t' flight characteristics also demonstrate that even when you make t' mistakes I did that t' rocket still flies stable. Ahoy! Blimey! This robustness is good in a kit.

Overall, t' Deep Surface Probe is a challenge t' an experienced builder (more than a Skill Level 2 in me opinion). Avast! T' cone stabilizers are t' greatest challenge. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' rockets features are solid, motor retention, matey, Perma-Wadding™, and nylon parachute are all a cut above most other kits. Flights gives you somethin' t' talk about. Well, blow me down! I'm now goin' t' look for t' smokiest 18mm motor out thar t' enhance t' effect o' t' cones. Anyone have any idea? Oh, yes, arrr, and I just might clean up t' stabilizers and paint it too! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points.