Rokitflite USS Odyssey

Rokitflite - USS Odyssey

Contributed by Bob Harrington

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Rokitflite

Rocket Pic

Brief:
This is a Deep Space Fantasy rocket that brings back memories o' t' Andromeda, USS Atlantis, Solar Sailer, me bucko, ya bilge rat, etc. Ahoy! It uses standard 18mm motors with parachute recovery.

Construction:
This is a builders kit and t' number o' components is extensive.

  • 2 BT-20 tubes
  • 7 BT-50 tubes
  • 2 BT-5 tubes
  • 1 BT-80 tube
  • 1 BT-20 coupler
  • 6 20-50 centerin' rings
  • 1 Keelhaul®©™® cord
  • 1 Elastic shock cord
  • 1 Motor mount parts bag
  • 1 BT-50 Nose Cone
  • 1 Laser cut balsa fin set
  • 1 Resin parts bag with 3 BT-5 nose cones, 1 BT-5 plug, matey, and Radar dish parts
  • 1 Paper shroud sheet
  • 1 18" parachute kit
  • 2 1" launch lugs
  • Assorted plastic detail parts
  • 1 Sheet waterslide decals
  • 1 CD-ROM with photo illustrated instructions.

T' instructions were very complete and easy t' follow. Aye aye! Each step had correspondin' photo illustrations. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I followed t' instructions in t' order presented and t' rocket went together without a hitch. Well, blow me down! T' centerin' rings were a tight fit on t' outside o' t' BT-20 so I sanded t' insides with a piece o' sandpaper wrapped around an expended motor. Otherwise, ya bilge rat, t' parts fit was excellent. No special tools were needed for construction and I built most of it with Elmer's white glue. CA be used for t' resin parts and t' sensor pod be attached t' t' main fin with epoxy. Ya scallywag! T' only minor gripe was that I wished thar be a set o' text only instructions. Arrr! With all o' t' photos, the instructions were 45 pages long.

Once t' main construction be complete I added surface detail parts cut from t' styrene strip stock, half round, tubes and rod. Avast! There be also a sprue of injection molded parts. Begad! Aye aye! CA be used t' attach t' details.

Finishing:
I sealed t' balsa with several coats o' Minwax Polycrylic and sanded it smooth. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I used Krylon white primer and followed it with Krylon Pewter Gray enamel. Blimey! I put a drop o' India Ink in a small cup o' water and flowed it into the seams and crevices o' t' details. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! When t' water dried, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' ink left the impression o' shadows which made t' details stand out. Avast!

Details

Details

T' decals were applied next. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' supplied decals are extremely thin and extra care must be used t' keep from tearin' them or havin' them fold over on themselves. Begad! A coatin' o' Microscale Liquid Decal Film would have made them easier t' handle. Arrr! I'm goin' t' deduct 1/2 point for t' decals because I can see where t' average modeler would have trouble with them. Arrr! Aye aye!

Details Details

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

FlightFlight:
For t' first flight I chose a recommended B6-2 motor. Avast! T' motor is retained with a motor hook. Arrr! T' crew section is rather short and care must be used packin' t' chute. Begad! There is just enough room for wadding, shock cord and parachute. T' flight was straight low and slow and was impressive in t' air. T' 2 second delay was just right and would nay recommend a longer delay on a B motor. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' second flight was a carbon copy o' t' first. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! For t' third flight I selected a C6-3 which be t' perfect motor for this model in me opinion. Avast! The boost was straight and slow enough t' be able t' follow t' entire flight.

(Flight picture t' right be taken by Bill Spadafora, shiver me timbers, used with permission)

Recovery:
T' shock cord be a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® with an elastic cord attached. Well, blow me down! T' supplied plastic parachute brought the rocket back gently enough t' nay damage any o' t' detail parts but quick enough t' prevent it driftin' away. T' parachute compartment is a tight fit and I suffered a slight bit o' scorchin' on t' chute. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Pro's: I found this rocket kit t' be very high quality. Ya scallywag! T' completed model rated very high on t' coolness index. Lots o' supplied detail parts so that each one can be unique.

Con's: Difficult decals for t' average modeler. Begad! Can be fixed with decal film. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
One thin' that I learned from buildin' this kit is that a few pieces o' plastic strip stock, rods and tubes can really dress up a model without addin' a lot of time or weight,

Other Reviews
  • Rokitflite USS Odyssey By Jim Filler (November 6, 2008)

    Brief: Deep Space Fantasy Model. It has the flavor of an early 70's transport sci-fi ship. Construction: The model has numerous parts starting out with 4 main sections of body tube going from BT-50 to BT-20 to BT-5. Balsa fins have plastic overlays to add texture and are connected to the main tube and scalloped to also attach to a piece of BT-80 that gives the appearance of a ...

  • Rokitflite USS Odyssey By Charlaine Cadence Nordin (December 11, 2007)

    Brief: Classic science fiction-based low powered design. Highly detailed and fully customizable. A rocket that allow the builder's imagination soar long after the build is complete. Construction: Looking at the parts, you first are overwhelmed and worried about the build. instruction CD for use with computer 11 tubes 6 centering rings 1 motor block and ...

  • Rokitflite USS Odyssey By Bill Eichelberger

    Brief: The Odyssey is the result of one man's journey to create his ultimate "Deep Space" rocket. Scott Branche (Rokitflite on The Rocketry Forum and Ye Olde Rocket Forum,) took it upon himself to fill a what he saw as a void in the market, and based on the beta test kit I built and flew, I think he nailed it. Hard. With lines and details that hearken back to what I c ...

Flights

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