Sirius Rocketry S.S. Cestris

Sirius Rocketry - S.S. Cestris

Contributed by Tim Blohm

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Sirius Rocketry

Brief:
From t' Sirius website:

"Beginnin' in t' late 21st Century, arrr, t' growin' commercialization o' space created a great demand for t' regular and reliable transportation o' cargo and passengers. T' Cestris class o' interplanetary transport vehicles were t' workhorses o' t' fleet, shiver me timbers, part o' an intermodal transport system that used ”Interplanetainer” modular containers t' move cargo, ferry space tourists, generate power, supply research bases and much more. Begad! Blimey! T' Interplanetainers could be carried on train, me hearties, truck, ship, shiver me timbers, and space cargo transport. Ya scallywag! Some cargo containers could also be magnetically accelerated into space by launchers located on t' moon, where they would be picked up in orbit, allowin' for longer-distance cargo missions. T' Cestris class ships could carry two Interplanetainers each, me bucko, and work hard t' supply t' demand created by humankind’s reach into t' solar system."
Sirius Rocketry Cestris Sirius Rocketry Cestris T' S.S. Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Cestris is a futuristic interplanetary transport vehicle. Well, blow me down! It is a single stage skill level 3 rocket with a very unique vacuformed nose cone. Avast!

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1/8" diameter dowel 1-1/4" long
  • 1/8" dia. Begad! dowel 3" long (2)
  • 1/8" dia. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! dowel 3-1/4" long
  • Motor Mount tube BT-50 2-3/4" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x12" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x16" long
  • Main body tube BT-55 14" long
  • Intake body tubes BT-50 14" long (2)
  • Command Cone kit (Nose cone, matey, me hearties, comes in it own little kit)[P/N # S-0102]
  • S.S.Cestris assembly manual
  • 18" dia. Avast! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Mylar chute kit
  • Fin pattern sheet (P/N S-0013-02)
  • Intake tube cuttin' and markin' guide (P/N S-0013-03)
  • Self Adhesive detail wrap sheets (P/N S-0013-01)
  • CR-5055 centerin' rings (2)
  • Thrust ring/ engine block
  • Engine hook 2-3/4" long
  • 3/16" launch lug 2" long
  • 1/4" wide elastic shock cord- 36" long
  • Keelhaul®©™® Cord 18" long
  • Decal sheet #1 (P/N S-0013-04)
  • Decal Sheet #2 (P/N S-0013-05)
  • Decal Sheet #3 (P/N S-0013-06)

As with any kit, t' parts layout can either build up t' excitement o' t' build or give one t' attitude of 'well, shiver me timbers, arrr, me hearties, it won't be hard or take too long'. Begad! Blimey! T' Cestris parts certainly did t' former. As I laid t' parts out, my anticipation heightened. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! I couldn't wait t' get started. T' build itself was pretty straightforward. Begad! Instructions were easy t' follow. Arrr! There are some body tube wraps that need t' be cut out and attached. I was nay sure exactly what they're for, but I liked t' different look it gave t' t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' little problem I encountered be step #24. You must glue t' scramjet intake sides t' t' scramjet intake bottoms. Begad! I think it was more myself than t' instructions, but make sure you have t' grain goin' in t' right direction or it won't come out correct. Ahoy! T' main rocket assembly was pretty basic. Aye aye! Blimey!

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Now on t' t' nose cone. Blimey! My advice: take your time! I tried t' get this rocket built in a day and that was a mistake. T' nose comes in its own separate little kit complete with its own instructions. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Again, I can't stress enough, take your time. Ya scallywag! It's a bit tricky cuttin' t' 2 halves out so go slowly and carefully. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' recommended adhesive was liquid plastic cement and tube type plastic cement. Arrr! This is what I used and it worked just fine. Blimey! Ahoy! My only mistake was, as I was movin' pretty fast, matey, I didn't allow sufficient time for t' tube type cement t' dry and I used a bit too much (the instructions kind o' show how much t' use, but you could use much less and still achieve a good bond). Avast! As a result t' plastic softened so much so that it was mushy and when I went t' pick it up and handle it, me bucko, I deformed it. (This was at t' step where you glue t' tube into one half o' t' nose cone.) %#$*! It took a few sessions o' filling and sanding, matey, arrr, but it turned out OK. Arrr! Avast! Remember, take your time with nose cone. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Finishing:
Finishin' was again pretty much like any other rocket. Begad! Blimey! Primer, me hearties, me bucko, sand, primer, sand, etc. Then paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' nose cone painted up just fine. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Just be careful what type o' paint you use as some paints may attack t' plastic. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I really liked the many different choices you had with t' decals. It really gives a person t' opportunity make t' kit your own and yet still be different from everyone else's. Begad! Blimey! T' kit looks fantastic when finished.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Sirius Rocketry Cestris

Flight:
T' recommended motor for t' fist flight is a D12-5. Well by this time I had purchased a 24/40 casin' so I decided to use an AT D15-4. (I just realized that this be nay one o' t' recommended motors. Oops.) I loaded it up and taped the motor in. Blimey! When building, me hearties, I did nay modify t' motor mount t' accept a reload case so I had t' just tape it in. Begad! Blimey! It worked just fine. Begad! 3, 2, shiver me timbers, matey, arrr, 1, lift-off. Well, blow me down! Instantaneous ignition. T' rocket did a little loop-de-loop on t' way up, otherwise it was a nice straight boost. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Parachute ejected at apogee and t' 18" mylar chute deployed fully, bringin' it gently back t' earth. I was very pleased.

Recovery:
Recovery was perfect. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fantastic kit t' build and fly and worth is every bit o' t' $27. Aye aye! It be challengin' yet very enjoyable to put together. Avast! Arrr! T' only con might be that t' nose cone could present a problem with someone with less experience in buildin' but nay enough t' take anythin' away from this kit. Begad!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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