Starlight Rockets Queez-Bee

Starlight Rockets - Queez-Bee {Kit}

Contributed by John Arthur

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Starlight Rockets
Style: Spin-Fin
Starlight Queeze-Bee

Brief:
This is a 4 fins and a nose cone (with a twist) rocket kit rated skill level 1 by Starlight Rockets from Walkerton, Indiana. Begad! T' twist is each fin has another little fin attached t' it that makes it spin, me bucko, me bucko, thus t' name "Queeze", as in "dizzy" Bee.

Construction:
T' kit included 1 body tube, a balsa nose cone, shock cord, me bucko, 2 sets o' fins, a screw eye, motor mount assembly, arrr, a mylar parachute kit, and a waterslide decal. All o' t' parts were o' average or better quality except for t' shroud lines on t' parachute, which are plain thread and I'm sure won't last long.

T' instructions are presented in a logical order and thar were no problems puttin' t' kit together. Arrr! Ahoy! There were pictures (drawings) t' help explain each step and they looked like they were drawn by me seven year old. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Nay very fancy but they were accurate. Avast! Could definitely use some improvement.

One bonus: t' body tube is premarked where t' fins are t' be mounted, thus eliminatin' t' "draw a straight line in t' door frame" step.

T' kit went together nicely. Avast! Begad! No problems at all.

Finishing:
I finished t' kit with t' same paint scheme on t' package. Arrr! Begad! T' decal was a little thin but looked great when it was done. Ahoy! Begad! Sorry, me bucko, no photo o' t' finished model, me hearties, and it's too late t' photograph now--more on that later.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight got up thar on an A8-3. Ahoy! Blimey! Really pretty cool. Begad! Blimey! T' extra fins are glued on t' bottom o' t' regular fins causin' t' rocket t' spin t' entire way up. Blimey! Second flight be on a C6-7. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! It really got up there, matey, but you could still see t' spin. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I really enjoyed flyin' this rocket. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! 3rd flight was a week later, in a park surrounded by rocket eatin' trees. Avast, me proud beauty! Sent it up on an A8-3 due to t' HOUNDING o' a bunch o' kids that wanted t' see t' "little yellow one". Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! (I had been flyin' UFO's.) Nice flight. Does anyone have a ladder with a 75ft extension?

Recovery:
Recovery be fine. In t' future, me bucko, matey, I would replace t' parachute due t' t' weak shroud lines. Aye aye! If flyin' on C's I would suggest a streamer. Aye aye! Blimey! Shock cord be long piece o' elastic and be attached by t' weavin' t' cord through a couple holes in a piece o' paper. Ahoy! Begad! I had never done this before but it worked fine.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Nice rocket. Ya scallywag! Begad! It only cost $8.50 from an online dealer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, so I'm gettin' another since I lost this one. Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

Comments:

avatar
M.M. (February 18, 2006)
Something a little different. I agree with John's assessment on the kit. Mine was bought at an eBay auction, and missing a couple of parts, most importantly the spin fins which attach at the bottom of the main fin. I contacted the vendor who got the dimensions of the spin fins for me and I made up my own. First and only flight was on a B6-6. Visible spin on the way up, good height. Drifted too far on the chute and was lost to a roof, tree, yard.

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