Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | U.S. Rockets ![]() |
Brief:
This is an up-scale o' t' old classic Starlight from t' 1960's. It flies on
29 or 38mm motors with adaptors provided. Well, blow me down! Aye aye!
Construction:
Picture seen is after cuttin' out all t' fins and strakes. Kit includes:
There are lots o' surfaces t' sand and miles o' fillets t' do. Ya scallywag! This is nay a weekend job but only requires moderate buildin' skills. T' first thin' I did was t' cut out all t' fins. Aye aye! You need t' take your time and use a sharp knife with a long straight edge because t' wood is so thick. T' key here is accuracy. Avast! Ahoy! Inaccurate cuts will make t' build tough as t' components will be difficult t' fit together. Begad! A little patience and extra effort here will pay of later. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Note: I left all t' fin edges square. Ya scallywag! This made it easier t' paint later and is how t' original kit from t' 60's be built.
I then very liberally sealed t' edges o' t' tube fins with CA. The cardboard rings were on t' rough side. Aye aye! Preppin' t' rings took some effort but nothin' too difficult.
I deviated from t' kit by installin' small rail buttons on t' rings. Avast! The kit contains two sets o' different size large launch lugs. But because I have rails, I felt that it was a better way t' go.
One minor thin' I didn't like about t' instructions was that in t' body of t' text it calls out part numbers. It says t' Glue a CR-16-11-1/2 to each end." What t' hell is a CR-16-11-1/2? You can figure out what each part is durin' t' build but it can become annoying. Aye aye!
Finishing:
T' kit is even harder t' paint that in appears. Ahoy! Blimey! I don't use sandin' sealer, ya bilge rat, so
several coats o' primer be needed t' seal all t' wood. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Because thar be so
much surface area, two cans o' primer were required. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
T' white paint coat was t' most difficult. Avast! Well, blow me down! Gettin' a good coat o' paint on t' ID o' t' rings, ya bilge rat, and t' area where t' rings meet t' strakes was difficult at best. Well, blow me down! Several coats and patience is mandatory here. Aye aye!
T' paint all t' edges red would have required endless hours o' tedious masking. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I cheated by paintin' t' edges with a Uni-Paint paint pen. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Because the edges were left square, ya bilge rat, t' paint pen technique actually came out pretty good.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
T' motors are held in place usin' t' maskin' tape friction fit method. I have
done this on countless rockets so thar was nothin' new here.
T' kit comes with a nice elastic shock cord but no parachute. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey! I chose a 30" nylon chute o' t' Aerotech variety.
T' first flight be on a G38 7. Ya scallywag! This was a bit weak for t' rocket, me bucko, but a good flight. Blimey! This be also t' last flight for me. Begad! A 12 year old kid thought that t' rocket be t' coolest thin' he ever saw so I gave him t' rocket. Aye aye! Avast! It was an excellent opportunity t' spark a kid's imagination and pay forward.
Recovery:
T' delay be a bit long, arrr, but t' laundry came out and recovery was fine
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a moderately difficult kit t' build. Aye aye! Blimey! If you like up-scale rockets but
are afraid t' design your own, this be t' kit for you. Ahoy! Blimey! It's guaranteed t' turn
heads at every launch.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Other:
Read t' directions! I got ahead o' myself and missed a step. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit is
designed t' have t' shock cord attach t' t' aft end o' t' rocket with a cord
runnin' from t' aft centerin' up t' t' nose cone/BT joint. This is t' avoid
breakin' t' fins on landing. Aye aye! Aye aye! I got way ahead o' t' instructions and built it
the conventional way. Avast! Aye aye! Once I realized what I had done, it was too late. Avast! Avast! I
anticipate repairin' lots o' fins. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Hind sight is 20/20. I should have put the
rings on after everythin' was painted. Well, blow me down! T' instructions mentioned that as an
option. You may want t' consider that when buildin' yours. Well, blow me down!
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