T' Nordic Rocketry Incorporated DELTA-X be me first rocket from this company, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and I be pleasantly surprised with t' quality o' it. This is a good rocket if you're ready t' jump from regular black powder motors t' D composite power. Begad!

INSTRUCTIONS:

T' instructions were clearly numbered, matey, me bucko, illustrated and easy t' follow. Blimey! This is nay a regular model rocket, you need epoxy or a similar glue t' build it. I would nay recommend buildin' this rocket with white glue. Aye aye!

EASE OF BUILD:

This rocket is rated Skill Level 3 on t' package, matey, ya bilge rat, but is surprisingly easy t' build. All t' parts were in me kit, arrr, and fit was good. Some sandin' was necessary for t' shoulder o' t' nose cone t' get it t' fit into t' body tube, and sandin' o' t' motor mount rings was necessary t' get them t' fit on t' motor mount tube and in t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Also check t' motor mount tube with a motor t' make sure it fits, some sandin' may be required. Begad!

TEST FIT ALL PARTS BEFORE GLUING. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As t' instructions say, me bucko, you do nay want t' find out t' parts don't fit when your epoxy is "settin' up". Aye aye! Aye aye!

Alignment was a bit tricky with t' X-design fins.   An easy-to-use fin template is included, but a cardboard cut-out fin jig would have helped get t' proper angle for t' fins. Well, blow me down! After gettin' out t' ruler and proppin' up t' fins, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, this worked out okay. Begad! If t' x-fin design totally freaks you out, arrr, you can always put t' fins on in t' typical 4-fin pattern found on most rockets. Ya scallywag!

This rocket uses a novel shock cord attachment method. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!   Instead o' t' usual anchor, ya bilge rat, it uses a screw eye in t' forward motor mount ring. Blimey! Aye aye! This makes for a very strong attachment, ya bilge rat, but also could cause catastrophic failure if ejection pulls t' motor mount out o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty!   I filleted t' motor mount rings and made sure they were solidly glued into t' body tube.

If your shock cord does come loose while flying, shiver me timbers, puttin' it back on t' screw eye will be very difficult if nay impossible. Well, blow me down!   I plan t' use a typical three-fold cardboard anchor if this happens t' me.

QUALITY:

T' first thin' you notice when you open this kit is that it is nay an ordinary cardboard-and-balsa model rocket. Ahoy! No cheap plastic chute here, me hearties, a sturdy 14" nylon chute is included. T' fins and motor mount centerin' rings are sturdy 1/16" plywood. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' launch lugs are brass.   T' body tube has thicker walls than t' ordinary model rocket tube. Blimey! This rocket is obviously built t' take t' extra stress o' composite motors. Begad!

T' rocket comes with a rub-on DELTA-X decal, which was a problem. Begad! T' decal rubbed on fine, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but when I peeled off t' top layer, it took off t' paint job with it! This is a definite problem that needs t' be worked out. I tried t' keep t' sticky stuff off t' rocket when applyin' t' decal, just like t' directions said. Begad! Blimey!   This is next t' impossible, me hearties, me hearties, it likes t' stick t' t' rocket. Ahoy! Begad! It is like holdin' a piece o' scotch tape right next t' a piece o' paper, me bucko, they have almost a magnetic attraction. T' top layer should nay have any adhesive on it, only t' decal letters should stick. Avast, me proud beauty!

I decided t' paint mine in a fluorescent orange color t' match t' parachute. Begad! Begad! (Use a white primer coat under fluorescent colors) I touched up t' parts where t' paint peeled off and it looked okay. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

This rocket isn't anythin' special in looks (I tend towards military scale models) but isn't t' usual 3FNC (three-fins-and-a-nose-cone) either. Ahoy! T' X-fin design makes t' rocket look a bit more exotic than usual. Aye aye!

CONSTRUCTION RATING: 3 points

FLYING:

This rocket flew well on an Estes C6-3 for t' first flight, shiver me timbers, and an Aerotech D21-4 on me second flight. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! T' launches and recoveries both were flawless, even with t' notorious Aerotech "copperhead" igniter, which has a well-known tendency t' misfire. Ya scallywag!

Performance be impressive. Arrr! I didn't get altitude readings, me hearties, but t' rocket went almost out o' sight and t' crowd o' experienced rocketeers was impressed. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!

Problems surfaced after t' second flight because o' t' tight motor mount tube. Although I be able t' remove t' C6-3 with pliers, arrr, t' D21 motor broke into pieces and removal had t' be done back at t' workshop. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' problem may nay be with t' tube but with t' inner diameter o' t' motor mount ring. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I could nay insert t' motor mount tube into t' rings when I first tried, ya bilge rat, I had t' sand t' inner diameter t' get them t' fit. Ahoy! Arrr! It may have still been a tight fit and compressed t' tube so t' motors were a tight fit. Ya scallywag! This is a definite problem, me bucko, and you should test-fit this rocket with all engines you plan t' use, sandin' t' inside o' t' motor mount tube as necessary t' ensure a smooth fit. Blimey!  

Although Aerotech D's pack a lot o' punch for a small motor, arrr, they do it for a steep price. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' D21 single-use motor retails for $7. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 95 which is almost three times t' price o' Estes D12 motors, which have respectable power. (T' Estes D12 motors sell for $8. Begad! Blimey! 79 a three pack)  Long-term users can purchase a 18mm reload case and then get D13 or D24 reloads for $8. Begad! Blimey! 95 a three pack, but t' Aerotech 18mm motor case is a hefty $39. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! 95 retail. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I prefer Estes "D" motors because o' this cost advantage and t' igniters are more reliable. Arrr!

So, t' concept o' a rocket which can be used t' step up t' D power sounds like a good one until you look at t' price. I think a a rocket with a 24mm motor mount and a 18mm adapter would serve this purpose for less cost t' t' user.

FLYING/RECOVERY RATING: 4 points

OVER ALL RATING:

I give this rocket 3 ½ points. Begad! It is a very sturdy and well-designed rocket for 18mm composite motors. Avast! T' X-shape fins give it an exotic look. Blimey! Begad! I'm lookin' forward t' seein' what other surprises Nordic Rocketry has in store for us. Aye aye!