Custom Rockets Satellite Drone

Custom Rockets - Satellite Drone {Kit} (10022)

Contributed by Kevin Drayson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Length: 17.75 inches
Manufacturer: Custom Rockets
Skill Level: 3
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

[Picture]Brief:
This kit is a single stage, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, "fantasy scale" rocket, usin' a ring-fin for stability.

Construction:
T' kit arrived with all t' necessary parts included, and in good shape. T' balsa and t' tubes appear t' be identical t' Estes parts. Begad! Avast! T' nose cone and centerin' rings, however, I found t' be sub-standard. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' centerin' rings were very thin and flimsy- I used them, ya bilge rat, but reinforced them with bits o' Balsa t' strengthen them. I'd be frightened t' fly this thin' without this mod! T' nose cone appears t' be sone cheap plastic, me bucko, nay t' higher-quality stuff I'm used t' from Estes, matey, TLP, and other companies. Avast, me proud beauty! T' parts all went together easily enough, but t' rin' tail gave me some trouble. Arrr! T' span o' t' fins was just a bit too short, so I wound up havin' t' hold t' rin' in place while t' glue dried. T' rest o' t' kit be very straight-forward. Blimey! T' finished product is a smart-lookin' ship. T' narrow fins that go on just ahead o' t' rin' are pretty fragile, ya bilge rat, arrr, but t' rest is solid enough.

Finishing:
Paintin' t' kit is simple enough. Ya scallywag! Prime, ya bilge rat, spray t' whole ship white, me bucko, and paint t' nose red. After that, me hearties, t' decals go on. I haven't put t' decals on mine just yet, I got distracted with some other projects, and t' rocket looks good enough without them! Overall, matey, I'm givin' a ratin' o' 3 for construction/finishing. Avast! T' score would be much higher if t' centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, which I consider a safety issue, were made o' sturdier stuff. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' poorly-fittin' ring/fin arrangement costs them as well.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
I've had two flights on me Satellite Drone so far, ya bilge rat, arrr, both very successful. Begad! T' first nearly ended up in a tree, me bucko, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but was recovered. Avast! Arrr! T' second resulted in a short hike, me hearties, but be otherwise uneventful. Begad! Arrr! Both flights were on C6-3's.

Recovery:
This is a very light rocket for t' size o' chute that was included. I opted t' cut a spill hole in it, arrr, matey, even before t' first flight. Ya scallywag! It still drifts considerably. Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I'd enlarge t' spill hole, but I'm worried about breakin' those narrow forward fins.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' final product is a very nice looking, me hearties, arrr, unique ship. Avast, me proud beauty! T' quality o' materials has room for improvement, but t' design itself seems well thought-out.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flights

comment Post a Comment