Brief:
Retro lookin' budget kit for 18mm motors.

Construction:
T' cover art doesn't do justice t' this kit, it looks a lot better in t' flesh than t' cream example used in t' photograph. Aye aye! Apart from finishing, and laminatin' t' fins with printer paper, arrr, t' kit be built as per t' instructions. Ahoy! All parts were present.

T' instructions weren't a surprise t' me as I have built a number o' Starlight kits, but if you are used t' Estes and Quest instructions, get ready for a shock. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Instructions are typewritten and illustrations are hand drawn. Ahoy! This isn't so bad, arrr, me bucko, but when measurements are hand written, ya bilge rat, and t' instructions have measurements like t' 2 !/2" [sic] example above, newer modelers may find themselves confused. Begad! Well, blow me down! However, ya bilge rat, this is nothin' that a few hours with a computer and a good proofread wouldn't fix.

On with construction. Aye aye! My BT-20 (called a BT-7 in t' instructions) was unevenly cut, shiver me timbers, so I re-cut t' ends first. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor hook provided is made from music wire, and despite bein' glued and taped t' t' motor mount, arrr, arrr, t' wire simply rotates around its long axis allowin' t' motor t' be kicked on ejection (more on that later). Well, blow me down! Both body tubes are good quality, with fine spirals.

Three centerin' rings hold t' BT-20 in t' larger, me bucko, shorter, shiver me timbers, BT-60 (called a BT-16). Ahoy! Blimey! This gives t' Asteroid Probe its great 'Hot Dog' looks. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Top and bottom centerin' rings sit flush with t' ends o' t' larger body tube.

T' balsa used in t' fins and nose cone is fairly soft. Begad! Arrr! I decided t' bevel t' leadin' and trailin' edges o' t' fins and laminate them with PVA (white glue) and printer paper. Aye aye! T' nose cone required a lot o' filling.

Fin attachment is easy. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube is pre-marked with blue lines for fins and a red line for t' cardboard launch lug. Ahoy! Begad! I used gel CA for initial attachment o' t' fins, me bucko, ya bilge rat, then filleted with 5 minute epoxy.

T' shock cord is a good length o' round elastic anchored with a Stine style paper mount. Begad! A good quality 30cm (12 inch) mylar parachute kit is included with t' Asteroid Probe.

Finishing:
Finishin' be simple. Arrr! I sprayed t' rocket with 3 coats o' Plasti-Kote Super Primer and 3 coats o' white enamel. Blimey! Red for t' nose cone and front centerin' ring, blue for t' rear. Stripes on t' fins were done with Tamiya paint pens.

One sheet o' decals are provided. Ya scallywag! Red text that says 'Asteroid Probe' in an MICR style font, a gold band, arrr, ya bilge rat, and a couple o' small arrows. Begad! I decided nay t' use them on this build. Avast! Instead I made a wrap o' adhesive art paper on which I printed a shark's mouth, some eyes, me bucko, and other gubbins.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
I flew me Asteroid Probe a total o' 8 times. Boost was always very straight with a minimum o' weathercocking. T' motor be always taped in as t' music wire motor hook simply rotated out o' any position where it could have been any use in holdin' t' motor. Blimey! B6-4s and C6-5s give excellent flights.

T' mylar parachute is a tight fit in t' BT-20 body tube. Ya scallywag! A liberal dustin' with talc immediately before packin' gave a good deployment every time.

On 6 flights t' Probe detached a fin on landing, me bucko, and strangely it be always at t' fin root. Arrr! There be never a snapped fin. Aye aye! Ahoy! One flight yielded no damage. Blimey! T' final flight was a ballistic lawn dart on a C6-5 which tore t' shock cord mount out o' t' inner body tube. Avast! I'll miss t' flights, shiver me timbers, but nay t' landings.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is nay me first experience with Starlight's budget range o' kits, ya bilge rat, havin' previously built a Queeze-Bee, Hyperon, and Sparrow. Blimey! There are a couple o' their other kits waitin' in t' build queue. Avast, me proud beauty! Starlight's kits are a mix o' good and nay so good, and t' designs are quite neat, but t' translation into kits leaves a bit t' be desired. Avast! This had t' potential t' be a fantastic kit, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but as they say, ya bilge rat, t' devil is in t' detail.

PROs: Unusual styling. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Pre-marked body tube. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Low price.

CONs: Instructions. Motor hook. Fins are easily damaged.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5