Sirius Rocketry S.S. Cestris

Sirius Rocketry - S.S. Cestris

Contributed by Tim Blohm

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Sirius Rocketry

Brief:
From t' Sirius website:

"Beginnin' in t' late 21st Century, t' growin' commercialization o' space created a great demand for t' regular and reliable transportation o' cargo and passengers. Avast! T' Cestris class o' interplanetary transport vehicles were t' workhorses o' t' fleet, me hearties, matey, part o' an intermodal transport system that used ”Interplanetainer” modular containers t' move cargo, ferry space tourists, shiver me timbers, generate power, ya bilge rat, me bucko, matey, supply research bases and much more. Begad! Aye aye! T' Interplanetainers could be carried on train, me bucko, truck, me bucko, ship, and space cargo transport. Some cargo containers could also be magnetically accelerated into space by launchers located on t' moon, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, where they would be picked up in orbit, me hearties, allowin' for longer-distance cargo missions. Blimey! T' Cestris class ships could carry two Interplanetainers each, ya bilge rat, and work hard t' supply t' demand created by humankind’s reach into t' solar system."
Sirius Rocketry Cestris Sirius Rocketry Cestris T' S.S. Aye aye! Arrr! Cestris is a futuristic interplanetary transport vehicle. Ahoy! It is a single stage skill level 3 rocket with a very unique vacuformed nose cone.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1/8" diameter dowel 1-1/4" long
  • 1/8" dia. Begad! dowel 3" long (2)
  • 1/8" dia. Avast, me proud beauty! dowel 3-1/4" long
  • Motor Mount tube BT-50 2-3/4" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x12" long
  • 3/32" thick balsa sheet 4x16" long
  • Main body tube BT-55 14" long
  • Intake body tubes BT-50 14" long (2)
  • Command Cone kit (Nose cone, me hearties, comes in it own little kit)[P/N # S-0102]
  • S.S.Cestris assembly manual
  • 18" dia. Avast! Blimey! Mylar chute kit
  • Fin pattern sheet (P/N S-0013-02)
  • Intake tube cuttin' and markin' guide (P/N S-0013-03)
  • Self Adhesive detail wrap sheets (P/N S-0013-01)
  • CR-5055 centerin' rings (2)
  • Thrust ring/ engine block
  • Engine hook 2-3/4" long
  • 3/16" launch lug 2" long
  • 1/4" wide elastic shock cord- 36" long
  • Keelhaul®©™® Cord 18" long
  • Decal sheet #1 (P/N S-0013-04)
  • Decal Sheet #2 (P/N S-0013-05)
  • Decal Sheet #3 (P/N S-0013-06)

As with any kit, t' parts layout can either build up t' excitement o' t' build or give one t' attitude of 'well, it won't be hard or take too long'. T' Cestris parts certainly did t' former. As I laid t' parts out, ya bilge rat, my anticipation heightened. Avast! Aye aye! I couldn't wait t' get started. T' build itself was pretty straightforward. Instructions were easy t' follow. Blimey! There are some body tube wraps that need t' be cut out and attached. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I was nay sure exactly what they're for, but I liked t' different look it gave t' t' rocket. Begad! Aye aye! T' little problem I encountered was step #24. Aye aye! You must glue t' scramjet intake sides t' t' scramjet intake bottoms. I think it was more myself than t' instructions, but make sure you have t' grain goin' in t' right direction or it won't come out correct. Well, blow me down! T' main rocket assembly was pretty basic. Blimey! Begad!

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Now on t' t' nose cone. Begad! My advice: take your time! I tried t' get this rocket built in a day and that was a mistake. T' nose comes in its own separate little kit complete with its own instructions. Arrr! Again, I can't stress enough, take your time. Arrr! It's a bit tricky cuttin' t' 2 halves out so go slowly and carefully. T' recommended adhesive was liquid plastic cement and tube type plastic cement. Well, blow me down! This is what I used and it worked just fine. Avast, me proud beauty! My only mistake was, as I was movin' pretty fast, ya bilge rat, arrr, arrr, I didn't allow sufficient time for t' tube type cement t' dry and I used a bit too much (the instructions kind o' show how much t' use, but you could use much less and still achieve a good bond). Aye aye! As a result t' plastic softened so much so that it was mushy and when I went t' pick it up and handle it, me bucko, I deformed it. (This be at t' step where you glue t' tube into one half o' t' nose cone.) %#$*! It took a few sessions o' filling and sanding, but it turned out OK. Ya scallywag! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Remember, me bucko, take your time with nose cone. Well, blow me down!

Sirius Rocketry CestrisSirius Rocketry Cestris

Finishing:
Finishin' was again pretty much like any other rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! Primer, shiver me timbers, sand, primer, ya bilge rat, sand, etc. Blimey! Blimey! Then paint. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' nose cone painted up just fine. Avast! Blimey! Just be careful what type o' paint you use as some paints may attack t' plastic. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I really liked the many different choices you had with t' decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It really gives a person t' opportunity make t' kit your own and yet still be different from everyone else's. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' kit looks fantastic when finished. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Sirius Rocketry Cestris

Flight:
T' recommended motor for t' fist flight is a D12-5. Ya scallywag! Begad! Well by this time I had purchased a 24/40 casin' so I decided to use an AT D15-4. Well, me bucko, blow me down! (I just realized that this was nay one o' t' recommended motors. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Oops.) I loaded it up and taped the motor in. Arrr! When building, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, I did nay modify t' motor mount t' accept a reload case so I had t' just tape it in. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! It worked just fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! 3, 2, shiver me timbers, 1, lift-off. Begad! Instantaneous ignition. T' rocket did a little loop-de-loop on t' way up, otherwise it was a nice straight boost. Avast! Parachute ejected at apogee and t' 18" mylar chute deployed fully, bringin' it gently back t' earth. I be very pleased.

Recovery:
Recovery be perfect.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a fantastic kit t' build and fly and worth is every bit o' t' $27. It was challengin' yet very enjoyable to put together. Arrr! Begad! T' only con might be that t' nose cone could present a problem with someone with less experience in buildin' but nay enough t' take anythin' away from this kit. Ya scallywag!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

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