Custom Rockets - TriStar {Kit} (10027)

Custom Rockets TriStar

Custom Rockets - TriStar {Kit} (10027)

Contributed by Kevin Johnson

Diameter:	0.98 inches
Length:	9.65 inches
Manufacturer:	Custom Rockets
Skill Level:	1
Style:	Futuristic/Exotic

(Contributed - by Kevin Johnson)

Rocket Pic Brief:
Futuristic transport design for 18mm motors and parachute recovery.

Construction:
The kit includes 1 body tube, 1 motor mount, 4 die cut balsa pieces, a plastic nose cone and a 12 inch parachute kit. It also had a 1/8" launch lug and elastic shock cord.

I bought this kit to have something to build while the glue dried on one of my other projects. As I put it together though, I couldn't wait to get it finished and fly it!

The instructions are typical for Custom kits, well laid out and with good illustrations for each step. One of the things I like about the Custom instructions is they provide a template for fin alignment in the instructions that you don't have to cut out and tape around the BT like in Estes kits. You drop the tube onto the drawing and mark the fin locations from that. Then run the line down the length you need with a door jamb. Easy and quick.

Take care when cutting the die cut fins from the balsa blank.. there are some small 90 degree cuts that you want to make sure stay together. The balsa in my kit was a little dry and the die cutting wasn't as sharp as I've seen in other models. You will most likely need to fill the joint of the wings and the tips to get a nice smooth, flat surface. I kinda cheated here and used the decals to cover up the joint.

Finishing:
The suggested paint scheme is pretty slick. The water-slide decals included with the kit are great and add a lot to the design.

Construction Rating: 3 out of 5

Flight:
I can only give you the info from one flight due to the efforts of one large, rocket-eating tree. For the first flight I used an A8-3 because the flying field was kinda small. I folded the plastic chute, used three squares of wadding and loaded it all up. The boost was straight and much higher than I thought it would be. Nothing like a small light rocket on an A engine. The recommended motors go up to a C6-5, but if you use one, you better have some sharp-eyed folks and a charge of tracking powder to help you find it.

Recovery:
The 'chute came out fine and the rocket started to drift downrange.. right into the top of a 75' tall tree. DRAT! I would have liked to have gotten this one back because it is such a neat looking and high flying rocket.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
PRO's: Slick looks and ease of construction. A great flyer. CON's: The die cutting was a little rough in my kit. Since I'll have to get another one.. I'll compare and post a follow up.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Reviews

Custom Rockets TriStar By Bill Eichelberger
The TriStar is a single stage rocket with a futuristic passenger rocket design using parachute recovery. I built this rocket for my nephew to fly at a recent family launch, but my nephew crushed it before it got the chance to see it's first flight. I repaired it as well as I could, didn't care for the results, and set it aside for two months. I found it sitting looking dejected today ...

Flights

Comments:

K.R.J. (July 1, 2001)

I agree with this reviewer. The nose cones are a horrible fit, and the shock cord was taken straight from Estes' play book. This was the second rocket my son had ever built, and the fins sheared off at apogee. Don't know why. This rocket will really boogie on a B motor, but he is afraid to fly it again because of the fin problem. So, I'll just have to get one for myself, strengthen the fins and fatten the nose cone, and see what a D21 will do!

J.W. (September 25, 2002)

The review is about what I had encountered. I built the kit per the instructions, and used Dupli-Color acrylic primer as a filler. I then sprayed the entire rocket Testors #2943 Bright White. I sprayed the nose cone a Testors Acryl Engine Blue and it did not match the decals. I later found that Testors #1211 matches the blue decals. My first flight was with an A8-3. The rocket looked great in flight, and ejected the parachute at apogee. The 2nd flight was with a B6-4 and went about 400 ft. At apogee, the nose cone and parachute came apart from the body. The body came down first and actually glides! I caught it and also was lucky to recover the nose cone a little later.

J.B. (May 24, 2008)

I think the review was accurate. The fins/wings are die cut balsa and require a little cutting to free them from the sheet. However, this is not a big deal and takes no longer than a few minutes. The nose cone fits way to loose. To fix that I just primed and painted the entire nose cone to build up the shoulder. Overall it's a nice kit, nice price, and well worth your time. Makes a very sharp rocket that?s more than a normal fin nose cone look.

P.L. (June 19, 2009)

My fins required a lot of blade work to free them from the sheet and a bit of sanding to get both fins of each set the same size. The nosecone was very loose but a couple of wraps of masking tape fixed that. It is a good tip to test fit the motor mount as I had to sand the centering rings down to get a nice fit. Apart from these setbacks, the model built up well, and at the end of the day it looks pretty good. It would have been good if the fins were laser cut, but all in all I like this kit.

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