Custom Rockets - Razor {Kit} (10017)

Custom Rockets Razor

Custom Rockets - Razor {Kit} (10017)

Contributed by Duane Boldt

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2010-08-26
Diameter:	0.98 inches
Length:	14.50 inches
Manufacturer:	Custom Rockets
Skill Level:	1
Style:	Ring/Tube/Cone Fin

Brief:
Easy to build, nice performing tube fin rocket.

It has parachute recovery and flies on 18mm motors.

Construction:

1 - BT-509 yellow body tube
1 - PC-50 nose cone
6 - tube fins
1 - 12" parachute
6 - TD-6 tape disks for parachute
1 - SL-72 shroud line set
1 - EC-2 motor clip
1 - ET-20 2.75" motor tube
2 - CR-2050 centering rings
1 - SC-2 shock cord
1 - LUG125 yellow launch lug
1 - EB-20 engine block
1 - decal sheet
1 - shock cord mount

The instructions are quite easy to follow and are printed on one 8.5" x 11.0" sheet, tri-folded.

1. As with many kits the first step is assembling the motor mount. the motor mount is standard fare.

2. Next the 6 tube fins are glued on one-by-one.

The shock cord mount is them cur out from the first fold of the instruction sheet. We cut our own out of a spare piece of paper to keep out copy of the instructions in fileable shape.

3. Next the provided yellow launch lug is glued on. *actually missed this step in our building and we first flew it without a launch lug... I glued the launch lug on after our launch last week.

4. The custom parachute is then assembled.

5. The shock cord and parachute are then attached to the "rings" on the nose cone. Having separate mounts for the parachute and shock cord was a good idea.

Finishing:
Finishing is quite easy as the body tube, tube fins and launch lug are already yellow out of the bag. The nose cone is also black plastic.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
CONS:

There were no CONS to our flights.

PROS:

I had forgot to glue on the launch lug until after our first launches.

For those first flights, we just inserted the launch rod through the gap between the tube fins and body tube. This worked great for all of our flights.

Recovery:
Flew great on A8-3 motors. We used the A's on all three flights for the review because the rocket was going pretty high. All recovering were great.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
This is a great little rocket and a very fast, easy build. It is also a good candidate for upscaling a tube fin rocket.

It is very easier to build and flies great on A8-3 motors. B's and C's might make it difficult to find the rocket, especial during windy weather.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews

Custom Rockets Razor By Michael Doherty
The Razor is a tube-finned, no-paint-necessary, easy to assemble rocket from Custom. It comes with a 12" parachute for recovery and will take a number of different engines, per the manufacturer. Since this was the first Custom kit I had built, I wasn't sure what to expect. Upon opening the kit, I was impressed with the packaging & parts. each 'section' of the rocket had its own packaged ...
Custom Rockets Razor By Nick Esselman
A local hobby shop was going out of business and I bought everything that was left for $100. I figured it to be about $300 worth of stuff. In that, I gained a Custom Razor and since I like tube-fin rockets I went ahead and built this one. This kit is designed as a Skill Level 1 for the beginner and starter. Yes, you build it, but it is not necessary to paint it as it comes with gloss yellow ...

Flights

Comments:

V.C. (September 1, 1999)

It really is a terrific performer. Try it on a B6-6 or a C6-7 and watch it go. The tube fins make it amazingly stable, and since the kit is quite light (no wooden fins) it goes like crazy. Watch out, though: it will be tough to track on a C6-7.

D.S. (April 1, 2000)

I'm now on my third Razor. The first one floated away and I bought 2 more to replace it! I love this bird, it's unusual looking and a great performer. It's very tough, stable and simple to build. Every rocketeer should own one of these unique little rockets.

J.A. (June 1, 2000)

The Custom Razor is my favorite small rocket in my fleet. I usually launch it first as it always flies straight and true and makes an excellent wind tester. I switched the parachute included in the kit for a large "police line - do not cross" streamer. It'll get way up there and drift quite a ways with a c engine on a parachute.

J.B. (January 1, 2001)

The Custom Razor was a true pleasure to fly. My 5 year old son built most of the rocket with my help, its easy for young ones because there are no fins to align. We flew it today for the first time. WOW what a nice performer, I recommend this rocket to anyone looking for a nice low altitude rocket for kids. We launched it twice on a Estes A8-3 and she went up straight as an arrow and came down on its 12" chute with only a slight drift. I snatched it from the air on its first flight and my 7 year old daughter did on the second.

unknown (August 1, 2001)

The Razor is a winner. The kit builds up quickly (I used yellow glue with CA drops as "tackers"). Flight performance is excellent with minimal weathercocking. Great performance on an A8-3. I haven't got the nerve to a C motor yet and when I do it'll be on a streamer-this lil' doggie moves high.

D.B.Jr (January 24, 2002)

What a nice little kit! This was also the first Custom kit that I've built and since the quality was as good as all the Estes kits I've built, it probably won't be the last. I also replaced the parachute with a streamer. I did find the motor clip a little cheesy but even after five flights, the rocket has not spit any motor casings. I've only flown mine on A8-3's and just recently the newly released A8-5 for a nice flight. Next up is a B6-4 or B6-6. Then maybe a C6-7 when I get really brave. I would highly recommend this kit to anyone.

H.E. (May 16, 2002)

This was one of my sons first rockets ,It was simple to build and has gone through a lot, More than worth the money for the amount of times he has flown it. When he first got it he replaced the chute with a streamer. The only problem that I have with this rocket is after he flew it once on a Aerotech D21 he won't use the Estes motors for it anymore, So now cost more per flight. After I don't know how many flights it does look like it has gone through the war, He says it is now retired but he still takes it when we go to the launchs, I am sure he will fly it a few more times.

G.A.D. (June 25, 2002)

As the review says, this is a great kid's rocket. You should also believe the reviewers and stick to A and B impulse motors, as this bird really zips. Ditch the parachute for a streamer, and don't make it too long. This is a light rocket and you won't snap a fin on landing. It's cheap and we fly it a lot.

S.K. (June 5, 2004)

2004 update. Just built with my 8 year old daughter, who has previously built a Mosquito and some E2Xs. Razor now comes with stickers, instead of decals, and parachute has "through the sticker" attachments. Directions were clear enough that she could build the rocket herself. Only potential sticky points were getting the motor mount in (before "glue lock" occurred), cutting the parachute shroud line into 3 equal pieces, and lining up the striped sticker. Enough new things to let her skills grow, but nothing with the potential to ruin the fun. Outstanding rocket for an early builder with instructions readable by a 2nd grader. Really has given her a great sense of accomplishment. Would have gone with a longer shock cord and streamer, but wanted her to experience building the kit as designed.

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