A skill level could not be located on the face card nor instructions sheets. This builds like a level 1 kit, nothing tricky, nothing difficult. The minimum recommended age listed is 10 years old, with adult supervision for modelers under the age of 12. The instructions are easy to follow and complete with hand-drawn illustrations. Full model rocket launch instructions are also provided. The fin and launch lug locations are color-coded and pre-marked on the body tube. The fin markings could have been a little longer to make them truly useful. Obviously, it is quite easy to extend the markings with a pencil and ruler.

Parts List

This flying model rocket kit is sold in a plastic bag (with face card) which contains the items listed below.

- balsa nose cone with screw eye
- body tube
- 4 balsa fins with fin tip dowels
- engine mount tube, engine hook, and engine block
- 3 centering rings
- hardwood dowel for engine block installion
- cardboard launch lug
- shock cord & shock cord mount
- Mylar parachute assembly
- decal sheet
- instruction sheets

To build your own Asteroid Probe, you'll need some basic hobby supplies. These include glue, a hobby knife, sand paper, a ruler and finishing supplies.

Construction

First I filled the fins (and nose cone) and set them aside, to let the filler dry. Meanwhile, the engine block was installed into the motor tube. A special, marked, dowel is included with the rocket kit for this purpose (bottom center of the below picture).

Two of the three centering rings are installed near the aft end of the motor tube. This assembly is then positioned inside the airframe tube and the third centering ring is installed on the forward end of the model rocket.

By now the filler was dry. The fins and nose cone were sanded smooth and the fins were attached. Just a few more things to wrap up and the Asteroid Probe will be ready for finishing. Attach the shock cord (with mount) into the forward end of the motor tube. Position the launch lug on the rocket's airframe.

Attach the nose cone to the shock cord. Assemble the parachute and attach it to the nose cone.

Measurements

The Starlight Model Rockets face card lists the length as 10.25" and the diameter as 1.65".

Finishing

After a coat of gray and white primer, it was time to paint the rocket. While the instructions say that white paint was used, the color on the face card looks more like gray. To pick something somewhere in between, antique white was used. Once the paint dried completely, the decals were applied.

Flight Data

The Starlight instructions lists these recommended flying model rocket engines : A6-4, A8-3, B6-4 and the C6-5.

It was flown on a C6-5 a few times and also on a C6-3. Even with the shorter delay, the rocket came down fine and was recovered without damage.

For the last flight, a C6-5 was used. The model rocket went up as usual and came down fast, without a recovery device at all. It hit the grass-covered ground with a loud thump. Amazingly enough, the impact didn't cause any damage. The nose cone was a little tight when the rocket was prepped. This almost certainly caused the shock cord to get blown off.