The flying model rocket kit contains quality pieces. The nose cone is heaver and a lot harder than the usual balsa nose cones. Not sure what type of wood it is. When you take into account that this rocket kit sells for somewhere $3.95 to $4.95, it offers good value. This is a level two model kit. The trickiest part is creating and working with the paper shroud. If you can handle that, you'll have no trouble at all building this rocket. The Galileo uses helicopter recovery. When the ejection charge fires, the rocket engine is ejected. The Galileo should turn over and come helicoptering down safely.

Parts List

As is the case for the majority of model rocket kits, the Galileo is sold in a clear plastic bag with colorful face card.

- body tube
- nose cone
- die-cut balsa fins and launch lug mount
- 3 hardwood dowels
- ring
- paper shroud (to be cut out)
- launch lug
- water-slide decal sheet
- instructions (one page, both sides)

To create your own Galileo, you'll need a hobby knife and some glue. To finish it, sand paper, filler and paint will also be needed.

Construction

The instructions are easy-to-understand (see note on fins below). Each step has its own illustration which makes it even easier. One thing to really watch out for is how the fins are attached to the rocket's body. If you attach them as shown in the instructions, the fins will extend up the body to about half the launch lug mount. The decals won't fit anything like they do on the face card if you do this. I attached the fins differently, to match the look of the face card. Decals fit perfectly this way.

First, glue the nose cone into the body tube. Next, glue the ring to the other end of the body tube. Cut out the paper shroud with a hobby knife. Glue it on the indicated area and slide it over the body tube. Glue it in place.

Remove the fins from the balsa sheet. Be sure to cut the fins (and launch lug mount) with a hobby knife to avoid breaking the pieces. Attach the fins to the rocket's shroud. Glue the launch lug mount between two fins and glue the launch lug to it.

Glue a wooden dowel to each of the fins and, once the glue dries, the model rocket is ready to finish.

Measurements

This rocket is 8" (20.3 cm) long and has a 1.325" (33.7 mm) diameter. Most of that length is made up by the wooden dowels. The face card lists the weight as 0.4 oz (10 g).

Finishing

To get things going, the entire rocket was given an coat of gray automotive primer. After sanding, a coat of flat light aircraft gray spray paint (Testors #1233) was applied. The bottom section was masked off and the nose cone area was painted gloss bright red (Testors #1231 spray paint).

Flight Data

This Custom model flies on 1/2A6-2 and A8-3 rocket engines. Launched on an A8-3, the rocket flew up high and straight. The motor kicked and the rocket started to spin/helicopter. It was spinning and falling quite a bit faster than expected. Two of the "fins" broke off at landing. The third fin was lose too. The rocket was flown on a somewhat windy day which may have caused the quick descent, and as a result, the hard landing.