This flying model rocket uses tubes for fins, six tube fins total. This gives it a different look than the usual balsa fins. The Saber is also a payloader. It has a cargo section, where small items can be placed to send them up into the sky. The idea being to launch cargo to as great an altitude as possible while recovering the cargo without damage. The fin tubes and payload section make this rocket different from the basic "3 fins and a nose cone" configuration. If you get bored with those, the Saber kit may be something different to try. This model rocket kit is recommended for modelers over age 10, adult supervision is requires for those under age twelve. The recovery method used is a 12" Mylar (not the usual plastic) parachute.

Parts List

This flying model rocket kit comes in a clear plastic bag with a printed face card. The bag includes the items listed below, which are all the parts needed to make your very own Saber payloader.

- 12" body tube
- 4" payload section tube
- balsa nose cone
- balsa tube coupler with screw eye
- 4 long fin tubes & 2 short fin tubes
- launch lug, shock cord & shock cord mount
- engine mount tube, engine hook, centering rings and motor block ring
- 12" Mylar parachute assembly
- 4 decals (peel-and-stick)
- assembly & launch instructions

Hobby supplies needed include glue (white or yellow), pencil, ruler, sandpaper and hobby knife.

Construction

The fin tubes (both long and short) appear to have been cut by hand. The ones in the kit used for review were not cut straight, making the tubes of different lengths. While this is easy enough to correct, it may be an issue for a novice who may not know how to cut a body tube correctly. The long fin tubes were cut to all match the length of the shortest of the four long tubes. The area were the cut was made was sanded.

The instruction sheet also contains some typos, but that obviously won't get in the way of building the rocket.

The instructions are complete with hand-drawn illustrations. Instructions are easy-to-follow which makes building the rocket quite easy.

First, the motor mount is built. Next, the screw eye is glued into the balsa coupler and the coupler is glued into the payload section.

The tube fins are glued together and are then glued to the airframe tube. Thread the shock cord through the shock cord mount and glue it into the long body tube.

The other end of the shock cord is attached to the screw eye in the coupler.

The illustrion for this step seem to show a shock cord being attached to a nose cone, rather than the coupler where it should go.

You can glue the nose cone into the payload section. If you do so, the rocket won't be able to carry payloads. The advantage here is that you don't risk the nose cone popping out and getting lost during flight.

As per the instructions, a little masking tape will be added to the nose cone for this kit so it can be used with or without a payload.

Measurements

The Starlight Saber is 19" (48.26 cm) long. The body tube has a diameter of 1" (2.54 cm). Including the tube fins, the model rocket is " (cm) wide.

Finishing

The instructions indicate that the rocket should be painted silver, if you wish to match the look of the rocket on the cover. It certainly does look silver on top, the bottom looks more blue. That provided the inspiration for the dark blue (Testors Enamel #1211) used on the rocket used for review.

Flight Data

Recommended engines for the Saber tube rocket are : A8-3, B6-4, C6-5.

Launched off a C6-5, it gets up there pretty fast and gets nice altitude. A little spiraling towards the end. Perfect timing on ejection, right about apogee. There was a mild 2-3 mph wind this day, had to walk 100 or so feet to recover the rocket. No damage at all.