Most Difficult LPR Kit?

[KenECoyote]

Well, if your definition of LPR is anything under Level 1, the Sheri's Hot Rockets Shuttle is likely a good candidate here.

Chan Stevens had built hundreds of rockets, but he had a heckuva time with the Shuttle:
"Let's get this much out in front--this is a skill level 4 or 5 kit, not for the faint of heart or inexperienced modeler. I have over 400 rockets under my belt, mostly LPR, and this was much more difficult than I expected, and absolutely kicked my [fanny]. This is coming from a guy that's built several Saturns, including the Apogee V and 1b. It took much longer than I expected, and I wound up with a mediocre finish that I'm not especially proud of. If you plan on building one of these, be prepared to invest a considerable amount of time and set the expectations at a decent, not flawless finish. This is a very nice model, but not likely a museum piece without extraordinary finishing skills." - 3/24/08 Chan Stevens on RocketReviews (https://www.rocketreviews.com/sheris-hot-rockets-cjs-aviation-space-shuttle-162-by-chan-stevens.html)

 

[dave carver]

I haven't seen Chan Stevens around in a while, not since he built the Decim8. He still posting his builds?

 

[Nick@JET]

Hey Daddy, what is this kit and model of this one on the bottom? Looks very similar to the Mitsubishi H2-A I'm wanting to scratch build and that come and transition is what I need!

 

[KenECoyote]

I haven't seen Chan Stevens around in a while, not since he built the Decim8. He still posting his builds?

I haven't seen him...note that I had included "3/24/08 Chan Stevens on RocketReviews (https://www.rocketreviews.com/sheris-...n-stevens.html)" in my post above. :wink:

 

[Daddyisabar]

Hey Daddy, what is this kit and model of this one on the bottom? Looks very similar to the Mitsubishi H2-A I'm wanting to scratch build and that come and transition is what I need!
View attachment 268481

That is the Noris Ariane. Usually in stock at Apogee components. Large peel and stick decals are not for the faint of heart. Launch in low wind conditions. The nozzles will eventually break off and get lost, good flying rocket on a C6 3 or 18mm composites. The generic German directions that came with the kit are a real hoot. This one does have a Fallschirmhaltenrung! Do NOT take the provided recovery wadding to a launch or even think of using it in the USA. Kinda expensive but money is no object with these kits. Some molded parts, some vacuform, I believe some kit provided nose weight from Apogee, Apogee tubes, paper fins. If ordered direct, or you get an old one off Ebay, the tubes may be thin and no predetermined nose weight provided.

 

[Sotheby]

I would have to concur and it expand it to any Noris kit.

Stick with Fliskits. You get quality to go along with difficulty.

Yes indeed. I concur. This super-detailed update took my 1.25 years. Blood, sweat, tears, heaps of filling and sanding. Super glue too. And a ping-pong ball for the re-entry module. Stick to US kits!
Greetings from Australia.

 

[Back_at_it]

Currently available. I'd say either the Saturn 1B or Saturn V from Estes.

 

[prfesser]

Some weight has to be given to the difficulty of finishing. The Interceptor isn't extremely difficult to build but all those thin, easy-to-tear decals. Explorer Aquarius has all those tubes, with spirals to be filled if you're looking for a nice finish. Granted that you don't have to fill them but...building something like that, and leaving the tubes looking like...paper tubes...

 

[BABAR]

I have the Fake Wulf kit

Opened Bag.

Looked at parts and the CD, which is where the instructions were.

Put parts and CD back into bag.

That was something like 10 years ago.

 

[loopy]

The Estes Expedition was one of the more difficult LPR builds I've done.

 

[Daddyisabar]

Yes indeed. I concur. This super-detailed update took my 1.25 years. Blood, sweat, tears, heaps of filling and sanding. Super glue too. And a ping-pong ball for the re-entry module. Stick to US kits!
Greetings from Australia.

Noris kits rock! What instructions? Not needed. You can figure it out. Vacuform and cardstock fins may chastise Yankee sensibilities, but they are light, kinda strong and can be repaired.

Now over 30 flights. One major crash with a weak Estes D12 3 ejection charge that did not fully deploy the chute, three boosters completely broken off. Field repair, reglue and touch up paint with any green brush paint left over from other projects. Fly again. Very Soviet style.

Who cares if the peel and stick decals wander between Cyrillic and English, it's a German kit. Eventually blew out the Fallschirmhaltenrung with a shotgun ejection charge from Amerikan D12 3 motor.

Still looks OK at distance with poor eyesight. Remember those old photos and the days when it had under five flights and still looked good.