Brief:
The TriStar is a single stage rocket with a futuristic passenger rocket design using parachute recovery. I built this rocket for my nephew to fly at a recent family launch, but my nephew crushed it before it got the chance to see it's first flight. I repaired it as well as I could, didn't care for the results, and set it aside for two months. I found it sitting looking dejected today and decided to put it up. Judging from the flight performance, I'm glad I did.

Construction:
TriStar building components include a length of BT-50 equivalent body tube, a plastic nose cone, an 18mm engine mount and a 12" parachute. Fin stock is of average quality. Custom has unfortunately seen fit to go the Estes route with the shock cord. Cheap elastic and not much of it.

This would be a great first rocket for a beginner. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The die cut fins needed a little sanding, but that's to be expected. The only thing that remotely resembles a "gotcha" is the fit of the nose cone. It was a little loose in my kit, but a little bit of masking tape corrected this problem.

Finishing:
Once construction was finished, I used three coats of thinned Elmer's Fill'n'Finish as a sanding sealer, sanding between each coat. I then primed the rocket with Krylon Primer, sanded it once more and then put on a coat of Krylon Gloss White. This is as far as I got in the finishing because my nephew killed it before I could get the blue paint and decals on. The decals are water slide, a nice surprise considering that Estes seems to have gone to "sticker" type decals almost exclusively. I can't say for sure, but it might wind up being a bit of a problem matching the blue in the decal with blue paint. If anyone has built one and figured out a match, I'd appreciate a heads up.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
Two months after what appeared to be it's tragic demise, I finally flew the TriStar. Turns out it was well worth the wait. I used three sheets of Estes wadding, just because I have a box full and wanted to get rid of some. I used an Estes A8-3 as recommended and was rewarded with a straight, fairly high flight for a comparatively low powered engine. I agree with the other reviewer. A's and B's will put this one up to more than respectable heights. If you want to go with C's, have some friends with strong vision and the will to walk, because this rocket will go places.

Recovery:
Slight problem here. The parachute is on par with Estes quality-wise (making it light years ahead of the more expensive Quest products) and looks great to boot. The only problem was with the shock cord. Too short and of marginal quality. Because I stuck with the stock cord the rocket received a Custom Dent upon ejection. Replace the shock cord with one at least twice as long or more and you should be in business.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Pro's: Great styling, flight performance and price make this one a must for beginners. Con's: Shock cord too short. Nose cone a little loose. These are both very minor concerns and easily corrected.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5