Brief:
The DynoSoarX is a futuristic space plane rocket with a main body tube and 2 side pods, large wing like fins and flies on D12-5 engines only.

Construction:
The kit was well packaged and arrived unbroken with all parts accounted for. The 3 body tubes are smooth (no spiral grooves)! The kit uses balsa for the fins that are pre-cut with nice sharp edges and tight grained. The nose cone is plastic like Estes and Quest rockets and the chute is a black 18" hexagon.

The instructions are easy to follow, I did one thing different from the instructions, I installed an Estes engine hook (the kit does not use a hook). There was one step that I would reverse and that is to install the motor mount into the lower body tube before joining the upper and lower main tubes so that I could lather more glue into the upper motor mount/body tube joint. The instructions were great except the step for installing the launch lug was missing, (Shrox has been notified and is fixing it).

The wing fins are a little hard to line up but I found that if you set the model on a roll of 3/4 inch masking tape and prop a regular school style ruler on its edge the angles come out right.

Finishing:
As I said, the body tubes are smooth and the balsa is excellent quality. There are no decals so you can dream up any paint scheme and go nuts I did mine in Yellow and Black and the rocket looks way cool!

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
Uses only D12-5 engines and is prepped like most Estes style kits (easy). I used shredded newspaper insulation and stuffed it about 1/3rd full and the 'chute didn't show any signs of melting. I added an engine hook because I just feel safer. There was little or no wind when I flew it and I only had 2 motors. Both flights were nice and it flew much like a Big Bertha, but looked much cooler.

Recovery:
It uses the standard Estes flat elastic stuck to the inside of the body tube and it descended about right, landing about 20 feet from the pad with no sign of damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
A very good kit!
Pros: Looks great, quality materials, flies very well.
Cons: No engine hook, instructions need a little work.

Read instructions all the way through first then build.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5