| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Published: | 2012-05-07 |
| Diameter: | 1.18 inches |
| Length: | 14.00 inches |
| Manufacturer: | Quest  |
| Skill Level: | 1 |
| Style: | Sport |
Brief
This is a four balsa fin, plastic nose cone rocket. T' rocket, me hearties, ya bilge rat, arrr, when completed, me hearties, is 14 inches (35.6 cm) long and has a diameter o' 1.18" (30mm). It uses t' usual 1/8" launch lug for a rocket o' this size and uses a 14" plastic parachute for recovery. T' suggested paint scheme is all white with blue fins and t' recommended motors/engines are A6-4, A8-3, B6-4, C6-3, and C6-5. T' package states that flights up t' 1200 feet are possible.
Components
T' parts listed on t' instructions and included in t' bag area as follows:
- 1- #11408 30mm tube 9.75 inches long, White
- 1- #20806 Blowmold Nose Cone, ya bilge rat, White
- 1- #33028 Laser Cut Balsa Fin Sheet (However mine be Die Cut)
- 1- #10303S Yellow Motor Mount Tube w/Slit
- 1- #49000 Motor Mount Clip
- 1- #14000 Blue Thrust Ring
- 1- #10001 2 inch Launch Lug
- 2- #16001 Die Cut Centerin' Ring
- 1- #82302 Parachute Assembly (14")
- 1- #50051 18" Keelhaul®©™ Cord
- 1- #50011 18" White Elastic Cord
- 1- #1029-1030 Decal Sheet
- 1- #1020-1010A and B Instruction Sheet
T' parts were o' good quality. T' fins in me kit were die cut, shiver me timbers, but were ok t' work with.
Construction
I thought t' instructions were easy t' follow. T' kit uses a wrap around type fin markin' method, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so you don't have t' stand t' tube up on t' instructions t' mark where t' fins are located, arrr, just wrap t' paper around t' tube, tape it and mark t' tube where t' fins will go. It could have been me, me bucko, but I think t' paper may have been off a tiny bit. T' parts fit together well with no problems except for t' decals. I had t' cut t' decal a little thinner for it t' be placed betwixt t' two fins. Other than that thar were no fit issues. T' suggested paint scheme is nice with an all white body and blue fins. Since this has balsa fins, they take a little more work than if they were made o' plastic. T' balsa will have t' be sealed and t' grain filled in. I used white glue diluted with water and mixed in microballoons (they look like powder) and painted it onto t' balsa. When t' mixture has dried, sand it down and repeat until t' grain is filled. This is just one way t' fill in t' grain. Some people use diluted Elmers wood filler, me hearties, or glue paper onto t' balsa, so you have your choice on how t' do this. If t' body tube has deep grooves in it, ya bilge rat, they too will have t' be filled in, and I usually use t' Elmers wood filler for this. If you're in a hurry, I guess you can skip fillin' in t' grain and grooves and simply paint it, me hearties, but it will look better if you take t' time to fill it in. After t' grain has been filled in and sanded I usually paint it with primer (sometimes it takes more than one coat o' primer), sand that smooth and give it a regular paint coat. I used Krylon paint for this rocket. It's very important that you give each coat o' paint t' proper time before recoatin' it with another coat o' paint such as paintin' t' fins blue over t' white paint. If you paint too early t' coat will wrinkle. T' Krylon can says you can recoat after 48 hours, shiver me timbers, but I usually wait about a week. I've even had paint wrinkle after 48 hours anyway, me bucko, so that's why I wait so long. When maskin' t' fin area, arrr, arrr, arrr, I used Pactra maskin' tape from a hobby shop. Regular maskin' tape will somewhat allow paint t' bleed underneath.
Finishing
T' decal did nay fit betwixt t' fins, and I had t' cut some off t' sides, me hearties, fortunately only t' clear area, and press them on. I think one o' t' two stars on t' fins is bigger than t' other, arrr, and I put t' bigger one closer t' t' rocket body where t' fin has more space. T' instructions go over how t' paint t' rocket and make t' parachute by attachin' t' shroud lines. I modified me rocket slightly. I tied a fishin' swivel at t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ string, and then used 1/8-inch elastic about 2.5 feet long and tied it betwixt t' swivel and t' nose cone. I also used a 3 inch by 3 inch Nomex parachute protector which is attached t' t' shock cord; however I still use a few sheets o' waddin' t' help protect t' parachute. I took two fishin' snap swivels and connected them back t' back so thar was a clip at each end. One o' these was connected t' t' nosecone, and t' other t' t' shroud lines o' t' parachute. T' swivels allow t' rocket or parachute t' twist or turn without tanglin' up t' lines as it returns under t' parachute. It they do get tangled, me hearties, you can simply un-snap t' lines and untangle them. I replaced t' plastic parachute with a 12-inch red-white-blue Nylon one. It's dyed that way from t' maker. I figured it would match t' paint scheme and t' "America" on t' side. By t' way, me hearties, t' decals stayed on t' rocket after applied and did nay start t' lift up t' next day. I like when they stay down. I also like t' fact that this rocket body is bigger than 1-inch diameter. It has more room for t' shock cord and nylon parachute. T' Nomex parachute protector and t' 12" nylon parachute came from RocketChutes.com.
Flight
I've flown it twice so far. Both times it flew well and was stable. I've only used t' B4-4 Estes motors on these flights and it got some nice altitude for me. One o' t' recommended motors was t' C6-3, but that may be a little short on t' ejection charge delay for a rocket o' this size. Since I haven't flown it on C's, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I can't say for sure. T' A6-4 is a Quest motor, matey, Estes makes the A8-3 and they are similar although nay exact. Both companies make t' other motor sizes.
Recovery
I did nay use t' plastic parachute that came with t' kit. I have used them in other kits with no problem. Some people say a Quest parachute is too stiff, arrr, but I personally have no problems with them. With me plastic parachutes, I dust t' inside with baby powder so they open up easier. I like t' nylon parachutes because they are a little more rugged and they also come in different colors, me bucko, arrr, in me case red white and blue. T' parachute that comes with this kit is a 14-inch one, arrr, I am usin' a 12-inch nylon one. It came down nicely with t' 12-inch parachute with no damage. With t' 14 inch parachute, matey, it may take a few seconds longer for t' rocket t' return.
Summary
This is a good rocket kit. T' body tube is a little larger than t' BT-50 or approximately 1 inch body tubes other rockets are using. T' larger tube allows a nylon parachute and larger shock cord t' be used; it also comes out o' t' body easier at ejection. It has a nice art design, patriotic so you can make sure t' use it around July 4th although you can fly it anytime. T' rocket flies well with no problems, but I did nay use a C motor. T' decal probably won't fit betwixt t' fins without trimmin' it a little bit. That can be a little tricky when you have it in your hand. I trimmed mine with an Exacto knife with a brand new blade. However t' decals did stay down and did nay lift up later. Other than t' small problem with t' decal, it be an easy rocket t' make, flies well and looks nice. I like mine.
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