Brief:
T' Deuces Wild is a very unique model rocket from FlisKits, ya bilge rat, a newer company on t' block in t' model rocket industry. Ahoy! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' Deuce boasts a cluster usin' dual 'canted' 18mm motors, shiver me timbers, which gives it a really cool look both on t' pad and in t' air.

Construction:
T' model came in a plastic bag, arrr, similar t' Estes Rockets, shiver me timbers, but that is where t' similarity ends. Ahoy! Inside t' bag be a real balsa nosecone, somethin' I have nay seen in kits for years, along with motor mounts, plenty o' Balsa for fins, parachute, matey, me hearties, hardware and body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! What impressed me was t' quality o' t' components; t' bodytube has a nearly invisible spiral!

Moreover, shiver me timbers, matey, me bucko, when I purchased me 'build' kit, me hearties, it came with t' new laser cut fiber centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, me bucko, which be one o' t' changes mentioned/recommended in a previous review. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! In fact, me hearties, I had purchased an earlier Deuces Wild! kit, me hearties, me bucko, serial #9, but wound up savin' that one due t' t' low serial number (yes, they actually serial number t' first 100 kits produced off each line; a nice feature for collectors). Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! When I ordered t' second Deuce, shiver me timbers, FlisKits sent me an extra set o' laser cut CR's for me 'pre-mod' kit so it would also have t' upgrade. Arrr! Arrr! This be t' first time I had seen a manufacturer actually follow through with suggestions from rocketeers, me bucko, then actually ship an upgrade for t' model; this be t' kind o' service that is unheard o' in this day and age; well done FlisKits!

Buildin' t' model was a blast as t' well written instructions made it very easy t' construct. Ahoy! I started by usin' t' new fiber laser cut CR's t' build t' motor mount assembly and it went together well. Ahoy! Extra tips in t' instructions on keepin' t' mount 'square' t' t' CR's made it very easy t' assemble. Avast! T' MMT uses an upper and lower centerin' ring, me bucko, with a triangle support wedge for additional support and proper spacin' o' t' rings; it is a very solid unit once built.

Followin' t' MMT construction, arrr, me hearties, you need t' cut out a 'wrap' for markin' and cuttin' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! My wrap fit perfectly and I marked t' position o' t' fins, arrr, launch lugs and t' openings for t' MMT tubes. Aye aye! Next, ya bilge rat, matey, I cut out each motor tube openin' and test fit t' MMT assembly; FlisKits has put some thought and effort into their templates as it was a good match. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount assembly be glued into t' bottom o' t' bodytube followin' t' instructions.

A nice touch for t' model be t' fact that you have t' 'cut out' your own fins from balsa stock.

This be very enjoyable and made it seem like you were really buildin' t' entire model, nay just assemblin' parts like other mfgrs. Fin patterns were simple t' use and I was impressed at t' fact that thar be actually balsa left over, another nice surprise as I had more than I needed, rather than havin' t' worry about bein' short changed. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' fins were glued t' t' model and they state that you do nay need t' round t' edges o' t' fins. I decided t' go 100% stock and followed all t' instructions t' t' letter for that 'nostalgic' look/build.

In keepin' with tradition, shiver me timbers, I even used t' three-fold paper shock cord mount, me bucko, provided with t' templates. Once installed, I coated t' top o' it with glue and t' date is still in great condition, even with many launches. Blimey! T' nosecone be next; they recommend usin' sandin' sealer, but I used thin CA glue instead, me hearties, ya bilge rat, which after two coats and some sandin' gave t' nosecone that plastic look and feel. Begad! An 'eye' screw is provided for mountin' t' other end o' t' shock cord t' t' nosecone, which worked out well. Blimey! Finally, t' parachute be assembled. FlisKits uses a plastic parachute similar t' Estes, shiver me timbers, where t' chute is cut out per t' instructions on t' parachute plastic and shroud lines are attached. Well, blow me down! Blimey! One unique difference is that they use a single parachute pattern for all sizes; you simply cut out t' size you need from t' pre drawn pattern.

Finishing:

I finished t' model usin' Krylon paints, me hearties, after rubbin' Elmer's Fill and Finish in t' balsa grain; I did mine in a Red-Silver-Black pattern. Begad! After a few coats o' primer, t' paint went on and covered well. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I did nay bother clear coatin' as I didn't want t' add extra weight. Arrr! As is, me bucko, t' model is surprisingly light considerin' it's size.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:

I showed up t' t' launch field on an off-week for our local club t' find two o' our club officers gettin' ready t' fly LPR. Blimey! Ahoy! We set up some pads smartly and I began preppin' t' Deuces Wild for it's first flight. Aye aye! Ahoy! I used two B6-4's for t' maiden voyage and went completely traditional, shiver me timbers, matey, usin' tissue for waddin' and maskin' tape t' retain t' motors.

Recovery:

T' Deuce took t' t' air under dual power t' a nice and low flight o' around 250=92 or so and ejection happened just beyond apogee. Ahoy! T' model floated gently t' t' ground usin' t' 16" parachute and landed without a scratch. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! With as light as it is, I could almost bet it would take a tumble in without chute and still do fine. Ahoy! I launched a few other rockets and by then t' wind had calmed a bit, so I prepared t' Deuces Wild! again with a pair o' C6-5's this time. Both motors lit and t' smoke trail be very defined and cool- I finally got t' see me first dual cluster smoke trail and it was a great one at that! Altitude be very good, flight was straight as an arrow and ejection happened right at apogee. Blimey! Arrr! From then on, arrr, I have been hooked. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Deuce had flown several times since then, arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, mostly on C6 motors and has even landed unscathed with a broken shroud line on me chute. Begad! I have been very pleased with t' looks and performance o' this model.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:

In summary, shiver me timbers, t' FlisKits Deuces Wild! is an easy building, great flyin' model that screams nostalgia, me hearties, shiver me timbers, thanks t' good old fashioned high quality components, matey, shiver me timbers, yet it boasts high tech with a canted cluster design. Aye aye! T' manufacturers have got it right on this one and I highly recommend this kit t' anyone that wants a great rocket that is even a better flier. Aye aye! Avast! In fact, ya bilge rat, I liked it so much I designed and build a 38mm upscale o' t' 'Deuce' and hope t' debut it at NSL 2003. Arrr! More t' come on that, but for now, I recommend you look at this modestly priced model as an addition t' your fleet. Avast! You don't have t' worry about gamblin' on this one as you just can't lose with 'Deuces Wild!'.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5