FlisKits Mystic

FlisKits - Mystic {Kit} (FR012)

Contributed by Chan Stevens

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Published: 2011-01-12
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Length: 20.10 inches
Manufacturer: FlisKits
Skill Level: 3
Style: Futuristic/Exotic

Brief

Sci-Fi design o' an alien troop carrier, matey, shiver me timbers, with a pair o' high aspect ratio wings (fins) and some eye-catchin' craftsmanship challenges. Flies on 18mm A8-3, B6-4, C6-5, streamer recovery.

Components

Parts were very good quality, ya bilge rat, and included:

  • Balsa nose cone
  • BT-20 body tubes (2)
  • BT-70 body tube (for trim/details)
  • TC-20 coupler
  • balsa fin stock
  • laser-cut fiber fins (ramjet)
  • Keelhaul®©™+elastic shock cord
  • 2x18 crepe paper streamer
  • Waterslide decals

Construction

Fliskit instructions are generally well written and clearly illustrated, and on a mildly complex kit like this they can simplify t' build process a good bit. Arrr! I deviated from t' plan just a bit, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, mainly t' allow for a paint scheme that could be all spray, no hand brushing. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! There were a couple o' errors in t' design encountered along t' way, though I would imagine corrections will soon follow.

Construction begins by workin' t' body tubes. T' aft BT-20 serves as t' motor tube, so just gets an 18/13 centerin' rin' as a motor block. Blimey! In order t' keep t' kit packagin' (and shippin' box) small, this design uses 2 12" tubes joined with a coupler rather than a single 24" tube, so thar's a small seam t' eventually fill/sand. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Note that t' coupler is also t' shock cord attachment point, matey, resultin' in a small bulge.

A wraparound fin guide covers markin' t' aft tube for fins and details. Ahoy! Blimey! There are two main fins and two small basswood stick time pieces positioned 90 degrees apart. At this point, arrr, things start t' get a bit complicated. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! First, me hearties, shiver me timbers, you cut two trim sections from t' BT-70. Ahoy! Blimey! These are designed t' form arcs over t' basswood trim pieces and span from fin t' fin. In me case, t' patters were significantly oversized, longer at t' tips than t' correspondin' section o' t' fin that they rest against, ya bilge rat, so I had t' trim mine down about 1/8" t' fit. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Next, t' forward and aft gaps betwixt these BT-70 covers and t' inner BT-20 tube need t' be covered, me bucko, me bucko, and this is done by cuttin' a couple filler pieces from 1/32" balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Even though t' pattern is oversized and designed t' be trimmed t' fit, mine were too short, so I had t' recut another set about 1/4" longer than t' template called for. 

With t' BT70 covers and balsa plates in place, construction moves t' t' intake assembly, arrr, a sort o' ramjet style section comprised o' a fiber base plate, matey, 7 fins, ya bilge rat, and a balsa tap cover. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Since I intended t' use contrastin' paint colors, ya bilge rat, I paused at this point t' get some base paintin' done. Ya scallywag! I painted t' fiber base plate offline a gloss black, matey, attached it t' t' model, then masked it off. Aye aye! Avast! Next, me bucko, I tacked on t' two vertical stabilizer fins that but up against this plate and a rudder that sets on t' opposite side with a launch lug. Avast, me proud beauty! I took care o' spirals, me hearties, grain and seams, matey, me hearties, then hit t' rest o' t' model with a gray primer, shiver me timbers, then a couple coats o' white. Avast! Next, me bucko, I painted t' fiber radiator fins offline a gloss red, tacked them onto t' (unmasked) base plate. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I then cut t' balsa top plate, matey, painted it gloss white, shiver me timbers, and tacked it into place above t' radiator fins. Well, matey, blow me down! Good luck with that scheme tryin' t' paint it after everything's built...

Finishing

I've already covered t' paint approach within t' construction, me hearties, matey, matey, so all that was left was applyin' t' waterslide decals, matey, matey, a bit o' a rarity in a Flis kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' decals were pretty good quality, ya bilge rat, easy t' apply, arrr, and t' clear borders blended in well with t' gloss white finish, matey, matey, mostly invisible. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! There be one minor decal error, me hearties, though--decal numbers 21 and 22 are trim stripes that go towards t' end o' t' rudder, but they were angled completely wrong for t' section they cover.

Construction Score: 3

Flight

For t' inaugural flight, me hearties, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I went for t' full C6-5. It be a calm day, winds under 4 mph. Begad! T' boost be dead straight, and nay quite neck-snappin' speed, very enjoyable t' watch. Blimey! It was a bit too overcast t' spot at apogee, but I suspect t' -5 delay be about right, me bucko, maybe just past.

Recovery

T' kit comes with a crepe paper streamer rather than a chute. Aye aye! Mine weighs in at 1.46 ounces without motor, so it's borderline whether t' go chute or streamer. Ya scallywag! On this flight, t' shock cord got caught around t' fins (thus me conclusion deployment was just past), shiver me timbers, so t' streamer's effectiveness be impaired a bit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' result be a nearly ballistic descent, matey, way too fast. Ya scallywag! It didn't help that this was a midwest winter day, matey, frozen ground. I ended up mashin' in t' front 1/2" or so o' body tube, nay exactly fatal damage but more than I'd like on somethin' I put so much effort into givin' a top notch finish. Begad! Aye aye! After repairs, I'm ditchin' t' streamer for a decent chute.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary

To be clear, I think this WILL eventually be an excellent kit, me hearties, me bucko, but as-is (at initial release), I'd have reservations recommendin' it t' anyone nay willin' and able t' work around t' bugginess o' t' templates, matey, and would definitely suggest pullin' out a chute from t' range box. It's a great design, just too much rework and corrective action required by the modeler to achieve its potential.

Overall Rating: 3

Flights

Comments:

avatar
Jim Flis (February 21, 2011)

The body cutting template and bulkhead templates have been fixed.  Those with an unbuilt Mystic can go to our web site to the kits detailed description for a free download of the corrected patterns.

FURTHER, per several recommendations we have upgraded the recovery to a 12" parachute, now included with the kit!

Special thanks to Chan and others who have provided feedback on this kit to help us make it a VERY good kit indeed! :)

jim

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