Brief:
I was at a two day Launch in Whitakers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, NC where I had t' pleasure o' visiting a newer manufacturer who had a booth set up on site. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! FlisKits had come t' the launch and boasted a professional display o' their line, t' include kits, me bucko, parts and supplies for t' fliers at t' meet. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! It is thar I got t' meet one o' the owners, ya bilge rat, Jim Flis, ya bilge rat, and that's when t' Overdrive caught me eye. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I had other purchases that weekend, shiver me timbers, includin' t' FlisKits Cougar 660, but this smaller model was just too cool lookin' t' pass up. T' FlisKits 'OverDrive' is a 13mm Futuristic style model with a very slick and unusual fin configuration. My kit was serial #49 and was rated as a Skill Level 1 model, even though fins needed to be cut and assembled. I gave t' kit t' me son as a gift from t' launch and we both were anxious t' get started.

Construction:
T' kit came packaged in a bag and all parts were present.

T' Kit inluded:

• A Balsa Nosecone
• Keelhaul®©™® Shockcord ( a very nice touch )
• Elastic Shockcord
• Streamer
• Motor Mount assembly
• Fin stock hardware and
• Well illustrated instructions

T' Fin templates and markin' guides came on typical cardstock and t' wraps had that 'perfect' fit I have grown accustomed t' with FlisKits. Aye aye! We assembled the motor mount, which uses friction fit for retention, then moved our way to the fins. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!

Most o' t' time durin' construction was spent on t' fins. Arrr! Blimey! You need t' cut them out usin' templates, shiver me timbers, easy enough, and then they need t' be assembled before mounting. Begad! Blimey! I used t' bag t' kit came in as a table covering, then used CA t' glue each fin half together. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! Once all four fins were made, I beveled the leadin' and side edges, then soaked both sides o' each fin in thin CA. Avast! Blimey! They were pressed down flat against t' table with soaked side down until dried, then I flipped them over and did t' other side. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This hardened t' fin and I 'plastic-coated' them after some sanding. Blimey! Blimey! Once each fin was completed, they were installed on t' bodytube usin' Alphaetic Resin. Avast! Blimey! T' nosecone was also drenched in thin CA from t' shoulder forward, me hearties, arrr, then sanded t' a plastic feel. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

An 'eye' hook is provided for t' nosecone, which be installed and the shock cord tied t' t' hook. T' shock cord for this model was a bit unusual, as it is mounted by hookin' about 1" around t' bottom joint o' a fin, then bringin' it up t' other side o' a fin where t' fillet would reside. Ahoy! I did this, arrr, me bucko, then applied resin fillets t' all t' fin joints. Begad! Finally, me hearties, me son finished t' streamer assembly and we attached it t' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' was done usin' Krylon Primers and Paint. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' entire model was sanded, then tac ragged and be ready for primer. Begad! A few coats o' white and gray mixed were applied, ya bilge rat, arrr, and pretty much made t' Keelhaul®©™® disappear at t' fin joint. Avast! My son wanted it done in stock colors, which is White with Red decals, matey, so we painted it usin' Krylon Glossy White. Begad! Ahoy! I made the decals from Monokote trim, then we applied them t' t' model. Blimey! It looks very similar t' t' front card insert that comes with t' kit, with a slight twist. T' results were very satisfyin' as t' model appears t' be almost made from plastic with no seams showing.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' day came t' fly t' Overdrive , so we took off t' t' field with equipment in hand. Avast! Ahoy! T' model be prepped with an Estes 1/4A3-3 motor for t' first flight and be friction fit t' t' model. Since this was a minimum diameter model and there was enough motor stickin' out o' t' rear, ya bilge rat, me bucko, we used t' 'Deuces Wild' method o' retainment, tapin' t' motor t' t' outside lower body tube for additional security. Aye aye! Blimey! Tissue was inserted into t' BT and t' streamer was installed, me hearties, then t' model be placed on t' pad. When t' button be pushed, arrr, it took off like a dart, ya bilge rat, even on t' smaller motor!!! What a flight, ya bilge rat, very fast, yet visible t' apogee.

Recovery:
Ejection happened at apogee and t' bright red streamer made it easy t' track the rocket. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! It landed very close t' t' pad and be smartly prepped and launched again. Avast, me proud beauty! As we still had many other new rockets t' fly, we limited it to two launches. I must say for a smaller kit, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' performance be very good. Well, blow me down!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, matey, t' FlisKits Overdrive is very slick model made from some o' the highest quality parts available, me bucko, me bucko, makin' it a real pleasure t' build and fly. My son is very happy with how t' model turned out as am I, arrr, and we look forward to many more launches with it. Ahoy! I recommend this kit t' anyone that wants a slightly challengin' build and a good flyin' sport rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5