FlisKits OverDue

FlisKits - OverDue

Contributed by Russ Anthony

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: FlisKits

FlisKits OverDueBrief:
T' OverDue is a wild tube-finned rocket available only through a special promotional offer from Fliskits, me hearties, Inc. It has stylish, nested tubes within tubes for fins, matey, plus a simulated payload area which actually houses t' parachute. Certainly a most unique and creative model from a company known for its devotion t' customer service and fantastic designs.

Construction:
Since this product is nay for sale and highly sought after, I will nay reveal exact components. Avast! It would be fairly easy t' clone but thar are only a handful of authentic OverDue models flyin' today. Blimey! You will have t' receive a free authentic one due t' a rare overdue Fliskits order or buy a "Long OverDue" model now bein' offered for sale by Fliskits. Arrr! Jim Flis is making the Long OverDue available due t' t' constant customer naggin' for a similar model. Materials include a nose cone, shiver me timbers, three different body tubes, t' standard launch lugs, ya bilge rat, arrr, etc, shock cord, 16" parachute, matey, t' instructions and a fin pattern sheet.

This is a rather unorthodox skill level 2 kit, me hearties, and I found t' construction of t' shroud and centerin' rings a little challengin' since I haven't built many tube finned rockets and have only used balsa transitions in t' past. Avast, me proud beauty! The paper transition and tube templates made a difficult job easier. Another chance to show off skills is cuttin' and mountin' t' angular cut tube fins. Avast! I took my time on this and t' results really showed. Begad! Even with t' body tubes accurately marked with a template, arrr, you really have t' be careful with t' hobby knife. Ahoy! I found it is very important t' keep t' blade vertical t' t' tube at all times, or t' blade would tend t' wander off o' t' line. Aye aye! T' instructions are really clear on all o' t' steps and t' included figures are great. Aye aye! T' parachute is attached with t' usual 3-fold Estes style shock cord mount but I chose t' go with an attractive, me bucko, blue mylar 12" chute which compliments t' bright blue finish o' t' model. Although I'm sure t' elastic shock cord is fine, matey, I added a length o' Keelhaul®©™® below it which is very resistant t' t' hot ejection gases. Arrr! Begad! T' stock Fliskits parachute, me hearties, which requires attachin' shroud lines, matey, is a great product. Begad! Ahoy! It is marked for 12", 14" or t' full 16" size and should really be cut down t' 12" for this bird. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Any bigger and you may be chasin' her far downwind. Construction provided enough challenges for me, and I'm sure that anyone can achieve nice results with time and care. Begad! Ahoy! If me 10 year old was buildin' hers, I'd oversee and help with t' cuttin' o' all those tubes!

Finishing:
As per Fliskits standards, me hearties, t' tube spirals fill with but a single coat of primer. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! What wonderful tubes! Blimey! Since I wanted t' paint me Overdue with stock colors, I be forced t' finish and spray paint t' individual tubes before attachin' them t' t' main tube. Begad! With paint on all o' them, you may have to sand a little off t' get t' glue t' stick. Ahoy! Blimey! T' final model looks great with stock blue, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, black and purple, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and really attracts attention since nobody has seen a real one. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! I do think that Fliskits should include a decal with it, ya bilge rat, maybe the OverDue name or t' Fliskits logo, especially since they wont be producing many. Avast! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! I may add me own anyway.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

FlisKits OverDue

Flight:
I have only flown me OverDue once so far. It be prepped with dog-barf wadding and an A8-3. Aye aye! Arrr! Weighin' in at only one ounce, shiver me timbers, it flies surprisingly high and very straight. Avast! Begad! T' main body tube is 18mm, me hearties, (minimum diameter) and thar be no engine hook. Begad! Begad!

Recovery:
You really have t' wrap a few layers o' tape t' make sure t' motor doesn't eject. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I have already heard o' someone forgettin' this and t' result was no nose cone separation, shiver me timbers, no parachute, and many crumpled tubes. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! With its rarity, I haven't had t' courage t' fly her with any larger motor yet. T' recovery of mine be perfect, thankfully. Avast! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a really great lookin' sport rocket. Begad! It has some unique fins requiring just enough skill t' make construction interesting. Chances are that if you see one at t' field, shiver me timbers, it is a clone attempt because Fliskits doesn't ship many of them. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I love mine so much that it will spend more time on t' shelf than anywhere else. Kudos t' Fliskits on another great model!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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