Mile High Rockets Explorer 1

Mile High Rockets - Explorer 1 {Kit}

Contributed by Bryan Penfold

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Mile High Rockets

Mile High Rockets ExplorerBrief:
This be t' second kit available from Mile High Rockets. Begad! It is listed as a Skill Level 3 kit and utilizes unique fin rails and a tube fin setup.

Construction:
Components are mostly high quality and include one cardboard body tube, one motor tube, three motor rings, matey, an engine hook, arrr, plastic nose cone, 24" Keelhaul®©™ cord and a 14" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped shock cord, shiver me timbers, three cardboard fin tubes, arrr, three balsa fins, arrr, 9" o' "easy-mount" fin rail, launch lug, me hearties, decals and a 12.5" flame-resistant parachute kit (unassembled).

Instructions were comparable t' Estes instructions, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, four pages with easy t' follow illustrations. There is also an instruction sheet for t' parachute kit. Assembly order was typical; nay all that difficult for a Level 3 rocket. Ya scallywag! Begad! Pieces fit together well. Avast, me proud beauty! I felt t' balsa fins were o' strange quality, but they sanded fine and are covered by decals in t' end. Avast! I liked t' balsa fin rail material which be new t' me. Ya scallywag! It helped in attachin' t' fins t' t' body. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I did have some trouble understandin' how they were t' be shaped with sandpaper, and I'm still nay sure I did it right. Ahoy! T' directions and illustrations seem t' conflict in this area. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I also had some trouble mountin' t' tube fins t' t' balsa fins. One needs t' install all three o' them at about t' same time t' assure vertical alignment, ya bilge rat, and this be somewhat difficult. Arrr! I don't know if I like their flame-resistant parachute so I substituted a 12" mylar chute for t' one provided.

Finishing:
Finishin' be standard primer and paint. Avast! Arrr! I used me own color selection and added only a few o' t' decals that were included. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I didn't care for t' decals much, they were a very heavy plastic and t' adhesive seemed t' ooze from them. Ahoy! After I was finished, me bucko, I applied several coats o' clear coat.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this only once as t' body tube was severely damaged in flight and it needs repair. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Preparation is typical for rockets usin' wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! First flight was on an Estes A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It went straight up t' about 400' and landed about 100' from t' pad. I would recommend a slightly longer delay.

Recovery:
T' recovery system is attached t' t' motor mount with t' two Keelhaul®©™ cords. I feel that t' Keelhaul®©™ cord sticks way too far out o' t' tube and I expect t' rocket t' zipper before long. Well, blow me down! T' directions indicate that t' nose cone be attached t' t' middle o' t' elastic cord and t' parachute attaches at t' end. Avast! I modified this, matey, tyin' t' nose cone at t' end and t' parachute t' t' nose cone as I would for an Estes rocket. Ahoy! Begad! Durin' t' first flight, the! end o' t' body tube be crushed, arrr, I'm nay sure if it was tryin' t' zipper or t' nose cone rebounded into it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs:

  • Creative stylin' and unique materials, mostly high quality.
  • I really liked t' fin rails.

CONs:

  • T' decals could be much better quality.
  • Rocket be damaged in flight.

This is a decent second effort for Mile High Rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! I will try them again.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Mile High Rockets Explorer 1 By Layne Pemberton

    Brief: Explorer 1 is a single stage, futuristically styled, sport rocket and is one of two kits available from Mile High Rockets. While rated skill level 3 by Mile High, I would put it at a solid 2. Fin tip tubes and the unique fin rail mounting system, which speeds fin attachment, add a bit of flair. The kit was supplied with: 1 plastic nose cone 1 BT-50 0.097" body tube 1 18mm ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.B. (September 7, 2007)
Nice Rocket I plan to up scale it to a 24 and a 29mm.I love the tubes on the fins I have designed several myself.

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