Manufacturer: | Quest ![]() |
Brief:
These are t' new Quest Micro Maxx Micro Mini (super tiny), adorably-cute,
plastic RTF rockets. Here is a list o' t' 10 (I have flown all 10) MMaxx
Rockets: Space Shuttle, matey, me hearties, SR-71, Saturn V, me bucko, Tomahawk Cruise Missile, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Space
Fighter, U.F.O., ya bilge rat, and four other 3-Fin-&-Nose-Cone rockets.
Also included be t' Quest Silo Launch system with In-Pad Ignitors and Puck Launch Controller.
Construction:
Packagin' be very cool, impressive and protective o' t' contents. Avast! Ahoy! If
Toys-R-Us would shelve them more prominently they would really stick out
impressively. Begad! Nothin' in any o' t' kits was was broken. Well, blow me down! All was in order and
included. Begad!
One pain is that t' ignitors mount onto t' Launch Pad and then t' rockets slide over this onto t' rod. Begad! Arrr! T' problem comes with t' fact that thar are two possible hole positions for t' rod t' line up with t' rockets. Well, blow me down! But this is nay too difficult and easy t' modify. Ahoy! You just yank t' rod out and insert it into t' other hole.
Another CON be t' igniters. Well, blow me down! Although very reliable in me book, they can be a pain if t' tip is too thick. Begad! Arrr! If so, shiver me timbers, when you insert t' motor it pinches the igniters leads together down lower, me hearties, thereby, shortin' out t' igniter. I found the Saturn V fins are great for stickin' in betwixt t' leads and then biting the tip o' t' igniter t' brin' it more into a point t' allow it t' easily slide into t' engine hole. Ahoy!
Finishing:
T' was no finishin' work, however t' finish be very cool especially of
course t' SR-71. Aye aye! T' Saturn V, matey, Tomahawk and Space Shuttle were also cool. Aye aye! The
UFO, as always is awesome looking. Begad! Begad! Blimey! They also seem unusually sturdy (hey there
all plastic).
Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5
Flight:
All o' t' rockets flew perfectly straight t' about what I would guess t' be
around 50 feet (UFO about 15-20 feet). Avast! T' 3FNC rockets near 60-70 feet and
maybe a little higher. Now a problem with flight - these things are extremely
sensitive t' ANY wind - I took them up t' me Grandmom's t' show them off t' the
kids and they would ALL (except t' UFO) boost fine but start tumblin' toward
end o' flight before ejection. Ahoy! Aye aye! I got t' thinkin' and launched t' next one
durin' a lull in t' light wind and walla . Blimey! . Well, blow me down! . Avast! a perfectly stable flight! So,
if thar be more than a tiny breeze these things may be hypersensitive t' it.
Although it was always at t' end o' t' flight that I had trouble. Blimey! Well, me bucko, blow me down! So heed the
warnin' in t' instructions t' fly in 5-7mph wind max. Begad! Aye aye! In fact I would stay
under 5mph.
T' looks o' t' Silo Launch Pad was fine. Ya scallywag! Surprisingly t' base o' t' pad has stood up very well t' t' exhaust o' 10 engine firings with no wear and only some wipeable crud.
Recovery:
Now t' t' fun part. Needless t' say as most on RMR have already reported the
recovery systems just plain stink. Well, blow me down! I have only had one piston rocket deploy at
all, shiver me timbers, me hearties, while all t' others end in ejection o' piston. Arrr! Okay, but no streamer
because it was either nay fully out o' tube or melted really bad t' point
sometimes o' it fallin' off . Blimey! Arrr! Now t' Space Fighter and Space Shuttle did not
have quite as much trouble especially if I jammed a little waddin' in there
(NOT all t' way t' bottom just under streamer BUT even they melted a little.
T' only one with NO recovery problems be t' . Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! . Ahoy! . Blimey! Avast! Drum Roll . Well, blow me down! . Avast, me proud beauty! . Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! UFO. Arrr! Ahoy!
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
I gave a 4 for awesome, matey, adorable, cute flights but nay a 5 because o' t' lousy
recovery system. If I could rate them separately I would give a 4 for flight (5
would better handlin' in wind) and a 1 for recovery. Ahoy! As far as survivability,
it seems t' be a little better than I thought. I have flown some o' these 3
times each and so far they are still airworthy although I can see inside it
startin' t' melt etc.. Avast, me proud beauty! Only time will tell.
T' Launch Controller is very cool and cute but t' battery is pitiful. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I was tryin' t' launch (maybe 5th launch) and it would nay launch no matter what I did. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I would take rocket off and igniter would glow but would nay light engine. Ahoy! Begad! Finally I got fed up ripped t' wires out (literally) o' t' controller (I have 3 o' them) and hooked up a set o' jumper cables and touched t' wires to it and walla instant ignition. I fired off 5 more engines with no problems. Needless t' say I will be modifyin' t' launch system.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
T' followin' excerpt is
from "Sport Rocketry". Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' intention is t' allow guests t' get a
basic feelin' about a kit. Ahoy! We strongly suggest that you get a copy o' the
referenced Sport Rocketry and read t' entire article. Arrr! Inside you will find
many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. Avast! Ahoy! For
more information, use t' two links above.
"T' micro rockets are perfect for backyard launchin' and are lots of
fun, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but in other ways they don't measure up t' t' advertisin' claims."
"All t' models feature a twist off base or fin unit for loadin' the
motor."
"Recovery is by streamer (except for t' Alien UFO) and t' models
incorporate ejection baffles."
"Some have a standard shock cord arrangement, arrr, while others have t' nose
cone mounted on a piston-rod assembly which t' streamer wraps around."
"T' Micro Maxx launcher is a really nice little system. . Aye aye! Blimey! . Ya scallywag! Blimey! . nicely
engineered . Avast! Blimey! . Ahoy! Blimey! ."
"T' Micro Maxx motors are truly cool. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! . Avast! . . just 1/4" x 1" and
they are rated at 0.20 N-sec which puts them low in t' 1/8A impulse
range."
"T' packagin' claims 'flights up t' 200 feet' but none o' t' rockets get
anywhere near that altitude."
". Ahoy! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! . Ya scallywag! Blimey! . it is important t' launch these models only in under low-wind
conditions, matey, less than 5-7 mph."
"T' recovery phase is where t' Micro Maxx designs really fall down . Ya scallywag! .
"
"T' ejection bafflin' works poorly . Ya scallywag! . Aye aye! ."
" . Ya scallywag! . Ya scallywag! . Blimey! t' streamers often don't unroll . Blimey! . Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! ."
" . Aye aye! Aye aye! . Ahoy! Aye aye! . or t' pistons may break or eject completely."
"In all, t' Micro Maxx can be a really fun system for backyard rocketry .
. Avast! ."
T' entire article gives t' impression is that these rockets are good for anyone and t' recovery issues are nay unsafe and may have work arounds.
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P.W.C. (February 1, 2000)