Construction Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Brief:
A three finned 18mm rocket that has a quick assembly o' t' fin unit, me hearties, has a
payload area, and recovers via two 12 inch parachutes. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey! I bought mine in a job
lot from a shop that closed down a few years ago. Begad! Blimey! I probably would nay have
bothered buildin' it, but it was on t' EMRR Hit List...
Construction:
Kit consists of:
To build t' kit I used:
T' instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue dryin' time. T' snap together fin system is a new one on me, but it is easy to build and that is what Quest was goin' for. It sure is ugly though. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Why they did nay go for a plastic fin can? I don't know.
T' tubes are pre-colored, me bucko, however, thar are noticeable spiral groves on all o' them. Arrr! T' plastic couplers, arrr, transitions, ya bilge rat, etc. Begad! don't fit t' body tubes so great either, arrr, although thar are shoulder shims included t' overcome this.
T' only downfall in t' design be t' small shoulder on t' transition. At only 6mm, t' top payloader section is nay securely fixed in place even with the shims added. Ahoy! Begad! I have doubt whether t' two sections would stay together in flight if thar be a heavy payload be in t' top section. Arrr! I would also have liked t' see a clear payload body tube so you can see t' payload, me hearties, but I'm bein' a bit picky here. If you want access t' t' payload bay, matey, ya bilge rat, me bucko, then t' nose cone should nay be glued on. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I was concerned that t' coupler and the transition were both hollow, me hearties, matey, so t' ejection charge could pressurize both the body tube and t' payload area. T' be on t' safe side, I filled t' small hole in t' transition. Avast! Begad! This isn't really necessary as t' parachute/waddin' fill the gap on ejection.
If you've flown Quest rockets before, me hearties, then you know t' ditch t' stiff parachutes for anythin' else. I swapped mine for Estes bin bag chutes.
For a first flight I don't normally change much it t' rocket design, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, but I really doubted t' 2 parachute recovery. Arrr! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This is nay a heavy rocket without the payload, and with two twelve inch parachutes, one on each section, shiver me timbers, I can imagine a long drift. Blimey! Begad! So I tied both sections together, me bucko, added a swivel t' the top o' t' shock cord, and used an 18 inch Estes chute with a spill hole cut out. Ahoy! T' chute be attached t' shock cord swivel via a snap swivel. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I also added an anti-zipper cloth tape t' t' Keelhaul®©™® where it would meet t' shoulder o' t' body tube.
Finishing:
You just add t' two decals provided. These are t' peel and stick type and go
on easily.
Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5
Flight and Recovery:
It flies on B6-4, me bucko, B6-2, shiver me timbers, C6-3, C6-5, but t' longer delays are needed for when
there isn't a payload. Arrr! I used Nomex®
wadding. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' first (and possibly last) flight was nice and straight. It came
off t' pad at a good speed. Aye aye! Blimey! Durin' t' boost phase, me hearties, t' payload section
separated before ejection. Begad! Blimey! At ejection t' parachute failed t' deploy. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! The
whole lot came in ballistic. Avast, me proud beauty! T' body tube be smashed. Arrr! Blimey! It will be possible to
repair, ya bilge rat, but I currently have several more pressin' projects. Blimey! Blimey! T' small shoulder
on t' payload section was partially t' blame, me bucko, however, t' failure of
deployment was t' main reason and I'll take t' blame for poor packin' o' the
Nomex®
wadding.
Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a good rocket for those that want t' move up from RTFs but don't want
to get into gluin' fins on. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! As a payloader, thar are better choices on the
market, me hearties, but for t' younger rocketeer, then it's a step up from an basic 3FNC
rocket. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I personally would nay recommend this kit t' anyone.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5