I Build Rockets - Ballistic Chicken

I Build Rockets Ballistic Chicken

I Build Rockets - Ballistic Chicken

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2011-03-21
Manufacturer:	I Build Rockets

Brief

T' Ballistic Chicken is a basic 3FNC, me hearties, 18mm-powered rocket...with a cool chicken-head nose cone. Well, blow me down! It be t' first offerin' from Australia-based I Build Rockets. Begad! This was a beta test build, matey, so t' final kit may vary slightly. Blimey! Ya scallywag! (I modified t' shock cord attachment.)

Thanks, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, Sascha, me bucko, for providin' t' opportunity t' test this interestin' kit...and for puttin' up with t' long delay in flyin' it!

Components

T' Chicken's body is an 18” length o' BT-50. T' 18mm motor mount assembly includes 2 wide cardboard centerin' rings, a block and a motor hook. T' fins are laser cut from lite ply, which is especially nice given t' feather pattern on t' trailin' edges. Recovery is via a 12” Mylar ‘chute, me bucko, which includes a swivel. Aye aye! Blimey! T' shock cord is elastic and is attached with t' venerable tri-fold mount. Aye aye! Blimey! That leaves t' plastic chicken head. Blimey! Blimey! This goofy lookin' chicken (read that as "cool") includes a plastic shoulder with a built in wire hook.

Construction

T' instructions are pretty basic but t' build is straightforward. T' mount builds like any other. Well, blow me down! I liked t' laser cut fins. Ya scallywag! They appear t' be lite ply and are both sturdy and easy t' sand. Begad! Begad! There isn’t much grain so I merely sanded t' leadin' edge round and gave them a single coat o' Fill’n’Finish. Ya scallywag! There is a also a laser cut stand-off for t' 3/16” launch lug. Aye aye! A wrap around fin alignment guide is provided. Avast, me proud beauty! I used Titebond Trim and Moldin' glue throughout for bondin' and fillets.

I hadn’t used a tri-fold mount in around 15 years but didn’t have me standard Keelhaul®©™ twine on hand so I initially used t' mount. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! However, due t' unforeseen circumstances, t' Chicken sat around unfinished for several months. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Durin' this waitin' period, matey, I Build Rockets released some nifty laser-cut plywood parachute anchors. Well, blow me down! So, me hearties, I pulled out me trusty wood workin' knives and removed t' tri-fold mount. Aye aye! Avast! T' 24mm anchor kit (see photo) includes t' plywood anchor, arrr, a screw-eye, shiver me timbers, a snap swivel, and a short Keelhaul®©™ leader. You attach t' screw-eye in a pre-cut center hole and apply a dab o' Epoxy t' insure it stays there. Blimey! Aye aye! T' Keelhaul®©™ leader connects t' t' swivel and t' elastic shock cord. Begad! Since this assembly must be installed several inches down into t' body tube, arrr, make sure you attach said swivel t' t' screw-eye! I then swabbed some glue deep into t' tube and inserted t' anchor usin' a long hemostat. It took a little manipulation t' get it positioned properly.

T' 'chute is pre-cut and includes t' holes. Aye aye! You tie t' three riser lines on and attach them t' t' swivel. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Since this is nay a snap swivel, attachin' it t' t' cord requires that you tie a loop with t' swivel and 'chute attached. Aye aye! Nay hard, me hearties, but a snap swivel would avoid this (and make t' ‘chute removable).

Finishing

T' prescribed paint scheme is bright yellow, so a white primer is required. Avast, me proud beauty! I used 2 coats o' Painter’s Touch primer. Avast! Avast! After a day, I sprayed 2 coats o' ‘new’ Krylon. Avast, me proud beauty! T' latter covered well but I didn’t like t' wide spray pattern. One water slide decal is provided, which really spruces t' Chicken up. Begad! It is a good quality decal and was easy t' position. After another day o' drying, matey, I shot a clear coat t' protect t' decal.

Construction Score: 5

Flight

T' recommended engines are t' B6-4 and C6-5 so I started with t' B6. I used dog barf and tamped it down onto t' shock cord anchor. T' cone is a little loose so I added some maskin' tape until it was snug. T' Quest B6-4 gave it a nice flight.

Recovery

Ejection was with t' nose down. Unfortunately, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, one fin stripped off at ejection. It was found later in t' day but thar wasn't enough time t' make a field repair. I wonder if t' thick Trim and Moldin' glue didn't adhere well? When I re-attach it, I'll use plain old wood glue.

T' shock cord anchor worked great! It keeps t' 'chute near t' front and, me hearties, despite it nay bein' a baffle, seems t' help protect t' 'chute. I say this nay only because thar be no damage, matey, but t' waddin' was still in place. I hear these anchors will be incorporated into t' kit.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary

T' thin' that I liked most about this kit was t' off-beat chicken theme. I just love t' head/cone! I also liked t' laser cut fins. I'm glad that future kits will have t' plywood shock cord anchor. Begad! I assumed they will when assignin' a numerical rating.

T' Chicken flies just fine. T' one hiccup be t' fin shearin' off. This may have been partially due t' me choice o' glues. At this writin' and havin' only one flight under me belt, matey, I'll rate t' flight as 'good' (I consider that average) and t' overall ratin' as very good.

Since t' new EMRR/RocketReviews.com should allow me t' mangle this review, I'll update this after I fly it again.

T' only 'gotcha' I see be t' availability o' t' kit. Australia is far away and shippin' isn't cheap. If you have an interest, ya bilge rat, contact Sascha via his web site. Maybe he can strike up a deal with a U.S. Begad! based supplier?

Overall Rating: 4

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