MPC Pioneer 1

MPC - Pioneer 1 {Kit} (R-810) [1970-1978]

Contributed by James Harechmak

Manufacturer: MPC
Style: Sport
Rating
(Contributed - by Jim Harechmak)Lamda Shuttle

Brief:
Fun t' build and fly.

Construction:
T' kit comes with:

  • A very thick for it's size BT20 for t' air frame
  • Plastic fincan with t' launch lug molded in
  • 2 piece nosecone
  • 18" orange and white streamer
  • 1/16" round elastic shock cord
  • Card stock shock cord mount
  • BT20 motor mount
  • Motor rention clip
  • Nice water-slide decals
  • Self-stick address card
  • and a chunk o' fiberglass insulation for wadding

T' instructions are very easy t' follow. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Easy enough in fact that I let my 12 year old build t' kit even though it's 30 years (or so) old. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! The instructions have 3 main steps that are broken down by A,B,C's. Blimey! Step 1 deals with t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Step 2 t' fincan. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Step 3 nosecone, recovery and address label.

Even with usin' white and styrene glues instead o' c.a. Arrr! Arrr! me son had this rocket done in about an hour. Well, matey, blow me down! We waited 3 more hours for t' glue t' dry before flying.

Finishing:
My son chose nay t' finish t' rocket because he liked t' red (fincan), ya bilge rat, white (bt), matey, and blue (nc) look. Arrr! Blimey! T' kit does come with NASA, ya bilge rat, USAF, arrr, arrr, me hearties, and checker board decals. Ahoy! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Due t' their age I would bet that they would need alot o' tlc t' make them work.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are very stable and high if you use C's. Blimey! Prep is ordinary, wadding-streamer-nc, me bucko, insert motor and go. Ya scallywag! Our first flight was with an MPC B3-3 that I found at a flea market, arrr, arrr, and boy what a CATO! Thrust and ejection at the same time!

T' second flight be with an Estes A8-3. This was a good flight, arrr, woosh and pop. T' third flight be on a C6-5. Begad! Again, good flight, matey, very high and very straight. Avast! I recommend usin' tempra powder in t' streamer for C flights as this rocket can be hard t' spot over a couple hundred o' feet.

Recovery:
Recovery was good. T' streamer slows this light-weight down enough that if you land in grass thar will be no damage. Blimey! But if you have t' chance o' landin' on hard dirt or asphalt use a small chute t' avoid fin dammage. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Pro's: Ease o' assembly, good flights, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me bucko, easy t' find cheap on eBay and ROL even though it's 30+ years old

Con's: Old decals don't stick.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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