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. Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, one motor tube, matey, three motor rings, an engine hook, plastic nose cone, arrr, arrr, ya bilge rat, 24" Keelhaul®©™ cord and a 14" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped shock cord, shiver me timbers, three cardboard fin tubes, three balsa fins, shiver me timbers, 9" o' "easy-mount" fin rail, shiver me timbers, matey, launch lug, arrr, shiver me timbers, decals and a 12.5" flame-resistant parachute kit (unassembled).

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

Finishing:
Finishin' was standard primer and paint. I used me own color selection and added only a few o' t' decals that were included. Ya scallywag! I didn't care for t' decals much, matey, they were a very heavy plastic and t' adhesive seemed t' ooze from them. Aye aye! After I be finished, 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. Preparation is typical for rockets usin' wadding. Begad! Ya scallywag! First flight be on an Estes A8-3. Begad! It went straight up t' about 400' and landed about 100' from t' pad. Ahoy! Aye aye! I would recommend a slightly longer delay.

Recovery:
T' recovery system is attached t' t' motor mount with t' two Keelhaul®©™ cords. Well, me hearties, blow me down! I feel that t' Keelhaul®©™ cord sticks way too far out o' t' tube and I expect t' rocket t' zipper before long. Avast! Avast! T' directions indicate that t' nose cone be attached t' t' middle o' t' elastic cord and t' parachute attaches at t' end. Ahoy! I modified this, me bucko, matey, tyin' t' nose cone at t' end and t' parachute t' t' nose cone as I would for an Estes rocket. Ahoy! Durin' t' first flight, matey, the! end o' t' body tube was crushed, ya bilge rat, 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, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, arrr, mostly high quality.
  • I really liked t' fin rails.

CONs:

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

This is a decent second effort for Mile High Rockets. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! 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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