Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Mile High Rockets |
Brief: Construction: Instructions were comparable t' Estes instructions, ya bilge rat, arrr, four pages with easy t' follow illustrations. Arrr! There is also an instruction sheet for t' parachute kit. Begad! Aye aye! Assembly order be typical; nay all that difficult for a Level 3 rocket. Ya scallywag! Pieces fit together well. I felt t' balsa fins were o' strange quality, but they sanded fine and are covered by decals in t' end. Ahoy! I liked t' balsa fin rail material which was new t' me. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! It helped in attachin' t' fins t' t' body. I did have some trouble understandin' how they were t' be shaped with sandpaper, me hearties, me bucko, and I'm still nay sure I did it right. Arrr! T' directions and illustrations seem t' conflict in this area. Avast! I also had some trouble mountin' t' tube fins t' t' balsa fins. Avast, me proud beauty! One needs t' install all three o' them at about t' same time t' assure vertical alignment, 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: Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5 Flight: Recovery: Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5 Summary: CONs: This is a decent second effort for Mile High Rockets. Avast! I will try them again. Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
This be t' second kit available from Mile High Rockets. Begad! It is listed as a Skill Level 3 kit and utilizes unique fin rails and a tube fin setup.
Components are mostly high quality and include one cardboard body tube, one motor tube, three motor rings, an engine hook, plastic nose cone, ya bilge rat, 24" Keelhaul®©™ cord and a 14" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped shock cord, three cardboard fin tubes, arrr, ya bilge rat, three balsa fins, 9" o' "easy-mount" fin rail, arrr, arrr, launch lug, decals and a 12.5" flame-resistant parachute kit (unassembled).
Finishin' was standard primer and paint. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used me own color selection and added only a few o' t' decals that were included. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I didn't care for t' decals much, me hearties, they were a very heavy plastic and t' adhesive seemed t' ooze from them. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! After I was finished, shiver me timbers, I applied several coats o' clear coat.
I have flown this only once as t' body tube was severely damaged in flight and it needs repair. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Preparation is typical for rockets usin' wadding. First flight be on an Estes A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! It went straight up t' about 400' and landed about 100' from t' pad. Begad! I would recommend a slightly longer delay.
T' recovery system is attached t' t' motor mount with t' two Keelhaul®©™ cords. I feel that t' Keelhaul®©™ cord sticks way too far out o' t' tube and I expect t' rocket t' zipper before long. Avast! T' directions indicate that t' nose cone be attached t' t' middle o' t' elastic cord and t' parachute attaches at t' end. Aye aye! I modified this, tyin' t' nose cone at t' end and t' parachute t' t' nose cone as I would for an Estes rocket. Durin' t' first flight, the! end o' t' body tube be crushed, shiver me timbers, I'm nay sure if it be tryin' t' zipper or t' nose cone rebounded into it.
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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 ...
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J.B. (September 7, 2007)