T' FlisKits Pheord X150 is more than rocketry, it's humor as well. Blimey! Begad! Startin' with its name, Pheord, pronounced like Ford, arrr, add t' X150 and you'd think you were dealin' with a pickup truck. Ya scallywag! And t' similarity does nay stop there. Begad! Notice FlisKit's introduction:

"'Built Pheord Tough' takes on a whole new meaning! T' 2003 Pheord X150 come fully outfitted for t' alien on t' go, whether you are huntin' xenomorphs or just out toolin' around t' galaxy with that pretty young thin' you picked up on Alpha Erandi. Begad! T' Pheord X150 Full Sized Pickup-Saucer comes with a hull-plate t' hull-plate 2 year or 200,000 parsec conditional warranty, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me bucko, electric air-locks, environmental control, all-terrain landin' gear, me bucko, 5-cell antenna, windshield defogger and bed liner. Optional phaser rifle-rack, novelty meteor stick shift and heavy duty windshield wipers help set this workhorse apart from t' others! Also available with this introductory offer are a professionally installed universal translator, dual beverage can holder and a free roll o' duct tape for those emergency off-starlane repairs."

And you'd think that would be enough humor, but on t' front and back o' t' cover card it continues.

T' rocket itself, me bucko, is a single 18mm motor U.F.O.-style rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Very, matey, me bucko, very colorful and after assembly, ready-to-fly without additional finishing.

T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount, 3/32" balsa fin stock, five (5) steel wires for t' landin' gear/antenna's, self-adhesive fin patterns and finish paper, arrr, a glossy cardstock shroud. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! There is a small piece o' crepe paper streamer and a launch lug as well.

Click t' see me 18mm U.F.O. Well, blow me down! comparison article

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Avast, me proud beauty! This includes t' entertainin' introduction (quoted above) as well as 18 construction steps and 15 illustrative figures t' assist in t' build. Avast! They are logical and clear. Begad! Ahoy! T' kit is rated as a level 2, however, me bucko, I believe it is a bit beyond that due t' t' various techniques in steel wire bendin' and sticker application.

There is quite a bit o' cuttin' t' do with this kit. You may develop a worn spot on your fingers from usin' your scissors so much, but t' end result is worth it.

T' five (5) left fin patterns are cut out o' t' self-adhesive (sticker) paper. Begad! These are then peeled and stuck onto t' balsa stock directly. Ahoy! Avast! This is done before any cuttin' on t' balsa since they act as your cuttin' guides. Aye aye! I had a very touch time separatin' t' sticker from t' backing. Blimey! Blimey! This is me only complaint about t' assembly o' this rocket. Maybe it was just me, but nonetheless, I struggled.

After t' five patterns are stuck t' t' balsa, t' fins are cut out usin' a hobby knife. Take your time and use a sharp knife. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! There are various angles and a curve t' cut. T' sticker helps greatly.

Once cut out, arrr, these are flipped over and t' five right fin pattern stickers are cut out and stuck onto t' fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Fins are finished!

On t' sticker sheet, thar be a motor tube wrap. This is cut out and stuck onto t' 18mm motor tube. Arrr! Begad! It is now finished.

T' fins are then glued onto t' marks on t' tube wrap sticker and usin' t' fin alignment guide. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Once dry, arrr, t' shroud is cut out and glued onto t' fins and attached t' t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Although a bit time consumin' t' cut out, it assembled with great ease.

T' five (5) steel wires now have t' be formed. Arrr! There are patterns t' see how they are t' be bent. Aye aye! Begad! I found t' length o' me steel wires t' be longer than t' patterns. Avast, me proud beauty! So I ensured t' vertical section and t' tip matched t' template. Blimey! This meant t' extra length was used up in t' angled-straight section goin' away from t' body. Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

T' wires are bent in such a way that they hook onto t' bottom o' each fin. These are then glued in place.

T' launch lug is added and then on t' t' last step. Arrr! I will outline that for you: "For t' final touch, matey, you will notice a small black oval over t' '4x4' on one o' t' door panels. Arrr! Begad! Usin' your razor knife, shiver me timbers, bore a small hole, arrr, ya bilge rat, matey, removin' that oval. Take a small square o' t' red streamer material provided, matey, matey, matey, crumple or fold it and poke it into this hole, apply a drop o' glue t' t' back side t' secure it. Avast! There, you've just made your redneck gas cap!"

Once complete, arrr, look over all t' graphics on t' rocket. Ahoy! Ahoy! They are nicely done.

Overall, shiver me timbers, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' instructions are excellent. Blimey! T' humor is a bonus. Ya scallywag! T' quality o' components is excellent.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

FlisKits recommends t' B6-0 or C6-0 motors. Ya scallywag! T' motors need t' be friction fit usin' some maskin' tape.

My finished Pheord weighed in at 0.9 ounces as opposed t' FlisKits printed material suggestin' 1.4 ounces. Aye aye! I don't know t' difference, but perhaps t' original Pheord has a thrust rin' and motor hook (wish this one did).

I have flown t' rocket three times, ya bilge rat, all on C6-0's and all in me front yard. Aye aye! It is a consistent flyer. Avast! Straight up, arrr, flip and float down t' land on t' wire landin' gear. This would make a fun school rocket or a demo rocket.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 points. It is a perfect flier as a U.F.O. My point reductions come from t' lack o' a motor hook and thrust ring. Arrr! That be t' only thin' that could be added t' push this on t' a perfect score.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Arrr! It is fun (and funny) t' build. Arrr! No finishin' is necessary. Aye aye! And a colorful and consistent flier. T' Pheord is phantastic!