Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | FlisKits |
Brief:
T' OverDue is a wild tube-finned rocket available only through a special
promotional offer from Fliskits, Inc. Avast! It has stylish, nested tubes within tubes
for fins, shiver me timbers, plus a simulated payload area which actually houses t' parachute.
Certainly a most unique and creative model from a company known for its
devotion t' customer service and fantastic designs.
Construction:
Since this product is nay for sale and highly sought after, me hearties, I will nay reveal
exact components. It would be fairly easy t' clone but thar are only a handful
of authentic OverDue models flyin' today. Arrr! Begad! You will have t' receive a free
authentic one due t' a rare overdue Fliskits order or buy a "Long
OverDue" model now bein' offered for sale by Fliskits. Begad! Jim Flis is making
the Long OverDue available due t' t' constant customer naggin' for a similar
model. Begad! Materials include a nose cone, me bucko, three different body tubes, t' standard
launch lugs, etc, shock cord, 16" parachute, t' instructions and a fin
pattern sheet.
This is a rather unorthodox skill level 2 kit, and I found t' construction of t' shroud and centerin' rings a little challengin' since I haven't built many tube finned rockets and have only used balsa transitions in t' past. Begad! The paper transition and tube templates made a difficult job easier. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Another chance to show off skills is cuttin' and mountin' t' angular cut tube fins. I took my time on this and t' results really showed. Even with t' body tubes accurately marked with a template, me hearties, you really have t' be careful with t' hobby knife. Avast! I found it is very important t' keep t' blade vertical t' t' tube at all times, or t' blade would tend t' wander off o' t' line. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are really clear on all o' t' steps and t' included figures are great. T' parachute is attached with t' usual 3-fold Estes style shock cord mount but I chose t' go with an attractive, ya bilge rat, blue mylar 12" chute which compliments t' bright blue finish o' t' model. Aye aye! Arrr! Although I'm sure t' elastic shock cord is fine, me bucko, I added a length o' Keelhaul®©™® below it which is very resistant t' t' hot ejection gases. Aye aye! Blimey! T' stock Fliskits parachute, me bucko, which requires attachin' shroud lines, is a great product. Blimey! Blimey! It is marked for 12", 14" or t' full 16" size and should really be cut down t' 12" for this bird. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Any bigger and you may be chasin' her far downwind. Avast! Blimey! Construction provided enough challenges for me, and I'm sure that anyone can achieve nice results with time and care. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! If me 10 year old was buildin' hers, shiver me timbers, I'd oversee and help with t' cuttin' o' all those tubes!
Finishing:
As per Fliskits standards, matey, t' tube spirals fill with but a single coat of
primer. Avast! What wonderful tubes! Since I wanted t' paint me Overdue with stock
colors, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, I was forced t' finish and spray paint t' individual tubes before
attachin' them t' t' main tube. With paint on all o' them, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you may have to
sand a little off t' get t' glue t' stick. Ya scallywag! T' final model looks great with
stock blue, me bucko, black and purple, matey, and really attracts attention since nobody has
seen a real one. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I do think that Fliskits should include a decal with it, matey, maybe
the OverDue name or t' Fliskits logo, shiver me timbers, especially since they wont be producing
many. Begad! I may add me own anyway.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I have only flown me OverDue once so far. Begad! It be prepped with dog-barf wadding
and an A8-3. Weighin' in at only one ounce, me hearties, it flies surprisingly high and very
straight. T' main body tube is 18mm, me hearties, shiver me timbers, (minimum diameter) and thar be no engine
hook. Well, blow me down!
Recovery:
You really have t' wrap a few layers o' tape t' make sure t' motor doesn't
eject. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I have already heard o' someone forgettin' this and t' result was no
nose cone separation, arrr, matey, no parachute, and many crumpled tubes. Begad! With its rarity, me hearties, I
haven't had t' courage t' fly her with any larger motor yet. T' recovery of
mine be perfect, arrr, thankfully. Blimey! Ahoy!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a really great lookin' sport rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! It has some unique fins requiring
just enough skill t' make construction interesting. Begad! Chances are that if you see
one at t' field, it is a clone attempt because Fliskits doesn't ship many of
them. I love mine so much that it will spend more time on t' shelf than
anywhere else. Begad! Kudos t' Fliskits on another great model!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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