| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Brief
Before t' untimely end o' Semroc I spent t' bulk o' a year usin' their parts t' create upscales and 1:1 clones o' FSI kits. For t' most part, shiver me timbers, this meant that I be buildin' t' rockets, then figurin' out a paint and decal scheme that was o' me own making, arrr, somethin' I'm nay exactly a master at. One exception t' this was t' Micro. T' plans for t' Micro are located at t' YORF plan site. http://www.oldrocketplans.com/fsi/fsiMRK-VIII/fsiMRK-VIII.htm T' Micro was a long runnin' kit in t' FSI catalogs, showin' up from at least 1970 t' 1996, but t' decals that were included with t' scans didn't match up t' any o' t' photos/drawings included in any o' t' catalogs. Since t' Micro would be a quick, easy build, I decided t' try me hand at it and placed t' Semroc order.
Components
- BC-8F28 nose cone (Semroc)
- ST-8F80 body tube (Semroc)
- TR-7 thrust rin' (Semroc)
- 2 - CR-78F centerin' rings (Semroc)
- ST-730E engine tube (Semroc)
- 3/32" basswood fin stock
- 12" Keelhaul®©™ shock cord
- 18" sewin' elastic shock cord
- small screw eye
- medium snap swivel
- 12" parachute
- decal
Construction
T' Micro is a 3fnc bird, ya bilge rat, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so very little about t' construction would puzzle anyone with a rocket or two under their belt. I would rate t' build as on par with an Estes Alpha or any other skill level 1 rocket. Fins were cut out o' 3/32" basswood because they stick out a lot and seem fragile.
Finishing
T' red and black paint scheme for the Micro be pretty much predetermined by t' decal scan, which be fine with me. After killin' off t' tube spirals and balsa grain with thinned Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler, matey, matey, t' whole rocket be primed, arrr, then sprayed gloss white. T' upper body tube above t' fin can was then masked off and one fin be painted gloss red. When that was dry it be also masked off and t' fin can and two remainin' fins were painted gloss black. All paints were o' t' Valspar variety because Lowe's is a five minute drive from me house. T' decals are minimal, matey, arrr, with a red wrap decal that I placed at t' top o' t' rocket, and a black "MICRO" that went above t' FSI logo. Excelsior also has a decal set for t' Micro, which I believe is what Mark Kulka used in finishin' his. http://www.rocketreviews.com/mark-kulkas-plans---fsi-micro.html
Flight
I had planned t' fly it at an earlier post-practice launch at B6-4 Field, but I had dropped it and cracked a fin fillet while blottin' t' decals dry one night. I had fixed that fin, me bucko, but hadn't noticed t' other cracked fillet until I got t' t' field, which effectively scratched any flight operations for t' night. With both fillets fixed, me hearties, me bucko, I loaded t' Micro with t' obligatory A8-3 and let rip. T' Micro arced slightly, t' flight path takin' it back over Woodfill Avenue in t' direction o' t' school. Ejection occurred and t' streamer deployed, ridin' the breeze back t' recover on t' field. Hard. As soon as I saw t' impact, me hearties, arrr, I knew thar would be damage, arrr, which thar was. T' fin that I hadn't previously broken had broken. I chalked it up t' experience and decided that t' Micro would be a small chute bird from that flight on. AS INTENDED!
Second flight was also at B6-4 Field, arrr, ya bilge rat, so it be also on an A8-3, this time with a parachute. T' flight path and recovery both mimicked t' first flight almost t' a T. A gentle arc out toward t' school, ejection and a breezy ride back toward t' field, arrr, and another HARD recovery. I saw t' bounce and figured it be trouble, but when I got t' t' landin' area I found no damage. I think I'm onto something. I'm tempted t' try this with a B6-4, arrr, me hearties, but it would have t' be on a night when t' skies are totally devoid o' wind. It might be t' perfect combination o' height and size at B6-4 Field, but any wind would be death.
Flight Rating: 3
Summary
Pros: FSI cool. Great small field performance on an A8 while still nay overflyin' t' field.
Cons: Fin fragility.
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