Brief:
This newest kit from Squirrel Works looks super! It's a BT-55 kit that should catch some big air on a 24mm motor with 12" parachute recovery. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' face card in t' kit is a true work o' art, a signature o' Squirrel Works kits. Blimey! Parts quality is excellent, too. Blimey! T' decals really set this rocket apart.
Construction:
T' parts list:
- 1 BT-55 kraft main body tube
- 1 BNC-55 balsa nose cone
- 1 laser cut balsa fin sheet
- 1 standard 24mm motor mount kit with motor clip
- 1 standard 1/8" launch lug
- 1 screw eye
- 1 shock cord, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 1/8" elastic
- 1 12" mylar parachute kit
- 2 decal sheets, me bucko, water slide
I test fit all t' parts first and sanded for fit as needed, then sanded all t' tubes and balsa and filled t' nose cone usin' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' get that all out o' t' way in t' beginning. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey! T' body tube seams were hardly noticeable, so I didn't worry with fillin' them. Construction is really simple. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! It's your basic three very cool fins and a nose cone. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! Considerin' t' fins are laser cut, matey, it's a piece o' cake. Puttin' t' motor mount together was t' most time consumin' effort.
Next, matey, I inserted t' motor mount into t' tube. Well, blow me down! While that was drying, ya bilge rat, I constructed t' shock cord attachment, me hearties, inserted t' screw eye, shiver me timbers, cut out t' markin' guide, and drew t' alignment lines. Aye aye! Then t' fins and launch lug, after cuttin' it in half, me bucko, me bucko, were attached, ya bilge rat, and lastly, arrr, t' shock cord mount and shock cord was installed and connected t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! I added a six-inch length o' Keelhaul®©™ t' install in t' shock cord mount, me standard installation. Avast! I put CA around t' forward end o' t' tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™ at t' exit point t' protect against abrasion, then added a loop at t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ t' tie on t' 1/8" elastic cord. Aye aye! Then I put t' parachute together and it be done.
Finishing:
Since t' nose cone is painted red and t' body tube and fins are painted white, I painted them separately before installin' t' shock cord. Only t' leadin' edges o' t' fins were rounded. Well, blow me down! T' fin decals were easily cut out but t' Dragonfire takes a little more time, matey, as I like t' cut t' follow t' outline o' t' decal. Arrr! There was no way t' get it t' lie down like t' picture on t' kit though. Ya scallywag! Even though Don provided an extra dragon decal with t' kit, me hearties, matey, I proceeded t' immediately shred both o' them tryin' t' wrap them around t' tube. Arrr! He provided me with another full set, but I still managed t' tear t' next one in about five places just tryin' t' get even a small twist partially around t' body. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! My hands just aren't steady enough t' pull somethin' that thin along. They were so thin I even tore a piece in two o' t' fin decals. Avast! It still looks great though. Avast, me proud beauty! I could have tried again, but didn't think I'd really do any better with another try. Next I applied a couple o' coats o' Future Floor Wax t' protect t' finish and improve t' shine. Begad! She's ready t' throw a few fireballs!
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
Wowee! This rocket zooms on a D12-5. Aye aye! Ahoy! Flyin' at DARS new field, matey, matey, me bucko, a G-capable field in Frisco, arrr, t' winds were blowin' at 8-12 mph. Arrr! Blimey! T' rocket flew straight as an arrow with very minimal weathercock. Avast! It was so fast off t' pad, arrr, I don’t think t' winds had a chance t' have much effect on t' rocket. Ya scallywag! I would guess t' altitude was somewhere around 1,200 feet.
Recovery:
T' chute popped right at t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I didn’t reef t' 12-inch chute, but luckily one o' t' shroud lines tangled and t' chute didn’t fully deploy. It came down fairly rapidly but sustained no damage in t' soft field. Aye aye! If t' chute had fully deployed, I would have been recoverin' beyond t' field.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' Dragonfire is a high flyin' rocket that can be put together easily in one day. Parts quality is superb, and t' decals look fantastic. T' specially designed laser cut fins with t' decals applied are simply awesome, me bucko, but t' dragon spittin' t' fireball just adds that special flare that t' rocket can't do without.
Pros: A simple design that comes alive with a set o' decals that are a pure work o' art. Aye aye! Complement that with a set o' quality parts with laser cut fins, shiver me timbers, excellent instructions, and a nice long shock cord, arrr, and you've got a rocket that will turn heads at every launch and last long enough for t' grandkids t' fly. That is, matey, assumin' you don't lose it on one o' those flights into t' clouds.
Cons: Decals are too thin. Well, blow me down! I made t' change with t' shock cord, but that is just personal preference.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
