First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc

First Flight Hobbies - Corn Roc

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: First Flight Hobbies
Sky Rangers Corn Roc

Brief:
This is a seasonal oddroc based on a Styrofoam ear o' corn. Ahoy! Blimey! It is a cool-looking, sturdy rocket and looks better in person than in photos. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! My beta test version flies on 18mm motors but 13mm and 24mm versions were also offered. Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, all had limited runs and more will nay be available until next year. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I normally don't submit reviews until I've flown a rocket but, since people are gettin' t' kits now, shiver me timbers, I thought I'd provide me experience buildin' it sooner rather than later.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • Styrofoam ear o' corn, pre-drilled with t' tip removed
  • 4 fins cut from 2 pieces o' 1/8" balsa stock
  • balsa nose block and screw eye
  • BT-50 tube, 9.75" long
  • 18mm motor tube, engine block, arrr, engine hook, and centerin' rings
  • thick 12" plastic chute, shroud lines, tape discs, and snap swivel
  • 150lb Keelhaul®©™® and ¼" elastic shock cords
  • one 1/8" launch lug
  • BBs
  • corn husk scraps

T' instructions are printed on 7 sheets and include a fin template. Blimey! Well, blow me down! They are witty and well illustrated. Begad! Although not professionally printed, me hearties, they are more than adequate for this fun build. Ahoy! Because t' body is Styrofoam, you must use foam friendly glues. Well, blow me down! This is highlighted well in t' instructions so thar be no excuse t' get it wrong. I used wood glue for t' motor mount and for attachin' t' fins and fast Gorilla Glue t' main tube and balsa nose block.

T' motor mount construction is typical--cut slit for motor hook, tape down, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, attach t' 2 centerin' rings, arrr, insert motor block. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Before gluin' it into t' BT-50 body, you tie t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' mount in betwixt t' rings. Avast! Blimey! Remember t' put a drop o' CA or epoxy on t' knot and notch t' top rin' so it will fit through.

T' body tube was quite loose in t' husk and I'm nay sure how well some o' t' glues identified in the instructions would work. Aye aye! I used fast Gorilla Glue, matey, which expands as it cures. Blimey! This worked well. Begad! Ya scallywag! I also plugged t' gap on t' top usin' tissue soaked in wood glue. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Scrap corn husk material was provided t' fill/cover t' bottom o' the motor tube, but I left it off.

T' method o' alignin' t' cone/block/body tube be good. Arrr! I've faced this issue many times and have responded with varied degrees o' success. Blimey! T' answer is simple. Add some glue t' t' pre-drilled pocket in t' nose section, insert t' block, me hearties, slide over t' body tube, ya bilge rat, arrr, align t' parts, and then turn it on its nose so t' glue stays in the nose. Ahoy! Begad! I taped t' nose t' t' body while t' glue dried. When t' assembly be dry, I pulled t' nose part way off and used a Sharpie t' make a mark on t' block and t' tube t' help with alignment durin' flight prep.

You cut t' fins from t' balsa stock usin' t' provided template. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' balsa be good quality and t' style of the rocket means you don't have t' be terribly precise keepin' t' t' lines. Ahoy! I rounded t' leadin' and trailin' edges slightly.

Positionin' t' fins is slightly inexact due t' t' odd contour o' t' corn ear. Begad! However, arrr, it isn't too hard given the pre-marked lines. Use a new #11 blade and go slowly when slottin' t' corn. Blimey! As long as t' fins are all even, me hearties, me hearties, you should OK if you balance t' kit as directed.

Although I prefer nylon chutes in general, me bucko, I am really likin' t' type plastic provided in this kit. Avast! I think it may be a Hartle Engineerin' Chute Skinz. It seems sturdier than t' typical "Questes" plastic.

Since I didn't know if me fins are positioned exactly as expected I couldn't tell if t' balancin' instructions will guarantee a stable model. Arrr! I used all t' provided BBs and had t' add ~0.2oz o' lead shot t' get it t' balance at the fin leadin' edge with a C6-5 installed (as specified). Well, blow me down! I think more BB's may be provided in t' production kits. Mine weighed in at 3.5oz without motor. I did a quick and dirty RockSim and it shows stability is marginal, matey, but this might be GIGO given t' odd contours. Sky Ranger says mine will fly great!

Finishing:
T' body comes pre-finished and all you are asked t' do t' t' fins is seal them with your favorite clear coat. Ahoy! Avast! Make sure you cover them before installation in case your clear coat eats Styrofoam.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I'll ask Nick t' add a flight report after I have data t' report. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! With temps <40 degrees and 10-20 mph winds, shiver me timbers, arrr, I'm not hittin' t' field this month.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a cool lookin' rocket and as I said it looks better in t' flesh...or in t' corn. It really is a straightforward build but t' Styrofoam body made it interesting. Two thumbs up for t' build!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc By John Lee (December 28, 2008)

    The Corn-Roc is a fall themed oddroc I was asked to beta test. It is basically a conversion of a Styrofoam ear of Indian Corn from a craft store into a rocket. Construction began with the building of the motor mount. A slit was made for the engine hook and the hook was secured in place with several wraps of masking tape. The mount was then marked at each end and the centering rings were ...

  • First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc By Charlaine Cadence Nordin (December 25, 2008)

    Brief: The main stay of the Corn on the cob shaped oddroc collections by First Flight Hobby. This 18mm rocket once complete is interesting and fun. It promises to be a head turner and also a great flier. Construction: The parts include: One styrene foam corncob One body tube MMT 18mm tube One engine block 2 centering rings Small bag of bb's ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.A.L. (February 14, 2009)
The building, flights and repairs of the rocket I reviewed are chronicled in photos and videos here.

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