FlisKits Corona

FlisKits - Corona {Kit} (FR001)

Contributed by Greg Deeter

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 0.98 inches
Length: 41.00 inches
Manufacturer: FlisKits
Style: Ring/Tube/Cone Fin

Rocket PicBrief:
This is a single stage rocket, skill level 2 from t' new company FlisKits. It has an interestin' fin area with a ring. Arrr! It says that it be first introduced at t' Seventh Annual North East Model Rocket Convention (NEMROC7). Begad! I ordered this direct from FlisKits online and had it in 2-3 days by mail. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' package is very nice looking. Begad! It came in a retail type bag (like Estes) with a hole punched header card, me bucko, and full color cardboard insert. Ahoy! If I saw one o' these on a hobby shelf or peg, matey, arrr, it would get me attention, because it looks great. It also has a production number, which I like. Blimey! T' production number is entered with a black sharpie on t' main package insert card. Very nice attention t' detail in that way. Aye aye! Mine is #19.

Construction:
T' back side o' t' color cardboard insert has a nice detailed parts list, list o' required tools and what is required for launching. Blimey! It comes with :

  • NCB-50Y Balsa Nose Cone
  • (2) BT-50-17 Body Tubes
  • CPL-50-01 Stage Coupler 1.0"
  • CPL-70-0125 Stage Coupler 1.25"
  • FSB-2-3-6 Balsa Fin Stock 1/16"
  • LL-1-1 Launch Lug 1"
  • BT-20-0275 Engine Tube 2.75"
  • EB-20-0025 Engine Block
  • (2) CRF-20-50 Centerin' Rings
  • EH-0275 Engine Hook 2.75"
  • SE-M Screw Eye Medium
  • SC-1-18 Shock Cord 18"
  • PCP-16 Parachute 16"
  • SLCA-96 Shroud Line Cotton
  • TD-1-6 Tape Disks

It also includes excellent detailed instructions with figures/pictures, ya bilge rat, a preflight checklist and t' history o' t' design o' t' rocket. Arrr! A very nice complete kit with attention t' detail.

T' instructions were very easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! As this kit comes without die-cut fins, me hearties, you must cut t' fins yourself. Blimey! Begad! There are three fins made from six pieces, plus t' outer ring. Arrr! When I opened this kit one night I be wonderin' about how hard it would be t' build. Arrr! Well, blow me down! So I just jumped right in on it. Ahoy! Usin' a razor saw, me bucko, I had enough balsa (good quality hard 1/16") t' make 4 o' each piece. Begad! Begad! Pickin' me best 3 o' each shape I use a sandin' block and got them all uniform. Ahoy! Arrr! I don't know if it was luck or just good design with t' templates bein' perfect, but everythin' fit totally perfect and snug. Ahoy! I used CA t' tack t' six fin pieces into their three locations. Then used white glue for fillets. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Finally I used CA t' attach t' rin' around t' fins and gave it some very light white glue fillets.

Motor Mount T' FlisKits' Corona comes with a FlisKits' parachute, which is like an Estes plastic 'chute, me hearties, and it is designed t' use t' Estes type 3-folded paper t' t' inner wall type shock cord mount. This is where I changed mine. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I adhered a 24" piece o' Keelhaul®©™® cord t' t' engine mount usin' CA (see picture). Arrr! Aye aye! Then I tied a small snap swivel onto it and then used t' 18" shock cord attached t' t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Finishin' this rocket can be fun and has a wide variety o' ways o' doin' it. Well, matey, blow me down! It did nay come with decals. I gave it a quick twice over with white primer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and a few hours later a few coats o' Krylon 18K Gold Plate. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! It looks pretty darn nice I do believe! It's a little hard t' spray paint due t' t' rin' around t' fins, and I am considerin' paintin' t' rin' black with a small brush. Ya scallywag! That would really make it stand out. Aye aye! For construction and finishing, I give it a 5/5 for a skill level 2.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I have only flown it once, with a C6-5 before paint. Arrr! It be straight up and very high and looked nice. Begad! Blimey! I can't wait t' fly it again with t' 18K Gold Plated paint job. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I just got in me order o' Aerotech D21 Blue Thunders, so that will be what it rides on next time.

Recovery:
While this kit came with a plastic 'chute and an 18" shock cord, matey, along with t' Estes type cord mount, ya bilge rat, this will work. Avast, me proud beauty! That is why I am givin' it a 5/5. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! It be only by personal preference that I added t' Keelhaul®©™® t' t' mount cord and snap swivel. I would have loved t' see a small nylon chute, arrr, but it would nay be reasonable t' expect that, me hearties, because this kit is nay expensive at all.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This FlisKit's Corona kit reminded me o' t' cool 70's and 80's Estes kits. Arrr! Blimey! It's nay just one you glue together and slap on t' launch pad. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It takes thinkin' and a little skill. Avast! Blimey! It's fun t' build, matey, and it provides a nice reward when you are done. I see no way o' improvin' it at all. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It's a super kit for t' price, me bucko, as all components and instructions are excellent. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Overall, me bucko, I give it a 5/5.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
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    This is an updated version of the FlisKits Corona. To prepare the Corona for the release of the optional Corona-2 booster, FlisKits now includes laser cut plywood fins instead of balsa fin stock and a pattern so the builder no longer has to cut out the fins. There are 3 minor changes to the build of the Corona: The builder has the choice of building the motor mount with or without the ...

  • FlisKits Corona By Nick Esselman

    " Futuristic Starship Design " " Long, sleek appearance " " Highly stable for fantastic flights! " " Wind cheating design for extreme altitudes! " Those are the headlines on the FlisKits Corona. The Corona is a "longneck" rocket with and interesting, perhaps one would say, futuristic, ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.F. (January 3, 2003)
Thank you for such a positive review of the Corona! I would like to add a comment concerning the shock cord. On several of our kits (the Corona included), customers have requested a longer shock cord. FlisKits has increased the length of the shock cord on most of our kits, including the Corona. In those situations where we already have kits kitted up, we ship an extra (longer) shock cord with the kit.

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