FlisKits Rock Star

FlisKits - Rock Star

Contributed by Patrick Bissonnette

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: FlisKits
FlisKits Rock Star

Brief:
This is another unusual design by FlisKits. It is supposed t' look like a flyin' V guitar. Begad! Aye aye! I believe it first came out at NARAM 47. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
Everythin' is packaged well. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Here is what you get:

  • A nice Honest John style balsa cone with screw eye.
  • BT-60 tube
  • BT-50 tube
  • 2 short BT-5 tubes
  • Motor hook and 2 centerin' rings
  • 1/8in launch lug
  • 1/8in balsa sheets for fins
  • 30in shock cord
  • Keelhaul®©™® thread
  • 16in plastic chute
  • Fin pattern sheets and instructions

Nothin' be missin' and all parts are high quality. Avast! My younger brother picked this out at NARAM 47. Aye aye! Aye aye! I helped him with construction a bit, but he did most o' t' work. Begad! T' instructions are clear and easy t' follow. Arrr! As for t' build, it's straightforward. Aye aye! I like t' fact that FlisKits make you cut out your own fins. Begad! I'm nay really sure why they included a 1/8in launch lug for a rocket meant for D and E motors. Avast! Aye aye! We used it anyway and didn't have any problems. Begad! The design is really sweet. Begad! Begad!

Finishing:
Finishin' this rocket is normal but time consumin' due t' all o' t' balsa. Arrr! Make sure you have plenty o' sanding sealer for 6 large fins and a nose cone. T' paint job me younger brother wanted was a little different but looked good in t' end. Begad! I didn't have any trouble with it at all. Ya scallywag!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was at VOA which is normally pretty windy. Ya scallywag! It wasn't too bad, me hearties, I'd guess about 5-10mph winds that day. We loaded it with 4 sheets o' waddin' and a D12-5. Avast! Ahoy! T' package says it will be a slow and graceful flier, arrr, so that was what we were expecting. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Once t' motor lit it ripped off t' pad faster than you would expect for a rocket with a high drag design. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I'd guess 800+ft. Avast! Very sweet first flight. Arrr! Later on we tried an E9-6. Arrr! Once again a great flight, arrr, shiver me timbers, but a lot of weathercockin' durin' t' last second o' burn. Blimey! Nay sure how high, matey, but it be really up there.

One comment for E motors: T' motor will hang out t' back o' t' motor mount. Blimey! Blimey! Just wrap some maskin' tape around it and it will be okay. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
T' chute is packed really tightly in t' tube, matey, but recovery be perfect both flights. Avast! Havin' a long shock cord and Keelhaul®©™® thread is a real plus. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' one problem is that it'll drift forever. I'm talkin' half a mile or more walk for both flights. Ahoy! It may just be that t' large fin design catches t' wind. Ahoy! It's also interestin' that t' shock cord is anchored on t' outside o' t' body. This may eliminate t' need for a lot o' wadding.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
All in all, FlisKits made a winner here. Arrr! This be our first FlisKits rocket and me brother, who be 10 at t' time, made most o' it himself. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! I don't think t' 1/8in launch lug is good idea for somethin' that takes D and E motors. We used it and had no problems, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but I think it should be upgraded t' a 3/16in lug. Other than that, ya bilge rat, I'd highly recommend this kit t' anyone who wants a different from t' usual rocket. Begad! You won't be disappointed. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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