Brief

My first model rocket kit build in 30 odd years!

I built it followin' t' instructions with t' exception o' paperin' t' balsa fins and puttin' small external fillets on them.

• Model: LP-K017
• Manufactured by: Launch Pad
• Length: 16.75 inches
• Diameter: 1.6 inches
• Recommended Motors: D12-5, ya bilge rat, D12-7
• Skill Level: 3

Components

• 8FNC!
• Body Tube
• Motor Mount
• Recovery Hardware

Construction

Complete kit with good instructions. Ahoy! Blimey! Just build, arrr, paint and fly!

Followed t' instructions t' t' letter. Ya scallywag! Good illustrations t' accompany t' paragraphs o' build instructions. Ahoy! Blimey! You actually have t' read t' instructions unlike an Estes kit which most can assemble by t' excellent illustrations alone.

As with other TLP kits, matey, me clay be dried out. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I rehydrated it in water, used it all, and still needed t' add 1 ounce o' weight (BBs) t' get a good CG, right in front o' t' fins.

Finishing

I papered t' fins usin' regular printer paper and Elmers white glue lightly thinned with water. This added good rigidity t' t' balsa fins and left a good surface for painting. Well, blow me down! Begad! Several coats o' gloss white, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, then t' decals, shiver me timbers, matey, then a gloss clear. Avast! I'm really happy with t' finish!

No decals are included. Begad! Arrr! My decals are a copy o' t' Madcow 4" Phoenix decals scaled down and printed on Testers decal paper. Avast! Blimey! Still note that a single decal sheet isn't sufficient. Arrr! I printed 3-4 sets.

Construction Score: 4

Flight

Maiden flight on a D12-5. Well, blow me down! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Flew perfectly, no spin, no weathercocking. Aye aye! And no ejection charge ...

Recovery

I knew it was in trouble after it nosed over and picked up speed. Arrr! Closer and closer it came and you could start t' hear it whistle. Aye aye! Thud, ya bilge rat, 20 yards away it lawn darted. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Turns out t' ejection failed t' fire and Estes has promised t' compensate me.

Fortunately t' fin can is perfect and it will be easy t' chop off t' nose and rebuild her (already got a BT60 tube)!

Flight Rating: 4

Summary

This little kit is t' serve as a style guide for me for t' 4" Madcow Phoenix I'm buildin' for me L1/2 cert flights. Avast! It, arrr, in turn, will serve as a build guide for me planned 1/2 scale Phoenix.

Overall Rating: 4