BoRocks Rocketry Flechette 60 Plus

BoRocks Rocketry - Flechette 60 Plus {Kit}

Contributed by Craig Swinson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: BoRocks Rocketry
BoRocks Flechette 60P

Brief:
T' Flechette 60P is a new rocket from BoRocks!, me hearties, me hearties, a new rocket company. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' 60P is a limited edition kit that has become so popular that it was already re-released as a non-limited edition kit. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' newer ones are nay signed and not numbered. Ahoy! T' 60P also distinguishes itself from t' 60 as t' 60P is set up for 24mm motors and t' 60 is set up for 18mm motors.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • Plastic Nose cone
  • Metal Eye hook
  • Keelhaul®©™® and Elastic shock cord
  • Barrel swivel
  • 18 inch Mylar Starlight Chute
  • FlisKits Baffle
  • BT-60 body tube
  • Balsa Fin Stock
  • Balsa Strakes
  • Long 24mm Stuffer tube
  • Centerin' rings
  • Metal engine hook

This kit is in t' tradition o' a builder’s kit, it requires fin cuttin' from balsa stock, modification to the strake stock, and assumes that you know a bit about construction. Ahoy! I found t' directions t' be adequate but with all new things, they are a bit rough around t' edges. Ya scallywag! [Note: newer kits are bagged, shiver me timbers, have hang tags, and the instructions are more complete.]

All t' components are first quality. Begad! T' balsa stock is nicely grained, more than adequate for t' needed number of fins plus enough for an extra one if you make a mistake. T' body tube has very small seams and sands up easily. Begad! As well it primes up nicely and takes paint well. Centerin' rings were very precise as were all t' components for the motor assembly. Begad! Avast!

Another interestin' feature o' this kit, thar are no color guides or decals. At first I thought this was a detriment but workin' with t' kit, arrr, it allowed me t' be a bit more creative (or at least nay have t' try and live up to some hang tag image).

BoRocks Flechette 60P Some downsides: It seems t' me t' strakes are a bit small for t' fins. Ahoy! Blimey! If you cut the fins and sand them a little too much, t' strakes will sort o' "stair step" when they match up with t' fins. Be very precise with t' fin cuttin' and sandin' and you will nay have this problem. Aye aye! Blimey! T' nose cone does nay take paint very well, shiver me timbers, no matter how much you clean it, sand it, or prime it. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I'm nay exactly sure why but I ordered subsequent kits with balsa nose cones and have been very happy.

An interestin' component o' t' 60P is that it has a FlisKits baffle. T' baffle parts are top notch but I find the small diameter and t' need t' glue three offset baffles into a small 23mm tube a bit tedious. Aye aye! If anything, I think a change t' a Nomex® protector or a much simpler baffle system might make this kit a bit better. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' recovery system is based on a Starlight 18 inch Mylar chute with Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cord. An added bonus is that t' kit does include a barrel swivel, simple t' include but often lackin' in many kits.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Preppin' t' rocket was very simple, me bucko, no waddin' needed, so just fold t' chute, shiver me timbers, test it for fit and you are almost done. I found that once loaded with t' engine and chute, t' nose cone was a little lose on a shake test so I added a little tape t' t' base o' t' nose cone for a better friction fit.

I used a D12-5 for me initial flight on a fairly windy day. Ya scallywag! T' rocket flew very straight and really leapt off the pad. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Everyone watchin' was pretty impressed with t' flight as it got pretty high fairly fast and looked good doing it.

Recovery:
T' downside t' t' recovery was that I lost it after t' first flight! (That's basically me luck as I lost three rockets that day). Begad! Subsequent builds o' t' same model have given equally impressive flights. Avast! My only suggestion is that a smaller chute or a chute with a spill hole might do well on this kit. Begad! For its size, arrr, it is nay very heavy and seemed t' drift quite a ways.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I really liked this kit, me hearties, me hearties, so much so I bought a couple more. At $19.75 for t' kit with t' baffle and $17.75 for the one without, this kit is a steal!. Arrr! Aye aye! With all new things thar are some growin' pains and I chalk up any of t' issues with t' kit or instructions t' just that. Ahoy! It is pretty excitin' t' see these kits come out, they are fun t' build, matey, well thought out, arrr, and a good bit more interestin' than t' standard 3FNC?s that I normally see at t' hobby shops. Arrr! A significant side benefit is that t' owner routinely posts on TRF and is very open to ideas and works very closely with t' rocketry community in gettin' products t' market.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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