Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 1.58 inches |
Length: | 23.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | Quest |
Skill Level: | 1 |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
While nearly identical t' t' Estes Big Bertha, me bucko, t' Quest Big Betty has still managed t' carve out a niche in t' entry level market with her upgraded recovery system and lower price. While she is a pretty close copy, me bucko, she does feature three fins instead o' t' Bertha's four, makin' construction marginally simpler while keepin' performance right in line with her sister kit.
Construction:
T' parts list:
Like her fraternal twin, ya bilge rat, t' Estes Big Bertha, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' Big Betty is an almost completely agreeable skill level one kit. Construction is as basic as it gets and possibly even easier since t' large size o' t' rocket allows easier access t' both internal and external parts. Aye aye! Arrr! T' only thin' about t' construction process that vaguely resembles a "gotcha" be t' loose fit o' t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, easily countered with a bit o' maskin' tape. Arrr! Begad! I chose t' quick route on this project, me hearties, matey, affixin' t' fins first with LocTite Gel CA, ya bilge rat, matey, ya bilge rat, then more securely anchorin' them into place with heavy glue fillets usin' Elmer's Wood Glue. Ya scallywag! I also used wood glue in attachin' t' motor mount and recovery system. Ya scallywag! Arrr! (Speakin' o' t' recovery system, I continue t' laud Quest for includin' a length o' Keelhaul®©™ as a part o' t' shock cord anchor.) Construction be finished with t' addition o' a medium snap swivel t' attach t' nose cone t' t' shock cord, somethin' I did on all o' t' kits in this comparison except for t' Tangent, which had its recovery system fully functional right from t' box.
Finishing:
I also went t' simple route on finishin' for t' Big Betty. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Tube spirals and balsa grain were eliminated with a couple o' coats o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and a brisk sanding. Aye aye! T' rocket be then sprayed with Valspar white primer, arrr, arrr, matey, which be allowed t' dry overnight. Aye aye! Arrr! T' rocket was then sprayed with two coats o' Valspar Harvest Orange, (only because I happened t' be out o' Valspar Bumblebee gloss.) T' large, simple sticker decals were then affixed (horrid things), ya bilge rat, and t' whole rocket sprayed with a coat o' clear acrylic. Despite t' ugly decals, Big Betty turned out t' be a pretty decent lookin' girl.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
For purposes o' this comparison, ya bilge rat, I decided t' fly each o' t' rockets on a C6-5, a B6-4, and a B4-2. Avast! T' Big Betty is most clearly at home with t' C6-5, postin' a high, me bucko, me bucko, arcin' flight that wouldn't be out o' place on a small field if you were flyin' on a windless day. Blimey! Blimey! As it was, me bucko, I wasn't and Betty took me on a merry chase across t' field, matey, matey, finally allowin' me t' catch her on a neighborin' soccer field. Ahoy! Impressive flight, but t' stock 14" parachute could be reefed without worry.
T' B6-4 flight wasn't nearly as high, but followed almost t' exact flight path as t' wind caused t' rocket t' cock away from t' pad. Blimey! This time t' recovery walk wasn't quite as bad, but me legs aren't what they used t' be. I was really lookin' forward t' t' B4-2 round o' flights.
On a B4-2, shiver me timbers, arrr, me bucko, t' Big Betty flew exactly like t' other three rockets in t' comparison. Blimey! T' B4-2 barely seemed t' be enough t' get her off t' pad, and her near stop and sudden kick t' t' right almost made it seem like she was posin' for me so I could get t' best possible launch shot. Begad! I still missed it.
Recovery:
T' 14" chute is a pretty good fit for a rocket o' this size, arrr, arrr, shiver me timbers, but t' gripper tabs, ya bilge rat, while nay a problem on a kit with a body tube t' size o' t' Big Betty, are goin' t' be difficult t' work with on smaller models. As it is, ya bilge rat, matey, t' stock chute does its job quite well and could even be reefed without surrenderin' any o' its ability t' brin' t' rocket down safely.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
PROs: Easy t' build. Well, blow me down! Keelhaul®©™ shock cord included. Ahoy! Begad! Reliable small field performance. Price.
CONs: Ill fittin' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! Sticker decals are unimaginative and way too thick.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
Background: This spring I ran a build session for faculty kids at the school where I teach. I ended up using the Quest Bright Hawk for the 7-9 year olds and the Quest Big Betty for the 10-12 year olds. After the build session, I began thinking about the types of rockets that would make great first builds for a budding rocketeer. I wanted to select rockets to compare that had the ...
Big Betty is a fairly large 3FNC model rocket, using B and C motors. It is straightforward to construct and a snap to prepare for flight. With its enormous fins and blunt, rounded nose cone, Big Betty has a peculiar look. It looks either dated or classic, depending on whether you're a BAR or not. Estes' Big Bertha, Big Betty's obvious inspiration, is about 35 years old. For the Freudians among ...
Sponsored Ads
D.K. (August 1, 2000)