Construction Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Brief:
A three finned 18mm rocket that has a quick assembly o' t' fin unit, has a
payload area, matey, and recovers via two 12 inch parachutes. I bought mine in a job
lot from a shop that closed down a few years ago. Arrr! Begad! I probably would nay have
bothered buildin' it, arrr, me hearties, me bucko, but it be on t' EMRR Hit List...
Construction:
Kit consists of:
To build t' kit I used:
T' instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue dryin' time. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' snap together fin system is a new one on me, but it is easy to build and that is what Quest be goin' for. Ahoy! Aye aye! It sure is ugly though. Avast, me proud beauty! Why they did nay go for a plastic fin can? I don't know.
T' tubes are pre-colored, shiver me timbers, however, thar are noticeable spiral groves on all o' them. T' plastic couplers, transitions, etc. Well, blow me down! Arrr! don't fit t' body tubes so great either, me hearties, although thar are shoulder shims included t' overcome this.
T' only downfall in t' design be t' small shoulder on t' transition. Aye aye! Avast! At only 6mm, t' top payloader section is nay securely fixed in place even with the shims added. Begad! Begad! I have doubt whether t' two sections would stay together in flight if thar was a heavy payload was in t' top section. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I would also have liked t' see a clear payload body tube so you can see t' payload, but I'm bein' a bit picky here. Aye aye! If you want access t' t' payload bay, then t' nose cone should nay be glued on. Ya scallywag! I be concerned that t' coupler and the transition were both hollow, so t' ejection charge could pressurize both the body tube and t' payload area. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' be on t' safe side, me bucko, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I filled t' small hole in t' transition. Ya scallywag! This isn't really necessary as t' parachute/waddin' fill the gap on ejection.
If you've flown Quest rockets before, matey, me bucko, then you know t' ditch t' stiff parachutes for anythin' else. Well, blow me down! I swapped mine for Estes bin bag chutes.
For a first flight I don't normally change much it t' rocket design, but I really doubted t' 2 parachute recovery. Ahoy! This is nay a heavy rocket without the payload, shiver me timbers, and with two twelve inch parachutes, arrr, one on each section, I can imagine a long drift. Aye aye! Begad! So I tied both sections together, added a swivel t' the top o' t' shock cord, and used an 18 inch Estes chute with a spill hole cut out. T' chute be attached t' shock cord swivel via a snap swivel. I also added an anti-zipper cloth tape t' t' Keelhaul®©™® where it would meet t' shoulder o' t' body tube.
Finishing:
You just add t' two decals provided. These are t' peel and stick type and go
on easily.
Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5
Flight and Recovery:
It flies on B6-4, B6-2, C6-3, me bucko, me bucko, C6-5, but t' longer delays are needed for when
there isn't a payload. Avast, me proud beauty! I used Nomex®
wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first (and possibly last) flight be nice and straight. Well, blow me down! Begad! It came
off t' pad at a good speed. Durin' t' boost phase, matey, t' payload section
separated before ejection. Avast! At ejection t' parachute failed t' deploy. Begad! The
whole lot came in ballistic. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' body tube was smashed. Aye aye! It will be possible to
repair, me hearties, but I currently have several more pressin' projects. Ahoy! T' small shoulder
on t' payload section was partially t' blame, me hearties, ya bilge rat, however, t' failure of
deployment was t' main reason and I'll take t' blame for poor packin' o' the
Nomex®
wadding.
Flight Rating: 2 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a good rocket for those that want t' move up from RTFs but don't want
to get into gluin' fins on. Begad! As a payloader, me bucko, matey, thar are better choices on the
market, but for t' younger rocketeer, then it's a step up from an basic 3FNC
rocket. Arrr! Ahoy! I personally would nay recommend this kit t' anyone.
Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5
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