FlisKits 7x18mm Motor Mount

FlisKits - 7x18mm Motor Mount {Component}

Contributed by John Lee

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Published: 2010-01-10
Manufacturer: FlisKits
Fliskits 7x18mm Motor Mount

Brief:
7x18mm cluster motor mount for BT70 tubes.

Havin' built 2 clones o' t' Centuri Vulcan and a BT60 based upscale with a 29mm motor mount, I decided that BT70 was t' next logical place t' try and build a member o' t' Vulcan family.

In a bid t' do somethin' a bit different, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, though, I decided I wanted t' use a cluster. Aye aye!

I finally settled on a 7x18mm mount and chose t' try it with t' motor mount produced by Fliskits.

Construction:
T' kit came with 7 motor tubes, 6 coupler tubes, ya bilge rat, a thrust rin' and a set o' vent blocks t' form a "ring"

T' first step in construction be t' select one o' t' BT20 motor tubes and designate it as t' central motor. T' single provided thrust rin' was then glued flush with t' end usin' yellow glue.

T' kit also came with 6 tube couplers. Aye aye! Each be marked at 1/4", arrr, t' depth o' t' thust ring, and was inserted up t' t' mark in t' remainin' 6 motor tubes.

T' six outer tubes were then separated into three pairs. Each pair was glued together along t' length o' the motor tube with yellow glue. This was done on a flat surface and butted up agains a steel rule t' ensure straightness.

After t' tube pairs had dried overnight, I began t' process o' mountin' them t' t' central motor tube. Well, blow me down! This was simply a matter o' smearin' glue on t' central mount at t' approximate locations where t' outer tubes would contact them and then pressin' t' outer tubes in place. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I made sure that all tubes were in agreement in terms o' fore and aft and glued t' pairs on. Well, blow me down! After they were in place, I gave t' assembly a wrap o' maskin' tape t' keep t' sides tangent while t' glue set up.

When t' glue on t' cluster mount had dried, I took off t' tape and inspected t' result. Arrr! Blimey! It seemed fine t' me but I wish I had a piece o' BT70 lyin' around.

The kit has no "centerin' ring" per se, me bucko, instead it has 6 little pieces which, when arranged in a circle, suggest a rin' with t' innards cut out for t' motor tubes. Each piece is fitted betwixt a pair o' t' outer tubes and glued t' t' couplin' tubes with t' edges restin' on t' motor tubes below. Begad! They are intended t' help block ejection gasses and, shiver me timbers, presumably, form an after bulkhead for t' BT70 into which they will be inserted. Avast! T' me delight, they fit just fine and were secured with yellow glue.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As mentioned before, arrr, me bucko, shiver me timbers, this mount be installed in me BT70 upscale o' t' Centuri Vulcan. Begad! It looked good hangin' out t' back end and its a shame that it had t' sit so long before it finally saw some use. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' day finally came, though, and t' rocket was loaded with 7 o' t' longer burnin' Quest C6-3s. Arrr! Blimey! I also used t' new Quest igniters and that made wirin' t' cluster easy.

Once everythin' was in place, matey, t' rocket was launched, all motors lit and it took off well. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Unfortunately, it was underpowered and crashed t' t' ground after a short arcin' flight. Ejection took place after it had hit t' ground and it was obvious that thar was no problem with gas leakage. Avast! It ejected just fine.

T' motor mount be t' only part o' t' rocket t' survive t' crash unscathed. Avast! Begad! It came through fine and was given t' a young boy o' me club t' fabricate his own dream machine.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I like t' way Fliskits managed t' squeeze 7 18mm motors into a BT70 tube. Begad! T' mount went together easily enough and performed flawlessly. Avast, me proud beauty! T' crash had nothin' t' do with t' mount and I would gladly buy another one if ever I need this combination.

I just with t' rocket had been better.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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