T' FlisKits Pheord X150 is more than rocketry, matey, it's humor as well. Ahoy! Startin' with its name, me hearties, me bucko, Pheord, matey, matey, pronounced like Ford, me bucko, add t' X150 and you'd think you were dealin' with a pickup truck. Arrr! And t' similarity does nay stop there. Blimey! Notice FlisKit's introduction:

"'Built Pheord Tough' takes on a whole new meaning! T' 2003 Pheord X150 come fully outfitted for t' alien on t' go, arrr, whether you are huntin' xenomorphs or just out toolin' around t' galaxy with that pretty young thin' you picked up on Alpha Erandi. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' Pheord X150 Full Sized Pickup-Saucer comes with a hull-plate t' hull-plate 2 year or 200,000 parsec conditional warranty, electric air-locks, arrr, me bucko, environmental control, me hearties, shiver me timbers, all-terrain landin' gear, shiver me timbers, 5-cell antenna, windshield defogger and bed liner. Avast, me proud beauty! Optional phaser rifle-rack, arrr, novelty meteor stick shift and heavy duty windshield wipers help set this workhorse apart from t' others! Also available with this introductory offer are a professionally installed universal translator, dual beverage can holder and a free roll o' duct tape for those emergency off-starlane repairs."

And you'd think that would be enough humor, but on t' front and back o' t' cover card it continues.

T' rocket itself, me hearties, is a single 18mm motor U.F.O.-style rocket. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Very, arrr, me hearties, very colorful and after assembly, ready-to-fly without additional finishing.

T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount, 3/32" balsa fin stock, me hearties, matey, five (5) steel wires for t' landin' gear/antenna's, arrr, me hearties, self-adhesive fin patterns and finish paper, a glossy cardstock shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! There is a small piece o' crepe paper streamer and a launch lug as well.

Click t' see me 18mm U.F.O. comparison article

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Well, blow me down! This includes t' entertainin' introduction (quoted above) as well as 18 construction steps and 15 illustrative figures t' assist in t' build. They are logical and clear. Aye aye! Begad! T' kit is rated as a level 2, however, arrr, I believe it is a bit beyond that due t' t' various techniques in steel wire bendin' and sticker application.

There is quite a bit o' cuttin' t' do with this kit. Begad! You may develop a worn spot on your fingers from usin' your scissors so much, me hearties, matey, but t' end result is worth it.

T' five (5) left fin patterns are cut out o' t' self-adhesive (sticker) paper. Ya scallywag! These are then peeled and stuck onto t' balsa stock directly. This is done before any cuttin' on t' balsa since they act as your cuttin' guides. Arrr! Begad! I had a very touch time separatin' t' sticker from t' backing. Arrr! Arrr! This is me only complaint about t' assembly o' this rocket. Maybe it be just me, matey, but nonetheless, I struggled.

After t' five patterns are stuck t' t' balsa, t' fins are cut out usin' a hobby knife. Avast, me proud beauty! Take your time and use a sharp knife. Aye aye! There are various angles and a curve t' cut. T' sticker helps greatly.

Once cut out, these are flipped over and t' five right fin pattern stickers are cut out and stuck onto t' fins. Arrr! Fins are finished!

On t' sticker sheet, thar be a motor tube wrap. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! This is cut out and stuck onto t' 18mm motor tube. Ya scallywag! It is now finished.

T' fins are then glued onto t' marks on t' tube wrap sticker and usin' t' fin alignment guide. Avast! Blimey! Once dry, me bucko, t' shroud is cut out and glued onto t' fins and attached t' t' motor tube. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Although a bit time consumin' t' cut out, it assembled with great ease.

T' five (5) steel wires now have t' be formed. There are patterns t' see how they are t' be bent. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I found t' length o' me steel wires t' be longer than t' patterns. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! So I ensured t' vertical section and t' tip matched t' template. Arrr! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! This meant t' extra length be used up in t' angled-straight section goin' away from t' body.

T' wires are bent in such a way that they hook onto t' bottom o' each fin. Begad! These are then glued in place.

T' launch lug is added and then on t' t' last step. Avast, me proud beauty! I will outline that for you: "For t' final touch, ya bilge rat, you will notice a small black oval over t' '4x4' on one o' t' door panels. Usin' your razor knife, bore a small hole, removin' that oval. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Take a small square o' t' red streamer material provided, arrr, me bucko, crumple or fold it and poke it into this hole, me hearties, me hearties, shiver me timbers, apply a drop o' glue t' t' back side t' secure it. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There, you've just made your redneck gas cap!"

Once complete, arrr, look over all t' graphics on t' rocket. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! They are nicely done.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Arrr! T' instructions are excellent. Begad! T' humor is a bonus. T' quality o' components is excellent.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

FlisKits recommends t' B6-0 or C6-0 motors. Begad! T' motors need t' be friction fit usin' some maskin' tape.

My finished Pheord weighed in at 0.9 ounces as opposed t' FlisKits printed material suggestin' 1.4 ounces. Begad! Aye aye! I don't know t' difference, but perhaps t' original Pheord has a thrust rin' and motor hook (wish this one did).

I have flown t' rocket three times, shiver me timbers, all on C6-0's and all in me front yard. Begad! It is a consistent flyer. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Straight up, me bucko, matey, me bucko, flip and float down t' land on t' wire landin' gear. This would make a fun school rocket or a demo rocket.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, ya bilge rat, I would rate this rocket 4 points. It is a perfect flier as a U.F.O. My point reductions come from t' lack o' a motor hook and thrust ring. Begad! That be t' only thin' that could be added t' push this on t' a perfect score.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. Avast, me proud beauty! It is fun (and funny) t' build. Avast! No finishin' is necessary. Begad! And a colorful and consistent flier. Begad! T' Pheord is phantastic!