T' FlisKits Pheord X150 is more than rocketry, arrr, it's humor as well. Well, blow me down! Startin' with its name, ya bilge rat, Pheord, pronounced like Ford, add t' X150 and you'd think you were dealin' with a pickup truck. Blimey! And t' similarity does nay stop there. 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, whether you are huntin' xenomorphs or just out toolin' around t' galaxy with that pretty young thin' you picked up on Alpha Erandi. T' Pheord X150 Full Sized Pickup-Saucer comes with a hull-plate t' hull-plate 2 year or 200,000 parsec conditional warranty, me hearties, matey, electric air-locks, me bucko, arrr, environmental control, me hearties, all-terrain landin' gear, 5-cell antenna, windshield defogger and bed liner. Ya scallywag! Optional phaser rifle-rack, ya bilge rat, 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, shiver me timbers, matey, shiver me timbers, 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, matey, shiver me timbers, is a single 18mm motor U.F.O.-style rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Very, very colorful and after assembly, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ready-to-fly without additional finishing.

T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, 3/32" balsa fin stock, me bucko, me bucko, five (5) steel wires for t' landin' gear/antenna's, self-adhesive fin patterns and finish paper, shiver me timbers, a glossy cardstock shroud. Begad! Well, blow me down! There is a small piece o' crepe paper streamer and a launch lug as well.

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

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Begad! Blimey! 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! Blimey! T' kit is rated as a level 2, ya bilge rat, matey, me bucko, however, 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. Arrr! You may develop a worn spot on your fingers from usin' your scissors so much, but t' end result is worth it.

T' five (5) left fin patterns are cut out o' t' self-adhesive (sticker) paper. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I had a very touch time separatin' t' sticker from t' backing. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This is me only complaint about t' assembly o' this rocket. Blimey! Blimey! Maybe it was just me, shiver me timbers, but nonetheless, matey, I struggled.

After t' five patterns are stuck t' t' balsa, me hearties, me hearties, t' fins are cut out usin' a hobby knife. Ya scallywag! Take your time and use a sharp knife. Blimey! Avast! There are various angles and a curve t' cut. Begad! T' sticker helps greatly.

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

On t' sticker sheet, arrr, thar be a motor tube wrap. Avast! This is cut out and stuck onto t' 18mm motor tube. It is now finished.

T' fins are then glued onto t' marks on t' tube wrap sticker and usin' t' fin alignment guide. Once dry, t' shroud is cut out and glued onto t' fins and attached t' t' motor tube. Begad! Although a bit time consumin' t' cut out, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! I found t' length o' me steel wires t' be longer than t' patterns. Blimey! Ahoy! So I ensured t' vertical section and t' tip matched t' template. Blimey! This meant t' extra length was used up in t' angled-straight section goin' away from t' body. Ahoy! Well, blow me down!

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

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

Once complete, arrr, shiver me timbers, look over all t' graphics on t' rocket. Avast! They are nicely done.

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

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

FlisKits recommends t' B6-0 or C6-0 motors. Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! 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, arrr, matey, me hearties, all on C6-0's and all in me front yard. It is a consistent flyer. Avast, me proud beauty! Straight up, flip and float down t' land on t' wire landin' gear. Avast, me proud beauty! This would make a fun school rocket or a demo rocket.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, 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. 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. Begad! It is fun (and funny) t' build. Aye aye! No finishin' is necessary. Avast, me proud beauty! And a colorful and consistent flier. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' Pheord is phantastic!