First Flight Hobbies Mega-Sonic

First Flight Hobbies - Mega-Sonic

Contributed by Kathy Kippen

Construction Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Published: 2010-06-06
Manufacturer: First Flight Hobbies
First Flight - Mega Sonic

Brief:
A single stage large model rocket.

Construction:

  • Two sheets o' 1/8” balsa fin stock – 3” X 16” and 4” X 16”
  • Fin patterns and alignment guide
  • Balsa nose cone
  • Two BT 60 body tubes – 8” and 11”
  • BT 60 coupler
  • 24mm motor mount tube
  • Two plywood centerin' rings
  • Engine block
  • Engine hook
  • 15” plastic parachute
  • 30” o' yellow cord
  • 36” o' ¼” elastic
  • Screw eye
  • Snap swivel
  • 3/16” launch lug
  • Water slide decal

T' assembly instructions are sketchy at best and jump around a bit and would nay be suitable for a beginning modeler.

First was t' mark t' fin and LL alignment lines on t' lower tube and cut t' fins usin' t' included patterns followin' t' lay-out diagrams in t' instructions. Arrr! I be able t' cut t' three larger fins from t' smaller piece of balsa and t' three smaller fins from ½ t' larger balsa sheet.

There was no indication which tube was upper and lower. By process o' checkin' t' fins against t' tubes, arrr, arrr, I determined t' longer tube was t' lower tube.

Next we jump t' assemblin' t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I would recommend notchin' t' top cr for t' yellow cord before mountin' t' cr t' t' mmt tube. I also notched t' lower cr t' accommodate t' motor hook.

After t' mmt is set t' dry, arrr, we jump t' installin' t' eye screw in t' nose cone.

Back t' install t' mmt into t' marked lower tube. Ya scallywag! At this time I also glued t' two tubes together usin' the supplied coupler as this step be nay covered anywhere in t' instructions.

When t' mmt had dried and fillets were done and dry, me bucko, me bucko, it’s time t' start gluin' on t' fins. Ya scallywag! I did them one set (one lower, arrr, arrr, one upper) at a time.

After t' fins were securely in place, matey, I guesstimated t' lower edge location o' t' lower launch lug and glued both in place. T' instructions say t' use t' stand off pattern from t' fin template sheet t' make stand offs for the lugs, but I found no such pattern nor reference t' their sizin' so did nay use them.

T' parachute requires basic assembly o' attachin' t' shroud lines. Ahoy! Blimey! I opted nay t' use t' included snap swivel.

Finishing:
Finishin' is left up t' t' discretion o' t' builder as thar be no photo t' use for reference. There is a water-slide decal included.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are C11-3 and D12-5. First flight be on a C11-3 for a nice, straight boost with deployment right at apogee.

Recovery:
Shock cord is o' two parts - Keelhaul®©™® strin' and elastic. Begad! Recovery was right for t' motor used for t' first flight.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' instructions need t' be more detailed for a beginnin' builder with more illustrations. They also need t' be organized a bit better t' avoid jumpin' from one task t' another without any flow o' t' build. With multiple body tubes, ya bilge rat, matey, t' upper and lower tubes should be so designated either in t' parts list or in t' body of t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 2 out o' 5

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