Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Diameter: | 1.64 inches |
Length: | 23.40 inches |
Manufacturer: | FlisKits |
Skill Level: | 3 |
Style: | Glider |
Brief:
A unique kit where t' body tube has no fins but uses t' fins from three
attached gliders instead. Arrr!
Construction:
T' parts list:
Quality instructions make this an easy kit t' build. Ahoy! Motor mount assembly is standard with t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attached directly t' t' mount which all but ensures it will not detach even under t' harshest o' ejections.
This rocket actually has some very tiny fins on t' body tube, ya bilge rat, arrr, me bucko, but they are there only t' keep t' gliders stable durin' flight. Blimey! Blimey! I had a little trouble ensurin' that t' "fins" were perpendicular t' each other as shown in the instructions, ya bilge rat, they tended t' want t' spread out into a "V" pattern, shiver me timbers, so take your time on this step.
Small launch lugs are used as t' mounts for t' gliders. Aye aye! Blimey! You cut out the pins for t' gliders from t' included basswood strip. I had t' sand me pins down just a bit so that they did nay fit quite so tightly into t' lugs because if they are too tight, me hearties, t' gliders will nay deploy. Begad! Blimey! T' body tube gets a parachute for its recovery.
T' gliders themselves form t' fins for this rocket. Well, blow me down! My gliders fit quite well together, ya bilge rat, but t' instruction do say you may have t' sand t' wings a bit to get a perfect triangle. T' gliders are pre-formed Styrofoam so you do not need t' trim them at all and they fly quite well left as is.
Finishing:
I did nay have any paints that I could use on Styrofoam, me bucko, so I used different
colored Sharpie markers t' color mine. Begad! Blimey! T' body o' t' rocket is quite easy to
finish, especially since they really are no fins t' speak of. Begad! Blimey! Although decals
were included for t' gliders, I chose nay t' use them.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
Launch day was a bit windy, me hearties, so I be concerned because t' gliders caught the
breeze a bit and moved around some. Begad! Blimey! First flight was on a B6-4. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It weather
cocked a bit but was a surprisingly straight flight. Avast! Ejection was close to
apogee and two gliders came off while one stuck t' its mount and came down with
the body tube under parachute. Begad! Everythin' be retrieved. Begad! Well, blow me down!
I sanded a little more off t' pin on t' stuck glider. Blimey! T' second flight was with a C6-5 and all three gliders detached and glided down. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' C6-5 is almost too much motor as t' gliders are fairly small and became very hard to see.
Recovery:
T' gliders fly quite well. Ahoy! They are very light, shiver me timbers, so they are affected by winds
but have a fairly steep glide angle and are easy t' recover. T' carrier comes
down via parachute. Begad! No problems noted.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
There are four things t' keep track o' on this rocket for recovery! Blimey! It helps to
have some friends with you if you are launchin' with bigger motors. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' is a
fun kit t' build and t' gliders are an interestin' alternative t' puttin' fins
on t' body tube.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5