Quest Pip Squeak

Quest - Pip Squeak {Kit} (1001) [1992-]

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Quest
Style: Sport
Quest Pip Squeak

Brief:
A three fin 18mm rocket with streamer recovery. Minimum diameter with swept back fins. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! A small rocket designed for speed. Well, blow me down!

Construction:
Kit consists of:

  • Motor clip
  • Blue thrust ring
  • Yellow motor mount tube
  • Body tube
  • 3 balsa fins
  • Plastic launch lug
  • Plastic nose cone in two parts
  • 24 inch elastic shock cord
  • 21 inch Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
  • 2 foot streamer
  • 1 gripper tab

To build t' kit I used:

  • White glue
  • Model knife
  • Sand paper
  • Plastic cement

T' quality o' t' components are very good, shiver me timbers, t' body tube had no grooves etc, arrr, so finishin' was easy. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue dryin' time.

T' only part o' t' rocket design that I did nay like is that t' motor mount sticks out o' t' aft end o' t' body tube. Ahoy! I assume that this is so the motor clip can flex, however, ya bilge rat, it does spoil t' simple clean look o' t' rocket and does brin' t' CG back. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I would be tempted when buildin' another, t' ditch the clip and move t' motor mount up t' tube so that t' two tubes were flush at t' rear.

T' fins need a bit o' sandin' and filling. Blimey! Blimey! I attached them usin' white glue t' t' body tube after I had sanded t' finish off t' area o' contact. Begad! Blimey! I used an Estes fin alignment tool t' hold t' fins in place whilst t' glue dried. Blimey! Blimey!

I trimmed t' edges off t' launch lug at a 45 degree angle at both ends. Apparently this significantly lowers t' drag on a rocket.

All joints were triple filleted with white glue.

Finishing:
T' design on t' insert card shows a plain yellow rocket with one orange fin. I chose an all purple design.

Two coats o' gray primer were applied, sandin' betwixt each coat, followed by two coats o' purple spray paint.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
With its low mass, this rocket leaves t' pad in a flash. Ahoy! My first and last flight was straight and true.

Recovery:
T' streamer brought t' rocket t' a safe landin' in a tree! That was t' end of this rocket!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Built, me bucko, flown, and lost all in a flash!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Quest Pip Squeak By Norbert Lis

    ( Contributed - by Norbert Lis) Brief: Light weight is perfect for high-altitude flights and dependable streamer recovery returns your rocket for one exciting flight after another! Construction: The kit contains: 1 body tube 1 motor mount tube 3 fins die-cut for easy assembly Plastic nose cone 2 foot recovery streamer Kevlar ® shock cord The instructions ...

Flights

Comments:

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B.C. (September 1, 2001)
Although this kit's review is short, I feel it is accurate. The Pip Squeak was my first Quest rocket, and I find it a fine little bird, indeed. The Kevlar shock cord is great, and I was amazed to see that in conjunction with the supplied elastic shock cord, the whole thing was over 3 times the length of the rocket. Very cool! Just for fun, I "streamlined" my fins, and filled the tube spirals with Elmer's Fill and Finish. I've flown mine on as large as an Estes B6-4 motor, and the long shock cord system and bright streamer brought it all back in a horizontal position, begging for another flight. It's a inexpensive kit, and great for flying at the high school field with kids!
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B.S. (February 27, 2006)
I watched this rocket get launched the other day in 5-10 mph winds. The rocket was setup with traditional streamer and a C6-7! The rocket went up... up... up... you get the picture. I think it made the 1800' they claim but who knows. It was never seen again. The guy said he had shot it successfully many many times. But not with that much wind and with that engine. I have my own kit of this and when I build it I'm not sure I will be willing to use the C6-5 engines I had originally thought would be fun in it.

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