Mile High Rockets Explorer 1

Mile High Rockets - Explorer 1 {Kit}

Contributed by Bryan Penfold

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Mile High Rockets

Mile High Rockets ExplorerBrief:
This be t' second kit available from Mile High Rockets. It is listed as a Skill Level 3 kit and utilizes unique fin rails and a tube fin setup.

Construction:
Components are mostly high quality and include one cardboard body tube, ya bilge rat, one motor tube, arrr, three motor rings, an engine hook, plastic nose cone, 24" Keelhaul®©™ cord and a 14" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped shock cord, three cardboard fin tubes, shiver me timbers, three balsa fins, 9" o' "easy-mount" fin rail, launch lug, arrr, decals and a 12.5" flame-resistant parachute kit (unassembled).

Instructions were comparable t' Estes instructions, four pages with easy t' follow illustrations. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! There is also an instruction sheet for t' parachute kit. Assembly order was typical; nay all that difficult for a Level 3 rocket. Begad! Ahoy! Pieces fit together well. I felt t' balsa fins were o' strange quality, matey, but they sanded fine and are covered by decals in t' end. Blimey! I liked t' balsa fin rail material which was new t' me. Avast! Ya scallywag! It helped in attachin' t' fins t' t' body. I did have some trouble understandin' how they were t' be shaped with sandpaper, and I'm still nay sure I did it right. Arrr! T' directions and illustrations seem t' conflict in this area. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I also had some trouble mountin' t' tube fins t' t' balsa fins. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! One needs t' install all three o' them at about t' same time t' assure vertical alignment, and this be somewhat difficult. Well, blow me down! Avast! I don't know if I like their flame-resistant parachute so I substituted a 12" mylar chute for t' one provided.

Finishing:
Finishin' was standard primer and paint. Blimey! Blimey! I used me own color selection and added only a few o' t' decals that were included. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't care for t' decals much, shiver me timbers, they were a very heavy plastic and t' adhesive seemed t' ooze from them. Aye aye! Blimey! After I be finished, matey, I applied several coats o' clear coat.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this only once as t' body tube be severely damaged in flight and it needs repair. Begad! Preparation is typical for rockets usin' wadding. Ya scallywag! Arrr! First flight was on an Estes A8-3. It went straight up t' about 400' and landed about 100' from t' pad. Blimey! I would recommend a slightly longer delay.

Recovery:
T' recovery system is attached t' t' motor mount with t' two Keelhaul®©™ cords. Aye aye! Blimey! I feel that t' Keelhaul®©™ cord sticks way too far out o' t' tube and I expect t' rocket t' zipper before long. Begad! Blimey! T' directions indicate that t' nose cone be attached t' t' middle o' t' elastic cord and t' parachute attaches at t' end. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I modified this, tyin' t' nose cone at t' end and t' parachute t' t' nose cone as I would for an Estes rocket. Durin' t' first flight, ya bilge rat, the! Blimey! end o' t' body tube was crushed, me bucko, I'm nay sure if it be tryin' t' zipper or t' nose cone rebounded into it.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs:

  • Creative stylin' and unique materials, me hearties, me hearties, shiver me timbers, mostly high quality.
  • I really liked t' fin rails.

CONs:

  • T' decals could be much better quality.
  • Rocket be damaged in flight.

This is a decent second effort for Mile High Rockets. Avast! Blimey! I will try them again.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Mile High Rockets Explorer 1 By Layne Pemberton

    Brief: Explorer 1 is a single stage, futuristically styled, sport rocket and is one of two kits available from Mile High Rockets. While rated skill level 3 by Mile High, I would put it at a solid 2. Fin tip tubes and the unique fin rail mounting system, which speeds fin attachment, add a bit of flair. The kit was supplied with: 1 plastic nose cone 1 BT-50 0.097" body tube 1 18mm ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.B. (September 7, 2007)
Nice Rocket I plan to up scale it to a 24 and a 29mm.I love the tubes on the fins I have designed several myself.

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