Brief:
This be t' second kit available from Mile High Rockets. Well, blow me down! 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, shiver me timbers, one motor tube, shiver me timbers, three motor rings, me bucko, an engine hook, arrr, shiver me timbers, plastic nose cone, me bucko, 24" Keelhaul®©™ cord and a 14" Keelhaul®©™ wrapped shock cord, three cardboard fin tubes, three balsa fins, 9" o' "easy-mount" fin rail, me hearties, arrr, launch lug, decals and a 12.5" flame-resistant parachute kit (unassembled).
Instructions were comparable t' Estes instructions, me bucko, arrr, four pages with easy t' follow illustrations. Begad! Aye aye! There is also an instruction sheet for t' parachute kit. Begad! Blimey! Assembly order was typical; nay all that difficult for a Level 3 rocket. Avast! Pieces fit together well. I felt t' balsa fins were o' strange quality, me bucko, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but they sanded fine and are covered by decals in t' end. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I liked t' balsa fin rail material which was new t' me. Ya scallywag! Begad! It helped in attachin' t' fins t' t' body. I did have some trouble understandin' how they were t' be shaped with sandpaper, ya bilge rat, and I'm still nay sure I did it right. Begad! Avast! T' directions and illustrations seem t' conflict in this area. I also had some trouble mountin' t' tube fins t' t' balsa fins. Aye aye! One needs t' install all three o' them at about t' same time t' assure vertical alignment, and this was somewhat difficult. I don't know if I like their flame-resistant parachute so I substituted a 12" mylar chute for t' one provided.
Finishing:
Finishin' be standard primer and paint. Ahoy! I used me own color selection and added only a few o' t' decals that were included. Ya scallywag! I didn't care for t' decals much, ya bilge rat, they were a very heavy plastic and t' adhesive seemed t' ooze from them. Aye aye! After I be finished, I applied several coats o' clear coat.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I have flown this only once as t' body tube was severely damaged in flight and it needs repair. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Preparation is typical for rockets usin' wadding. Begad! Blimey! First flight was on an Estes A8-3. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! It went straight up t' about 400' and landed about 100' from t' pad. Aye aye! I would recommend a slightly longer delay.
Recovery:
T' recovery system is attached t' t' motor mount with t' two Keelhaul®©™ cords. Arrr! I feel that t' Keelhaul®©™ cord sticks way too far out o' t' tube and I expect t' rocket t' zipper before long. Blimey! T' directions indicate that t' nose cone be attached t' t' middle o' t' elastic cord and t' parachute attaches at t' end. Avast, me proud beauty! I modified this, tyin' t' nose cone at t' end and t' parachute t' t' nose cone as I would for an Estes rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Durin' t' first flight, ya bilge rat, the! end o' t' body tube was crushed, arrr, arrr, I'm nay sure if it was tryin' t' zipper or t' nose cone rebounded into it.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
PROs:
- Creative stylin' and unique materials, ya bilge rat, matey, mostly high quality.
- I really liked t' fin rails.
CONs:
- T' decals could be much better quality.
- Rocket was damaged in flight.
This is a decent second effort for Mile High Rockets. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I will try them again.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
J.B. (September 7, 2007)