FlisKits Overdrive

FlisKits - Overdrive

Contributed by Carl Tulanko

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: FlisKits

Fliskits OverdriveBrief:
I was at a two day Launch in Whitakers, NC where I had t' pleasure o' visiting a newer manufacturer who had a booth set up on site. FlisKits had come t' the launch and boasted a professional display o' their line, shiver me timbers, matey, t' include kits, arrr, parts and supplies for t' fliers at t' meet. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! It is thar I got t' meet one o' the owners, Jim Flis, me bucko, and that's when t' Overdrive caught me eye. Begad! I had other purchases that weekend, includin' t' FlisKits Cougar 660, ya bilge rat, but this smaller model be just too cool lookin' t' pass up. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' FlisKits 'OverDrive' is a 13mm Futuristic style model with a very slick and unusual fin configuration. Arrr! Avast! My kit was serial #49 and be rated as a Skill Level 1 model, ya bilge rat, even though fins needed to be cut and assembled. Begad! I gave t' kit t' me son as a gift from t' launch and we both were anxious t' get started.

Construction:
T' kit came packaged in a bag and all parts were present.

T' Kit inluded:

  • A Balsa Nosecone
  • Keelhaul®©™® Shockcord ( a very nice touch )
  • Elastic Shockcord
  • Streamer
  • Motor Mount assembly
  • Fin stock hardware and
  • Well illustrated instructions

T' Fin templates and markin' guides came on typical cardstock and t' wraps had that 'perfect' fit I have grown accustomed t' with FlisKits. Ya scallywag! We assembled the motor mount, shiver me timbers, which uses friction fit for retention, then moved our way to the fins. Aye aye! Blimey!

Most o' t' time durin' construction be spent on t' fins. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! You need t' cut them out usin' templates, matey, me bucko, easy enough, and then they need t' be assembled before mounting. Avast, me proud beauty! I used t' bag t' kit came in as a table covering, matey, ya bilge rat, then used CA t' glue each fin half together. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! Once all four fins were made, arrr, I beveled the leadin' and side edges, then soaked both sides o' each fin in thin CA. They were pressed down flat against t' table with soaked side down until dried, then I flipped them over and did t' other side. Begad! Arrr! This hardened t' fin and I 'plastic-coated' them after some sanding. Ya scallywag! Once each fin be completed, they were installed on t' bodytube usin' Alphaetic Resin. T' nosecone was also drenched in thin CA from t' shoulder forward, then sanded t' a plastic feel.

Fliskits Overdrive

An 'eye' hook is provided for t' nosecone, arrr, which was installed and the shock cord tied t' t' hook. T' shock cord for this model was a bit unusual, as it is mounted by hookin' about 1" around t' bottom joint o' a fin, then bringin' it up t' other side o' a fin where t' fillet would reside. I did this, me bucko, then applied resin fillets t' all t' fin joints. Begad! Finally, me son finished t' streamer assembly and we attached it t' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' was done usin' Krylon Primers and Paint. T' entire model was sanded, then tac ragged and was ready for primer. Avast! A few coats o' white and gray mixed were applied, matey, and pretty much made t' Keelhaul®©™® disappear at t' fin joint. Aye aye! My son wanted it done in stock colors, me hearties, me bucko, which is White with Red decals, me bucko, so we painted it usin' Krylon Glossy White. I made the decals from Monokote trim, me hearties, then we applied them t' t' model. Aye aye! It looks very similar t' t' front card insert that comes with t' kit, with a slight twist. T' results were very satisfyin' as t' model appears t' be almost made from plastic with no seams showing.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' day came t' fly t' Overdrive , so we took off t' t' field with equipment in hand. Begad! T' model was prepped with an Estes 1/4A3-3 motor for t' first flight and was friction fit t' t' model. Since this be a minimum diameter model and there be enough motor stickin' out o' t' rear, we used t' 'Deuces Wild' method o' retainment, tapin' t' motor t' t' outside lower body tube for additional security. Aye aye! Tissue be inserted into t' BT and t' streamer was installed, shiver me timbers, me bucko, then t' model was placed on t' pad. Well, blow me down! When t' button be pushed, it took off like a dart, even on t' smaller motor!!! What a flight, me bucko, arrr, very fast, yet visible t' apogee.

Recovery:
Ejection happened at apogee and t' bright red streamer made it easy t' track the rocket. Begad! It landed very close t' t' pad and be smartly prepped and launched again. Avast, me proud beauty! As we still had many other new rockets t' fly, we limited it to two launches. Avast, me proud beauty! I must say for a smaller kit, t' performance be very good.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, t' FlisKits Overdrive is very slick model made from some o' the highest quality parts available, matey, makin' it a real pleasure t' build and fly. My son is very happy with how t' model turned out as am I, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and we look forward to many more launches with it. Aye aye! I recommend this kit t' anyone that wants a slightly challengin' build and a good flyin' sport rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • FlisKits Overdrive By Russ Anthony

    ( Contributed - by Russ Anthony - 10/01/03) Brief: This is a 4 fin, futuristic, lightweight 10" rocket with streamer recovery and high quality components. The packaging is very attractive, professional and colorful as per FlisKit standards. An individual production number is provided for the first 100 kits, mine is #29. Although advertised as skill level 1, eight fin parts must be ...

Flights

Comments:

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J.F. (April 29, 2004)
FYI for the OverDrive. Due to the complexity of having, effectively, 8 fins that have to be cut out (two different fin shapes glued together to form 1 fin, times 4), FlisKits has decided to convert to laser cut fins on this kit to keep it a solid Skill Level 1 kit. At the time of this writing, we are still shipping kits with the fin patterns and sheet balsa. Once these are used up, new kits will be packaged with laser cut fins. NOTE: Educational bulk pack versions of the OverDrive *already* have laser cut fins included! (Jim of FlisKits)
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CLS (November 22, 2004)
Kudos for the laser cut fins. They popped right out and nearly assembled themselves! I didn't realize there were 2 different forward strakes so nearly glued them wrong; a picture or more explanation at that step in the instructions would possibly save a beginner some frustration. While Overdrive is rated skill level 1 it is challenging because of the small pieces and 2-part fins, but it flies great on little motors so is very rewarding. (my Overdrive got oooohs and aaaahs from a few dozen Boy Scouts, just on a 1/2A.)

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