Brief:
This newest kit from Squirrel Works looks super! It's a BT-55 kit that should catch some big air on a 24mm motor with 12" parachute recovery. T' face card in t' kit is a true work o' art, a signature o' Squirrel Works kits. Arrr! Parts quality is excellent, arrr, me bucko, ya bilge rat, too. T' decals really set this rocket apart.
Construction:
T' parts list:
- 1 BT-55 kraft main body tube
- 1 BNC-55 balsa nose cone
- 1 laser cut balsa fin sheet
- 1 standard 24mm motor mount kit with motor clip
- 1 standard 1/8" launch lug
- 1 screw eye
- 1 shock cord, 1/8" elastic
- 1 12" mylar parachute kit
- 2 decal sheets, water slide
I test fit all t' parts first and sanded for fit as needed, me hearties, then sanded all t' tubes and balsa and filled t' nose cone usin' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' get that all out o' t' way in t' beginning. Ahoy! Begad! T' body tube seams were hardly noticeable, shiver me timbers, so I didn't worry with fillin' them. Aye aye! Construction is really simple. Begad! It's your basic three very cool fins and a nose cone. Arrr! Considerin' t' fins are laser cut, it's a piece o' cake. Blimey! Puttin' t' motor mount together was t' most time consumin' effort.
Next, me bucko, me hearties, I inserted t' motor mount into t' tube. Aye aye! While that was drying, I constructed t' shock cord attachment, ya bilge rat, inserted t' screw eye, cut out t' markin' guide, me bucko, and drew t' alignment lines. Blimey! Ahoy! Then t' fins and launch lug, shiver me timbers, me hearties, after cuttin' it in half, were attached, and lastly, t' shock cord mount and shock cord was installed and connected t' t' screw eye in t' nose cone. I added a six-inch length o' Keelhaul®©™ t' install in t' shock cord mount, matey, me bucko, me standard installation. Aye aye! I put CA around t' forward end o' t' tube and tied a knot in t' Keelhaul®©™ at t' exit point t' protect against abrasion, then added a loop at t' end o' t' Keelhaul®©™ t' tie on t' 1/8" elastic cord. Blimey! Avast! Then I put t' parachute together and it was done.
Finishing:
Since t' nose cone is painted red and t' body tube and fins are painted white, matey, ya bilge rat, I painted them separately before installin' t' shock cord. Only t' leadin' edges o' t' fins were rounded. Avast! T' fin decals were easily cut out but t' Dragonfire takes a little more time, as I like t' cut t' follow t' outline o' t' decal. Ahoy! Begad! There be no way t' get it t' lie down like t' picture on t' kit though. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Even though Don provided an extra dragon decal with t' kit, I proceeded t' immediately shred both o' them tryin' t' wrap them around t' tube. Arrr! Ahoy! He provided me with another full set, matey, but I still managed t' tear t' next one in about five places just tryin' t' get even a small twist partially around t' body. Begad! Blimey! My hands just aren't steady enough t' pull somethin' that thin along. Begad! They were so thin I even tore a piece in two o' t' fin decals. Avast! It still looks great though. Begad! I could have tried again, but didn't think I'd really do any better with another try. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Next I applied a couple o' coats o' Future Floor Wax t' protect t' finish and improve t' shine. Begad! She's ready t' throw a few fireballs!
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
Wowee! Blimey! This rocket zooms on a D12-5. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Flyin' at DARS new field, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, me hearties, a G-capable field in Frisco, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' winds were blowin' at 8-12 mph. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket flew straight as an arrow with very minimal weathercock. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It be so fast off t' pad, I don’t think t' winds had a chance t' have much effect on t' rocket. Blimey! Blimey! I would guess t' altitude was somewhere around 1,200 feet.
Recovery:
T' chute popped right at t' top. Aye aye! I didn’t reef t' 12-inch chute, but luckily one o' t' shroud lines tangled and t' chute didn’t fully deploy. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It came down fairly rapidly but sustained no damage in t' soft field. If t' chute had fully deployed, I would have been recoverin' beyond t' field.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' Dragonfire is a high flyin' rocket that can be put together easily in one day. Aye aye! Ahoy! Parts quality is superb, shiver me timbers, and t' decals look fantastic. Ahoy! Blimey! T' specially designed laser cut fins with t' decals applied are simply awesome, shiver me timbers, but t' dragon spittin' t' fireball just adds that special flare that t' rocket can't do without.
Pros: A simple design that comes alive with a set o' decals that are a pure work o' art. Ahoy! Complement that with a set o' quality parts with laser cut fins, excellent instructions, and a nice long shock cord, matey, and you've got a rocket that will turn heads at every launch and last long enough for t' grandkids t' fly. That is, arrr, assumin' you don't lose it on one o' those flights into t' clouds.
Cons: Decals are too thin. Avast, me proud beauty! I made t' change with t' shock cord, ya bilge rat, arrr, but that is just personal preference.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
