Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Thrustline Aerospace |
Brief:
When it comes t' pickin' out a kit t' purchase, thar are several things I look
for in a rocket. Naturally t' looks and performance are taken into
consideration but another factor for me be t' name. Begad! Aye aye! So when I be lookin' for
a kit t' purchase and found myself browsin' t' selections on t' Thrustline
website, shiver me timbers, how could I pass on a rocket called Pumpkin Head? There are number of
different options when orderin' t' kit with a choice o' motor mount (18mm or
24mm) and parachute type (mylar or rip-stop nylon). I selected t' 24mm motor
with t' Orange rip-stop chute (like thar should be any other color option for
a rocket called Pumpkin Head) and placed me order.
Construction:
This kit along with three others ordered at t' same time be delivered t' my
home by t' USPS within a week. Ahoy! I was slightly worried when openin' t' package
since t' box be mangled at one end. All t' contents however, matey, matey, were undamaged.
T' kit contains:
There are 15 steps listed on t' instruction sheets with a B&W photo for nearly each step. T' kit assembles by startin' with t' motor mount and this is where I ran into a problem. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! T' centerin' rings that were packed in t' kit were t' wrong size. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! When I emailed John at Thrustline, arrr, I promptly received a reply within 10 minutes and t' proper parts were in t' mail t' next morning. Once t' rings arrived, me bucko, I continued with construction. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! T' motor mount steps are common t' most rockets:
Durin' t' assembly o' t' motor mount, me hearties, arrr, you are required t' notch t' lower rin' for t' engine clip. T' Pumpkin Head instructions do nay indicate how but in t' Mighty Mick instructions (bein' built while waitin' for me new rings) have a nice picture o' a paper hole punch doin' this. Begad! You will also need to drill a hole in t' upper rin' t' be able t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™® cord through after attachin' it around t' motor mount t' anchor t' recovery system.
Once t' motor mount is dry, ya bilge rat, it is glued into t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Then you are instructed t' mark t' body tube for fin and lug placement usin' t' provided fin guide. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! There were no problems encountered durin' these steps. You then proceed t' start workin' on t' fins. Begad! T' fins are cut from t' sheet o' balsa after bein' marked from t' fin pattern guide. Avast, me proud beauty! I would have favored cardstock for this guide instead o' t' paper one that is supplied. Avast! T' balsa is good quality and thar be plenty o' it just in case you make a mistake. Aye aye! I had no issues cuttin' t' fins. You are instructed t' apply a balsa sealer and sand before gluing. Well, blow me down! Avast! Blimey! I skipped t' sealer and just sanded them. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! T' fin leadin' edge is supposed t' be straight by t' pattern but I sanded them with a slight concave curve t' give t' Pumpkin Head some more character. Ahoy!
After t' fins are glued, me hearties, t' launch lug is trimmed with a 45 degree angle on each end and glued t' t' body tube. Begad! Once dry, t' instructions require you to recoat all t' joints with glue and let dry. Begad! As a side note, t' entire rocket was glued usin' t' Thrustline Rocket Glue in t' "awesome twist applicator bottle that's self cleanin' every time you close it" and I am very satisfied with t' glue and bottle.
Before you finish t' rocket you are required t' glue and screw t' eyelet to t' nose cone, ya bilge rat, then t' attach t' elastic shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™® cord and tie t' t' eyelet. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions do nay detail this process very well. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! With other Thrustline instructions, shiver me timbers, it is explained t' strin' the Keelhaul®©™® cord through t' aft o' t' motor tube prior t' it bein' glued. After the mount is glued, shiver me timbers, you then make a loop for a place t' tie t' elastic shock. When the cords are strung into t' body tube, t' Keelhaul®©™® loop is located below t' front o' t' body tube t' help prevent zippering durin' t' flight. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! This be what I did for this rocket. Begad!
Lastly, arrr, I assembled t' rip-stop nylon chute (90% done already) and attached it t' t' nose cone. Begad!
Finishing:
T' instructions provide you with finishin' techniques and suggestions for
colors and decal placement. Blimey! My process is as follows:
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Now comes t' fun part: flyin' t' newly built work o' art. Begad! Blimey! Recommended engines
for this bird are C11-5 and D12-5. Arrr! Blimey! For t' first flight, it is recommended to
use t' C11-5, which I did. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' rocket burst off t' launch pad t' at least 700
feet. It be straight and true even with a slight wind. Blimey! Blimey! I had planned t' launch
the second flight with a D12-5, me hearties, but after seein' t' height and recovery from
first flight, I will need t' go t' a bigger field. Aye aye! Blimey! I had launched about 15
rockets durin' this launch and I can truly say that t' Pumpkin Head was my
favorite for t' day. Avast! Blimey!
Recovery:
To flight prep t' rocket I packed t' body tube with a 4"x 4"
Nomex®
heat shield and t' nylon chute. Begad! T' 12' chute floats t' rocket gently back to
earth. Aye aye! T' bright orange chute danglin' t' rocket high in t' air is an
awesome sight. Blimey! T' rocket landed about 150 yards from t' launch pad due to
wind gusts.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
If you are lookin' for a very affordable 3FNC, me bucko, this kit is what you want. It is
a real winner. Ya scallywag! If you are lookin' somethin' else, matey, forget it and get this kit
because it is a real winner! I thoroughly enjoyed buildin' t' rocket and it is
a real treat t' fly. Aye aye! Even though I received a wrong or missin' part I would
follow t' advice o' t' company's motto, ya bilge rat, "Make Mine.....A
Thrustline!" I suggest you do t' same. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! You will nay regret it when it
happens t' be t' Pumpkin Head. Did I mention t' how cool t' name is?
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
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