FlisKits Tiddlywink

FlisKits - Tiddlywink

Contributed by Ray King

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 0.28 inches
Length: 9.82 inches
Manufacturer: FlisKits
Style: Helicopter, Contest, MicroMaxx
FlisKits Tiddlywink

Brief:
This is another innovative MicroMaxx rocket from FlisKits. It be developed by Jim Flis based on customer requests and in preparation for t' upcomin' NARAM contest. Blimey! Based on me results it will likely be a very popular model at NARAM and any 1/8A HD competitions.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • BT 2.5 Body Tube
  • NCB 2.5TW Nose Cone
  • 0.060" Fin Stock
  • 3 Launch Lugs, matey, 0.5" Long
  • 1 Launch Lug, me bucko, 2.0" Long
  • 2 Centerin' Ring
  • 1 0.060" Diameter Wood Dowel (8" long)
  • SIG-062 Contest Rubber band
  • 0.020" Brass Wire, 4" Long
  • 3 Small Pin Hinges
  • Parachute Shroud Line
FlisKits Tiddlywink

T' components provide in t' kit are very high quality. T' instructions are very well laid out and provide many pictures. Arrr! Ahoy! FlisKits rates this as a skill level o' 3.5 and it is at least 3.5 although challengin' it is well worth it. Begad! Take your time readin' and re-readin' t' instructions prior t' each step. Here are a couple steps t' be very careful of:

  • Step 2: You have t' drill a port hole for t' motor ejection charge t' vent. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After drillin' t' hole, sand the inside o' t' tube t' eliminate any burrs on t' tube.
  • Steps 4-6: T' fin construction and sandin' can be a little tedious, shiver me timbers, arrr, but take your time and sand carefully. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! In Step 6, you glue t' 2 halves o' t' blades usin' t' angle guide. Aye aye! Begad! I duplicated t' angle guide in ¼" balsa which allowed me t' set t' blade aside t' dry. Ya scallywag!
  • Step 10: You assemble t' piston and as I highlighted above make sure t' centerin' rin' on t' shaft slides past the drilled hole freely.
  • Steps 13-14: You assemble t' hinges t' t' shaft and as noted in t' instructions make sure you don't get glue on t' hinge pin in t' center o' t' hinge. I chose nay t' add t' shroud lines t' secure t' hinges t' avoid the extra weight.
  • Step 15: You attach t' blades t' t' shaft/hinge assembly. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Be very careful watch t' orientation o' the blade--this is critical t' t' performance o' t' model.
  • Be careful with your use o' t' wire. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! I ran a little short and had t' use some o' me own. Arrr! Well, blow me down! This was nay a kit or supply problem, it be more related t' me leavin' too much extra on each o' t' wire forms.

I chose t' nay use t' launch lug and launch this off a position launcher. Begad!

T' instructions provided by FlisKits are exceptional and if you read and follow them carefully you should have no trouble buildin' this kit.

FlisKits TiddlywinkFlisKits Tiddlywink

Finishing:
This is a contest model and as a result t' only finishin' I did be t' color t' underside o' t' blade with black Sharpie t' improve its visibility in t' air. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight preparation be t' easiest I have experienced when dealin' with helicopter models. Arrr! All that is required is to tape t' motor in t' motor/piston tube, me hearties, fold and hold down t' blades, and push t' piston toward t' nose cone making sure t' blade hooks catch t' front o' t' piston tube.

I made 2 flights today with t' Tiddlywink each time t' rocket launched nice and straight t' a very good altitude. Avast, me proud beauty!

Recovery:
T' ejection appeared t' occur just before apogee, but t' blades deployed immediately and began t' slowly spin. Begad! The rocket slowly descended t' t' ground nay far from t' launch pad. Aye aye! T' flight time was about 20 seconds. Blimey! T' second flight and recovery be almost identical t' t' first with flight time o' 19.5 seconds. Aye aye! It be very easy t' see that if the rocket had found any thermals, me hearties, it had t' potential t' fly away.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
As I built this model I was very impressed by t' features FlisKits incorporated into this kit especially t' piston ejection system which allows flight preparation t' take less than 2 minutes. Begad! Blimey! This kit will surely become your favorite helicopter kit after flyin' it a few times. Begad! Begad! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • FlisKits Tiddlywink By Glenn Roth (July 12, 2009)

    Brief: MicroMaxx helicopter duration rocket. Construction: 1 small BT, 3 fins/helo blades, motor taped in BT, small nosecone glued on a shaft. BT is slid up on locking pins that are mounted on each blade. Instructions were straightforward and somewhat easy to follow if you read through them several times. CONs: way too delicate and hard to get hinges mounted correctly. I've ...

  • FlisKits Tiddlywink By Chan Stevens (May 9, 2009)

    Brief: There's something seriously wrong with Jim Flis, and thankfully the rest of us in the hobby can enjoy the fruits of his eccentricity. FlisKits continues to expand the Micro To The Max line and also continues to dabble in NAR competition designs. Rather than monkey with relatively simple events, Jim started with one of the most challenging events held today, and with the ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
J.F. (August 5, 2009)
Glenn, sorry you had such trouble with the kit. You are correct in that this kit is not for the fainthearted! Please contact me offline if you feel there were issues with the kit or design that prevented you from getting the results you expected. It can be a tough build, and can be even tougher to repair once damaged, but that's the nature of competitive helicopter models :)

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