Background:

This sprin' I ran a build session for faculty kids at t' school where I teach. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I ended up usin' t' Quest Bright Hawk for t' 7-9 year olds and the Quest Big Betty for t' 10-12 year olds. Avast! After t' build session, ya bilge rat, matey, I began thinkin' about t' types o' rockets that would make great first builds for a buddin' rocketeer. Begad! Arrr! I wanted t' select rockets t' compare that had t' following in common:

• BT-60 body tube
• Parachute recovery
• Balsa fins
• Engine hook motor retention
• Reasonable Price
• Stable flight performance
• A rocket that can fly on small athletic fields and can be viewed in all aspects o' flight. Arrr! Aye aye! In other words, no Alphas, matey, shiver me timbers, Wizards, arrr, me bucko, or Vikings.

I ended up selectin' 3 rockets that fit these criteria. Ya scallywag! T' Estes Big Bertha, shiver me timbers, t' Quest Big Betty, matey, and t' Fliskits Rhino.

Click Here for the Comparison Article.

Construction:

T' Fliskits Rhino was really fun t' put together. Avast! I found t' quality of the parts better than t' Estes and Quest counterparts. Aye aye! I liked t' balsa nose cone, but this required an additional step o' addin' a screw eye as well as the need t' prime and fill t' balsa for gettin' a smooth finish. Ahoy! Blimey! There is an engine hook and t' centerin' rings fit t' motor mount very well. Blimey! What is really cool about t' Rhino is that thar are laser cut fins that come with additional fin templates. Well, blow me down! There are actually a two different designs that can be cut from t' given fin design. Avast, me proud beauty! I assume someone could actually use three different fins on t' Rhino with success. Ahoy! T' fins are very large and swept back, matey, arrr, so t' stability o' t' rocket is probably pretty good. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I decided t' keep things textbook and stay with t' laser cut design. Blimey! I simply rounded t' edges and used t' double glue method t' attach t' four fins t' t' body tube. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I added fillets t' t' fins and then proceeded t' add t' launch lug. Begad! On the Rhino, one is instructed t' add 2 launch lugs, so it is helpful t' use a launch rod t' make sure you have everythin' lined up. Ya scallywag! If you don't use a thin dowel or launch rod, arrr, you may have a bit o' trouble gettin' t' launch lugs t' line up (and we all know thar be nothin' worse than gettin' out t' t' field with your new rocket and bein' unable t' get t' rocket on t' pad due t' misaligned lugs).

Finishing:

I primed and Fill-N-Finished t' rocket. Well, blow me down! I painted t' middle section white, then masked it off and painted t' whole rocket a kind o' baby blue like it appears on t' cover art. Ahoy! Avast! If you want t' add decals, you have t' realize there are none in t' kit. Blimey! This is both good and bad. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Bad, because it is nice t' have an entire kit. Arrr! Good, because you can go t' www.fliskits.com and download a .pdf file of t' original decals. Ya scallywag! You can then select your own type o' paper (I used Avery sticky paper), ya bilge rat, matey, arrr, and then produce your own decals. Begad! I felt more hands-on doin' this, arrr, but this was probably t' most difficult part o' t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! If I was 10 years old, matey, I would nay have had t' patience t' cut out all t' rhino heads and other designs. Well, matey, blow me down! On t' other hand, matey, I felt more involved in t' project like I was doin' a scratch build. Begad! Begad! It also gives t' builder t' idea that they can design and print their own decals. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I printed t' Rhino decals on an ink jet printer, ya bilge rat, then coated t' decals with clear enamel. After I cut out t' designs, I placed t' decals on t' rocket, arrr, then gave t' rocket a coat o' Future Floor Polish. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! One o' t' cool decals on t' Rhino is a little info plaque that can be added t' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! It gives t' dimensions o' t' rocket as well as the recommended motors. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I thought this be brilliant. Avast! T' novice flyer can then take t' rocket out t' t' field and know exactly what motor t' use without havin' t' guess.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:

T' rocket is big enough t' prep easily and pack t' parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I flew this first on a B6-4 and was surprised how low t' flight was. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I then used a C6-5 on my next flight. T' boost and flight was beautiful, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but unfortunately, matey, the rocket ended up in a tree. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I usually criticize t' tri-fold shock cord method (used on t' Rhino and Estes kits), matey, but this be t' savin' grace o' the rocket. Begad! Blimey! After a few days o' rain and some wind, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' body tube came loose from the shock cord and fell down t' t' ground. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A few days after this, arrr, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' nose cone and parachute blew loose from t' tree. So, shiver me timbers, I now have recovered both parts o' me rocket.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5