FlisKits StarLoad

FlisKits - StarLoad {Kit}

Contributed by Joe Policy

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

Brief:
A big 3x24mm cluster rocket with a huge 22.56 cubic inch clear payload bay. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This be t' big brother t' t' FlisKits PayLord.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

  • 1 balsa nose cone
  • 1 2" balsa adapter
  • 1 10" clear payload tube
  • 1 17.5" body tube
  • 3 9" body tube
  • 1 1/8" thick balsa fin stock
  • 2 centerin' rings
  • 3 engine blocks
  • 1 Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
  • 2 cotton shroud lines
  • 2 sets tape disks
  • 1 screw eye
  • 2 launch lugs
  • 2 16" parachutes
  • 1 wide elastic shock cord
  • 1 fin pattern sheet
  • 1 set instructions

Assembly is almost identical t' t' Fliskits PayLord, shiver me timbers, arrr, only on a larger scale. In place o' vent plugs, this kits uses two centerin' rings t' mount the three engine tubes into t' main body tube. You must be careful with these rings as they are quite fragile until glued into place.

Unlike t' PayLord, matey, t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord is attached t' t' two centerin' rings and is internal rather then external. Begad! Ya scallywag! I do prefer this method t' t' external.

If you have built t' PayLord, you will have no problems whatsoever buildin' this kit. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Even if this be t' first one you build, t' clear and easy to read instructions and high quality parts with have you flyin' this 3x24mm cluster in no time.

Finishing:
T' paint scheme is exactly like t' PayLord. O' course, you can let your imagination run wild. No matter how you finish it, this rocket is quite an eye catcher due t' its size.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
FlisKits recommends C11-3, D12-3, matey, ya bilge rat, or E9-4 for heavy payloads and C11-5, arrr, D12-5, or E9-6 for light payloads.

I went for broke and decided t' launch 3 medium cackle fruit on 3xE9-4 motors. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! The eggs were separated from each other with cotton balls. Avast! Begad! Blimey! It had a beautiful, straight boost with good altitude considerin' t' weight o' t' payload. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! All eggs came back intact.

Recovery:
T' rocket includes two 16" plastic parachutes which worked well for my three egg launch. Begad! Begad! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord system has proven t' work well flight after flight.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great kit! It is big and beautiful, easy t' build and has the capacity for large payloads. Begad! I believe I could have added 2 more cackle fruit t' the bay for a 5 egg launch--and I just might do that!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

Comments:

avatar
A.K.S. (December 12, 2005)
Built the model and used the same colorful painting scheme. Only differences were engine hooks and a 30" nylon X-form chute which I am glad I used. Launched the model the last launch of the season on November 26th. Next time I use my own pad and not the clubs as there was binding on the launch rod I should have remedied first! Model went up and only two E9-6's ignited which is unusual for me. I generally get them all to fire. Model cocked 90 degrees at about 150 feet and tore off west away from the launch line. Chute did deploy and she'll fly again next season. Had to walk a half a mile or more to get her! Will launch up radio transmitters in her next year.
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G.H.G. (February 25, 2006)
Everything that could go wrong did during construction. Engine block slid down before glue dried but not discovered until next day. Had to make various spacing elements to even things up. Broke fin during sanding. Tube fillets ran due to vertical storage. First launch cancelled due to high winds. Next two attempts had only 1 engine light. Realized at 40ft apogee that insurance probably wouldn't cover a Starload-sized dent in the car roof. Finally had a satisfying 2-engine flight with my last egg. None of this is Fliskits' fault...it's a fine kit, and surprisingly gigantic when fully assembled. The twin chutes are particularly stylish during descent.

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