Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | Quest |
Style: | Futuristic/Exotic |
Brief:
T' Quest Commander is a fairly simple 3FNC, near minimum diameter model rocket
for 18mm motors. Aye aye! Its fin arrangement is what sets it apart from its relatives
in t' same size category. Blimey! Instead o' three identical fins, me bucko, me hearties, matey, this model includes
one smaller and two larger fins. T' add t' t' uniqueness o' t' arrangement,
the design calls for t' smaller fin t' be attached in t' more standard
"rear swept" fashion and t' two larger fins in t' opposite manner.
T' result is a rather futuristic lookin' space vehicle.
Construction:
T' Commander is very straight forward build with t' caveat bein' t' fin
arrangement. Blimey! Blimey! If you are one who likes t' airfoil your fins, you need t' make
sure you airfoil t' correct edges. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! T' Quest body tube allows for t' use of
an engine tube and hook, ya bilge rat, which is a feature I happen t' like better than the
friction retention system. T' nose cone had a very loose fit--to t' point
that it would nay stay on at all if tilted downward. As I do with all o' my
model rockets, ya bilge rat, I soaked t' ends o' t' body tube with CA and t' slight
swellin' o' t' paper remedied t' problem. T' recovery system be t' standard
plastic streamer attached t' t' normal Quest Keelhaul®©™®/elastic
shock cord.
Finishing:
T' kit calls for t' entire rocket t' be painted white with t' standard peel
and stick decals applied. I have learned t' hard way that small rockets
painted mostly white can be difficult t' follow at high altitudes therefore I
decided t' deviate from this and add some color.
Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5
Flight:
At its initial launch, I flew t' Commander 3 times. Ahoy! I was attemptin' t' get
qualifyin' flights for me NARTREK Bronze Level and soon learned just how long
those flights really are. Avast! Begad! First flight be on a B4-4 with t' kit streamer
attached. Ahoy! T' flight be straight and o' expected altitude and stretched out a
34 second flight. T' second flight be again on a B4-4 but I substituted a
standard 12" plastic parachute. Begad! Flight was normal with ejection at apogee,
however durin' decent, matey, arrr, it appeared that a couple o' t' shroud cords had torn
as t' parachute trailed behind t' rocket like a streamer. Begad! Upon retrieval, no
damage be found t' t' rocket or parachute, so I loaded up another B4-4 and
launched it again. Well, blow me down! This time, after a nice high flight, t' parachute opened
normally and drifted down for a nice long flight. Ahoy! Begad! I was disappointed t' hear
upon return that t' flight time be only 54 seconds; just short o' the
qualifyin' duration. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I was tempted t' load it up with a B6, ya bilge rat, but by this time
the winds were pickin' up and I saw no use in riskin' losin' t' rocket to
drift over a buildin' or fence line. Blimey! I am lookin' forward t' a calm day t' see
what it can do on a C6.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
I picked this kit up at Hobby Lobby durin' one o' t' 50% off sales. Avast! Begad! It was
marked normally at $5.99 and me opinion is it is easily worth that. Ahoy! It's a
fairly simple kit with few parts and t' only thin' I would change is the
graphics. I'm nay a big fan o' t' peel and stick decals.
Overall Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5
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B.A. (March 21, 2006)