First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc

First Flight Hobbies - Corn Roc

Contributed by Charlaine Cadence Nordin

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: First Flight Hobbies
First Flight Hobby Corn Rocket

Brief:
T' main stay o' t' Corn on t' cob shaped oddroc collections by First Flight Hobby. Begad! This 18mm rocket once complete is interestin' and fun. Begad! It promises t' be a head turner and also a great flier.

Construction:
T' parts include:

  • One styrene foam corncob
  • One body tube
  • MMT 18mm tube
  • One engine block
  • 2 centerin' rings
  • Small bag o' bb's
  • 12" parachute
  • 2 sheets balsa fin stock
  • Keelhaul®©™® shock cord mount
  • Elastic shock cord
  • Motor hook
  • Instructions
  • Snap swivel
  • Small screw eye
  • Nose block
  • Chute reinforcin' tapes
  • Launch lug
  • Bag o' bb's with corn husk scraps
  • Shroud line
First Flight Hobby Corn Rocket

One o' t' things that really showed me that this company cares about its customers is that each small bag o' parts was signed after t' parts where placed inside. Blimey! Also t' fact that they hand drew t' corn in t' instructions when explainin' t' insertion o' t' stuffer tube into t' corn body. Aye aye! Blimey!

Readin' t' instructions you almost laugh at t' thought and humor put into them at a few points. Blimey! Well worded and thought out, easy t' follow. Avast! Though I suggest t' fin pattern bein' on its own sheet.

T' build this oddroc you first need t' assemble t' engine mount and stuffer tube assembly. Ya scallywag! Begad! After buildin' the engine mount, t' instructions say after gluin' t' cord t' t' engine mount t' feed t' Keelhaul®©™® cord through t' stuffer tube. Blimey! A better means is t' feed t' free end into t' MMT so that it is hangin' out t' back then gluin' t' mount in place. Arrr! This allows you more control when t' times comes t' tie t' shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™®.

First Flight Hobby Corn Rocket Next part is t' carefully cut t' four channels into t' foam corn for t' fins. Arrr! I used and would suggest a Dremel with a 1/8" cuttin' wheel attachment on its second t' lowest settin' while usin' a piece of angle iron for a guide. Begad! This t' give you a good clean cut. Begad!

Once that is done, me bucko, you want t' mount t' stuffer tube. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Test fit first! I found I needed t' wrap 5 turns of maskin' tape aroung t' middle t' get a snug fit before gluing. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! T' next thin' you do is sand and fit t' nose block. Makin' sure it fits well enough so that when you put t' cap on it matches with t' orientation o' t' corn.

First Flight Hobby Corn Rocket Usin' foam safe 5 or 15 minute epoxy, ya bilge rat, glue t' block in place while t' block is in t' tube to aide in t' alignment.

Let t' rocket dry nose down for a least an hour before goin' on. Ahoy! Well, blow me down!

While t' nose and body are drying, cut out t' fins sealin' and sandin' until you are happy. Leave them natural to match t' husk on t' corn. Once complete, I used Great Stuff foam t' fill t' body gaps around t' stuffer tube.

All in all this rocket was one o' t' most enjoyable build I have done in a while. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing:
T' only finishin' needed is a touch o' flat or matte non-corrosive paint t' protect t' rocket and maybe usin' some epoxy paint on t' inner exposed foam t' protect it from damage.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

First Flight Hobby Corn Rocket

Flight:
I flew this oddroc twice on C6-3 engines. T' first flight was great and cleared t' pad with no issues. Ahoy! It screamed into t' sky and landed 120 feet from t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! I lost sight o' her durin' t' coast phase due t' over cast so she got some good height.

T' second flight was a mirror o' t' first.

Recovery:
It came down slightly faster then I liked so I will be increasin' t' chute t' a 16" with a controllable spill hole.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is a head turner, arrr, and I feel that it is a must have for anyone who like oddrocs or, ya bilge rat, me hearties, like me, just likes to take strange things t' t' range and fly them while others look at you like you are crazy.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc By John Lee (December 28, 2008)

    The Corn-Roc is a fall themed oddroc I was asked to beta test. It is basically a conversion of a Styrofoam ear of Indian Corn from a craft store into a rocket. Construction began with the building of the motor mount. A slit was made for the engine hook and the hook was secured in place with several wraps of masking tape. The mount was then marked at each end and the centering rings were ...

  • First Flight Hobbies Corn Roc By Dick Stafford (November 21, 2008)

    Brief: This is a seasonal oddroc based on a Styrofoam ear of corn. It is a cool-looking, sturdy rocket and looks better in person than in photos. My beta test version flies on 18mm motors but 13mm and 24mm versions were also offered. Unfortunately, all had limited runs and more will not be available until next year. I normally don't submit reviews until I've flown a rocket but, ...

Flights

Comments:

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J.A.L. (February 14, 2009)
The building, flights and repairs of the rocket I reviewed are chronicled in photos and videos here.

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