Qualified Competition Rockets Easy Slide III

Qualified Competition Rockets - Easy Slide III

Contributed by Ray King

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
QCR Easy Slide III

Brief:
T' Easy Slide III is C motor slidin' win' rocket glider sold by QCR (Qualified Competition Rockets). Avast! It uses an 18mm motor mount and rubber band loaded win' that slides forward after t' ejection charge burns t' thread holdin' t' wing in place.

Construction:
This kit is supplied with:

  • 1 Nose Cone
  • 1 Body Tube
  • 3/16” Thick Balsa Wing
  • 3/32” Thick Balsa Horizontal Stabilizer
  • 3/32” Thick Balsa Rudder
  • 1/16” Thick Plywood Win' Support
  • 1/16” Thick Plywood Stab Incidence Shim
  • 1 0.026” Wire Hook (J-shape)
  • 1 0.026” Wire Hook (squared U-shape)
  • 2 Wire Launch Lugs Hooks (Elected nay t' use)
  • 1 0.026” Wire Hook (small U-shape)
  • 1 Engine Hook (Elected nay t' use)
  • 2 Small plastic "slidin' box" pieces
QCR Easy Slide III

QCR kits are competition kits designed for experienced builders. Begad! T' instructions outline t' only basics. Arrr! Aye aye! As a beginner rocket glider builder, me hearties, matey, me bucko, I struggled through this build because o' t' lack of step-by-step t' instructions.

I started by cuttin' out t' wings from t' marked balsa sheets provided. Ahoy! Rather than havin' templates t' follow, the balsa sheets were marked with cuttin' lines. Avast! Ahoy! Next, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I shaped all t' balsa components: t' wings, stabilizer, rubber, and boom support. Arrr! I spent t' most time shapin' t' airfoil on t' main wing. Avast! Ahoy! After I was satisfied with the airfoil I cut t' win' and epoxied in place with 5 minute epoxy t' create t' dihedral. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Next, I epoxied t' plastic boxes t' t' plywood win' support. This be a little tricky--the boxes need t' be perfectly aligned t' ensure t' boom can slide smoothly through both without binding. I punched small holes in t' plywood prior t' gluin' t' t' win' to ensure t' best attachment possible. Ya scallywag! Begad!

I attached 3 o' t' 5 hooks provided. Ya scallywag! I installed t' large “U” shaped hook for t' main wing, me hearties, and the small “U” shaped hook t' t' one end o' t' boom. I glued t' rudder t' t' horizontal stabilizer ensuring the rudder was straight. Begad! Next, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I glued this assembly t' very end o' t' boom near t' small “U” shaped wire. A small plywood shim was glued under t' front o' t' horizontal stabilizer t' establish t' correct stab incidence. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

I assembled t' motor tube, nose cone, me hearties, and boom support but elected t' nay use t' engine hook or t' U-shaped launch rod wire forms. Arrr! Begad! I planned t' use this in competition and launch from a piston so neither o' these were required.

Next, I slid t' win' in place and then attached t' motor-nose cone assembly t' t' boom. Begad! T' J-shaped hook was installed on t' very front o' t' boom.

QCR Easy Slide III I prepped t' glider for flight by installin' a used motor and rubber band t' hold t' wing forward. Begad! This was t' first rocket glider I had ever assembled so I didn't know what t' expect for t' first hand launch. Ya scallywag! I was amazed it flew very well. Well, blow me down! I did a little more trimmin' by adjustin' t' stop location o' t' main wing and I was ready for t' first flight.

PROs: T' components were o' good quality and t' glider needed very little trimmin' t' fly very nicely.

CONs: T' instructions were nay meant for a beginner. Arrr! Blimey! QCR should consider updatin' their documentation.

Finishing:
Since this is a competition model, matey, all I did was use magic marker t' create a visible surface in t' air as well as on t' gone.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
Flight prep reminded me o' a helicopter model. Aye aye! Blimey! T' ensure t' thread burned, arrr, I taped over one o' t' vent holes completely and partially covered t' second with Mylar tape.

T' first launch be on a B6-4 off o' a piston. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' launch was nice and straight, turnin' a bit into t' wind, but overall all very nice boost. Aye aye! Blimey! Transition t' glide be after apogee, ya bilge rat, a little late. Begad! T' glider flew pretty well, matey, arrr, but it did need some additional trimming. Begad! Arrr! T' flight was 17 seconds which I was please with considerin' how windy it was.

T' second launch was on a C6-3 again off o' piston. Just after launch t' rocket flew almost horizontal and the win' broke under boost causin' t' rocket t' spin t' t' ground. Well, blow me down! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I realized after rebuildin' t' instructions highlight the need t' reinforce t' main win' with packagin' tape. Avast! I have incorporated this into t' rebuilt model. T' rocket has great potential and I am lookin' forward t' t' next launch

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is very good rocket glider. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I can't wait t' fly it some more and refine me trimmin' and flyin' ability. Although I struggled with t' instructions, matey, t' sketchy detail has built me confidence and I am lookin' forward to buildin' more models o' this type.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5

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