First Flight Hobbies A-Corn

First Flight Hobbies - A-Corn {Kit} [?-?]

Contributed by Charlaine Cadence Nordin

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: First Flight Hobbies
Style: Odd-Roc

ffh_cornonthecobBrief:
T' smallest o' t' Corn on t' Cob shaped oddroc collections by First Flight Hobby. Well, blow me down! This rocket once complete is really cute and fun. Avast, me proud beauty! Promises t' be a head turner and also a great flyer.

Construction:
T' parts include:

  • One styrene foam corncob
  • one body tube
  • 13mm tube for mmt
  • engine block
  • (2) centerin' rings
  • small bag o' bb's
  • 8" parachue
  • (2) sheets balsa fin stock
  • Keelhaul®©™® shock cord mount
  • elestic shock cord
  • motor hook
  • instructions
  • snap swivel
  • small screw eye
  • noseblock
  • chut reinforcin' tapes
  • launch lug
  • bag o bb's with corn husk scraps
  • shroud line
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. Well, blow me down! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Also t' fact that they hand drew t' corn when explainin' the insertion o' t' stuffer tube into t' corn body. Avast! Readin' t' instructions you almost laugh at t' thought and humer put into them at a few points. Ya scallywag! Well worded and though out and easy t' follow. Aye aye! Avast! Though I should suggest t' fin pattern bein' on its own sheet. Blimey!

ffh_cornonthecob_motormountTo build this oddroc, me bucko, you first need to assemble t' engine mount and stuffer tube assembly. After buildin' t' engine mount, t' instructions say after gluein' t' cord t' t' engine mount t' feed t' Keelhaul®©™® cord through t' stuffer tube. Aye aye! A better means is t' feed t' free end into t' mmt so that it is hangin' out t' back then gluein' t' mount in place. Begad! This allows you more control when t' time comes t' tie t' shock cord t' t' Keelhaul®©™®.

ffh_cornonthecob_finChannelsNext part is t' carefully cut t' four channels into t' foam corn for t' fins. Begad! I used and would suggest a Dremel with a 1/8" cuttin' wheel attachment on its 2nd t' lowest settin' while usein' a peice o' angle iron for a guide. This t' give you a good clean cut.

Once that is done, me hearties, you want t' mount t' stuffer tube . Blimey! TEST FIT FIRST! I found I needed t' wrap 5 turns of maskin' tape aroung t' middle t' get a snug fit before glueing. Ahoy! T' next thin' you do is sand and fit t' nose block. Make sure it fits well enough so theat when you put t' cap on it matches with t' orientation o' t' corn.

ffh_cornonthecob_finsUsin' 5 or 15 min epoxy glue t' block in place (while t' block is in t' tube so t' aide in t' alignment). Blimey! Arrr! Let t' rocket dry NOSE DOWN for a least an hour before goin' on. Arrr! While t' nose and body are drying, cut out t' fins, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, sealin' and sandin' until your happy. Avast! Aye aye! Leave them natural t' match t' hust on t' corn. Ahoy!

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

Finishing:
T' only finishin' needed is a touch o' flat matt 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

Flight:
Packin' and readyin' this bird for flight is easy. Ahoy! And she looks great on t' pad. Aye aye! Slightly slow at launch but screamed into t' air nay straight but nay unsafe either. Avast! She arched and ejected and recovered 20 feet from t' pad with no damage

T' scond flight was t' same except that this time she weather-cocked then corrected t' a great flight and normal recovery. Ya scallywag!

Recovery:
T' 8" chute seems fine but I might cut a streamer for windy days. Ahoy! Other than that, ya bilge rat, recovery is great

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is a head turner and I feel that it is a must have for anyone who likes small odd rocks or like me just likes t' take strange things t' t' race and fly them while others look at you like your crazy.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other:
Use foam freindly glues and sealers as some epoxy's may melt t' stirine.

Other Reviews
  • First Flight Hobbies A-Corn By John Lee (January 17, 2009)

    Brief: I was asked to test 2 oddrocs of similar design, differing only in their size. First I built the Corn Roc, a Styrofoam ear of Indian corn with an 18mm motor mount. Now I am trying its little sibling, the A-Corn, designed for 13mm power. Construction: Construction is very similar to that of the Corn Roc. It begins with making a slit in the motor tube for the engi ...

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