Brief:
I be at a two day Launch in Whitakers, matey, NC where I had t' pleasure o' visiting a newer manufacturer who had a booth set up on site. Arrr! Well, blow me down! FlisKits had come t' the launch and boasted a professional display o' their line, matey, arrr, t' include kits, matey, parts and supplies for t' fliers at t' meet. Arrr! It is thar I got t' meet one o' the owners, arrr, arrr, Jim Flis, and that's when t' Overdrive caught me eye. Avast! I had other purchases that weekend, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shiver me timbers, includin' t' FlisKits Cougar 660, but this smaller model was just too cool lookin' t' pass up. Begad! T' FlisKits 'OverDrive' is a 13mm Futuristic style model with a very slick and unusual fin configuration. Begad! My kit was serial #49 and was rated as a Skill Level 1 model, me bucko, even though fins needed to be cut and assembled. Ahoy! I gave t' kit t' me son as a gift from t' launch and we both were anxious t' get started.

Construction:
T' kit came packaged in a bag and all parts were present.

T' Kit inluded:

• A Balsa Nosecone
• Keelhaul®©™® Shockcord ( a very nice touch )
• Elastic Shockcord
• Streamer
• Motor Mount assembly
• Fin stock hardware and
• Well illustrated instructions

T' Fin templates and markin' guides came on typical cardstock and t' wraps had that 'perfect' fit I have grown accustomed t' with FlisKits. Begad! We assembled the motor mount, which uses friction fit for retention, arrr, then moved our way to the fins.

Most o' t' time durin' construction be spent on t' fins. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! You need t' cut them out usin' templates, easy enough, matey, shiver me timbers, and then they need t' be assembled before mounting. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I used t' bag t' kit came in as a table covering, ya bilge rat, matey, then used CA t' glue each fin half together. Once all four fins were made, I beveled the leadin' and side edges, then soaked both sides o' each fin in thin CA. Arrr! They were pressed down flat against t' table with soaked side down until dried, then I flipped them over and did t' other side. This hardened t' fin and I 'plastic-coated' them after some sanding. Once each fin was completed, matey, they were installed on t' bodytube usin' Alphaetic Resin. T' nosecone was also drenched in thin CA from t' shoulder forward, then sanded t' a plastic feel. Blimey! Ahoy!

An 'eye' hook is provided for t' nosecone, arrr, matey, which be installed and the shock cord tied t' t' hook. Aye aye! T' shock cord for this model was a bit unusual, as it is mounted by hookin' about 1" around t' bottom joint o' a fin, then bringin' it up t' other side o' a fin where t' fillet would reside. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I did this, matey, then applied resin fillets t' all t' fin joints. Arrr! Arrr! Finally, matey, me son finished t' streamer assembly and we attached it t' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' be done usin' Krylon Primers and Paint. T' entire model be sanded, then tac ragged and be ready for primer. Avast! A few coats o' white and gray mixed were applied, ya bilge rat, and pretty much made t' Keelhaul®©™® disappear at t' fin joint. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! My son wanted it done in stock colors, which is White with Red decals, so we painted it usin' Krylon Glossy White. Ya scallywag! I made the decals from Monokote trim, arrr, then we applied them t' t' model. Begad! It looks very similar t' t' front card insert that comes with t' kit, with a slight twist. T' results were very satisfyin' as t' model appears t' be almost made from plastic with no seams showing.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' day came t' fly t' Overdrive , so we took off t' t' field with equipment in hand. Begad! T' model be prepped with an Estes 1/4A3-3 motor for t' first flight and be friction fit t' t' model. Since this be a minimum diameter model and there was enough motor stickin' out o' t' rear, we used t' 'Deuces Wild' method o' retainment, ya bilge rat, tapin' t' motor t' t' outside lower body tube for additional security. Arrr! Tissue was inserted into t' BT and t' streamer was installed, me bucko, me bucko, matey, then t' model was placed on t' pad. When t' button be pushed, ya bilge rat, it took off like a dart, even on t' smaller motor!!! What a flight, arrr, very fast, yet visible t' apogee.

Recovery:
Ejection happened at apogee and t' bright red streamer made it easy t' track the rocket. Well, blow me down! It landed very close t' t' pad and be smartly prepped and launched again. Ahoy! As we still had many other new rockets t' fly, we limited it to two launches. Blimey! I must say for a smaller kit, arrr, t' performance was very good. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
In summary, t' FlisKits Overdrive is very slick model made from some o' the highest quality parts available, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, makin' it a real pleasure t' build and fly. My son is very happy with how t' model turned out as am I, me bucko, and we look forward to many more launches with it. Blimey! I recommend this kit t' anyone that wants a slightly challengin' build and a good flyin' sport rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5