Brief

Brief:
T' XFLR-7 is a paper/foamboard kit patterned after t' Tintin rocket from t' Destination Moon comic. Well, blow me down! Begad! This is a cool design and should be considered a classic. Although t' kit is now OOP, existin' stock may be around for a while, me bucko, me bucko, so I decided t' submit a review anyway. Ya scallywag! I hope that me observations will help in t' construction o' other paper/foamboard rockets whether they are kits or scratch built. Arrr! Since thar be an excellent review already here on EMRR, matey, I will focus on t' details o' what I did instead o' a top-to-bottom walk through o' t' entire build.

Construction:
T' instructions were detailed and included '3-D' photos (glasses provided), shiver me timbers, however me agin' 'bifocular' deadlights couldn't see them clearly. T' instructions themselves were pretty good quality in general but were nay completely accurate. Ya scallywag! This kit is at least as challengin' as t' Estes Skill Level 5 kits that I've built, ya bilge rat, so it is very important for you t' read t' entire set o' instructions and try t' understand how each part will be installed.

This kit includes a lot o' parts which must be cut out--paper, foamboard, me bucko, arrr, and even soft foam for t' shock absorbers on t' pods. Blimey! I have built numerous paper conversions, ya bilge rat, Art Applewhite cardboard saucers, arrr, etc., however, matey, I had a lot o' problems gettin' this kit together. Avast! Precision, patience, ya bilge rat, and dexterity is required.

Shock absorber (win' tip pods): When matin' t' pod cones and bodies, set them initially by hand, set t' assembly down, arrr, then apply pressure downward on t' cone. T' two pieces will tend t' self adjust t' one another. Arrr! Blimey! I used Aleene's Tacky Glue throughout t' build.

Fins: I attempted t' round t' leadin' edge but left t' trailin' edge square. Begad! Blimey! T' roundin' process didn't go perfectly but a little Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish finished t' job. Begad! Blimey! If I were t' do it again, shiver me timbers, I'd bevel t' edges as recommended in Art Applewhite's kits . Avast! Blimey! T' colored surfaces are printed on plain paper and must be cut out and applied t' t' foamboard. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Even with t' strips provided for t' edges, matey, I found that they did nay 100% cover t' fin surfaces. Aye aye! Blimey! After ponderin' this problem, shiver me timbers, I have came t' t' conclusion that due t' rough tracin' o' t' fin template, I probably made t' fins ever so slightly larger than planned. Begad! Blimey! I recommend tracin' them carefully with a fine point pencil, rather than a big dull one. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If t' kits were t' be continued, me hearties, me bucko, I'd suggest that t' cutouts be oversized and trimmed in situation after application.

Body tube, me bucko, arrr, base section: This was straightforward and I have no words o' wisdom here.

Fuselage: This section consists o' five tubular sections and one ring. Well, blow me down! I had a tough time gettin' these components t' align, and t' results are nay as uniform as I'd have liked. Make sure you are careful t' align t' colors t' achieve t' checkerboard pattern.

Cone: This assembled well but I am concerned with t' weight o' t' provided clay given t' shock cord attachment point is in foamboard rings. Ahoy! This also convinced me t' go with t' 24mm option despite worries about t' C11's relatively energetic ejection charge. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! If it blows apart, me hearties, then I can glue it all back together. Begad! If it burns up, then we have extinguishers.

Main assembly consists o' two pages o' instructions. Avast! These were easy enough t' follow, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but I had major fit issues. We'll see how this holds together on recovery given t' small chute. By t' way, t' chute is about 12" diameter and is made o' plastic. Avast! I held me shroud lines on with squares o' Gorilla tape.

I had installed t' inside tube without attachin' t' motor hook prior t' changin' me mind t' t' 24mm option. Begad! Luckily, standard 24mm tube fit nicely in that custom wrapped tube. Arrr! I used t' 18mm motor tube wrap as a guide t' position t' hook on a piece o' Apogee 24mm tube and slipped it right in.

Finishing:
Finishin' should consist o' a layer o' clear coat but give all t' white edges that I had peekin' out, arrr, I touched it up with some red markers. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' result looks nice from a distance. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I noticed t' instructions talked o' painting--an indication that this be an mangle o' an older version.

Construction Rating:  3

Flight:
T' motor hook seems t' work quite well, snappin' right over t' C11-3 motor. I used an ample amount o' dog barf and folded t' chute as suggested. Well, blow me down! T' boost be nice and ejection be near apogee.

Recovery:
T' chute didn't fully open and t' rocket floated down generally parallel t' t' ground. Aye aye! Begad! T' only damage be t' nosecone tip be bent. Avast! I guess I should have tamped a tiny piece o' clay into t' far tip o' t' nose. I won't din' t' flight ratin' on this since it falls into t' construction difficulty area. Ahoy! I know I only have one flight, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me hearties, but I have t' give this one a 4.5. A swivel would have fixed t' one small recovery issue.

Flight Rating:  4

Summary:
This was a fun kit t' build and although thar are some issues with t' fit o' t' components, t' overall look is great (based on t' opinions o' t' crowd at t' launch, nay just me). Begad! I have t' bump t' overall ratin' a bit t' reflect t' overall look.

Overall Rating:  4