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

Most o' t' time durin' construction was spent on t' fins. Arrr! You need t' cut them out usin' templates, easy enough, and then they need t' be assembled before mounting. Begad! I used t' bag t' kit came in as a table covering, matey, then used CA t' glue each fin half together. Well, blow me down! Once all four fins were made, I beveled the leadin' and side edges, then soaked both sides o' each fin in thin CA. Ya scallywag! 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Once each fin was completed, they were installed on t' bodytube usin' Alphaetic Resin. Well, blow me down! T' nosecone be also drenched in thin CA from t' shoulder forward, shiver me timbers, then sanded t' a plastic feel. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty!

An 'eye' hook is provided for t' nosecone, ya bilge rat, which was installed and the shock cord tied t' t' hook. Blimey! 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! I did this, me bucko, then applied resin fillets t' all t' fin joints. Avast! Finally, me son finished t' streamer assembly and we attached it t' t' model.

Finishing:
Finishin' was done usin' Krylon Primers and Paint. T' entire model was sanded, then tac ragged and be ready for primer. Blimey! A few coats o' white and gray mixed were applied, me bucko, and pretty much made t' Keelhaul®©™® disappear at t' fin joint. Begad! My son wanted it done in stock colors, which is White with Red decals, shiver me timbers, me bucko, so we painted it usin' Krylon Glossy White. Avast, me proud beauty! I made the decals from Monokote trim, shiver me timbers, then we applied them t' t' model. Ya scallywag! 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. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' model be prepped with an Estes 1/4A3-3 motor for t' first flight and was friction fit t' t' model. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Since this was a minimum diameter model and there be enough motor stickin' out o' t' rear, we used t' 'Deuces Wild' method o' retainment, tapin' t' motor t' t' outside lower body tube for additional security. Arrr! Blimey! Tissue be inserted into t' BT and t' streamer was installed, then t' model was placed on t' pad. Aye aye! When t' button be pushed, shiver me timbers, arrr, it took off like a dart, even on t' smaller motor!!! Blimey! What a flight, matey, me bucko, very fast, yet visible t' apogee.

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5