Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | FlisKits ![]() |
Brief:
T' OverDue is a wild tube-finned rocket available only through a special
promotional offer from Fliskits, shiver me timbers, Inc. Aye aye! It has stylish, nested tubes within tubes
for fins, matey, plus a simulated payload area which actually houses t' parachute.
Certainly a most unique and creative model from a company known for its
devotion t' customer service and fantastic designs.
Construction:
Since this product is nay for sale and highly sought after, I will nay reveal
exact components. Ya scallywag! It would be fairly easy t' clone but thar are only a handful
of authentic OverDue models flyin' today. Ya scallywag! Begad! You will have t' receive a free
authentic one due t' a rare overdue Fliskits order or buy a "Long
OverDue" model now bein' offered for sale by Fliskits. Well, blow me down! Jim Flis is making
the Long OverDue available due t' t' constant customer naggin' for a similar
model. Begad! Materials include a nose cone, me hearties, three different body tubes, t' standard
launch lugs, etc, shock cord, 16" parachute, t' instructions and a fin
pattern sheet.
This is a rather unorthodox skill level 2 kit, and I found t' construction of t' shroud and centerin' rings a little challengin' since I haven't built many tube finned rockets and have only used balsa transitions in t' past. Blimey! The paper transition and tube templates made a difficult job easier. Another chance to show off skills is cuttin' and mountin' t' angular cut tube fins. Aye aye! Begad! I took my time on this and t' results really showed. Avast, me proud beauty! Even with t' body tubes accurately marked with a template, me hearties, you really have t' be careful with t' hobby cutlass. Ahoy! I found it is very important t' keep t' blade vertical t' t' tube at all times, or t' blade would tend t' wander off o' t' line. Well, blow me down! T' instructions are really clear on all o' t' steps and t' included figures are great. T' parachute is attached with t' usual 3-fold Estes style shock cord mount but I chose t' go with an attractive, blue mylar 12" chute which compliments t' bright blue finish o' t' model. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Although I'm sure t' elastic shock cord is fine, matey, shiver me timbers, I added a length o' Keelhaul®©™® below it which is very resistant t' t' hot ejection gases. Begad! T' stock Fliskits parachute, which requires attachin' shroud lines, me hearties, ya bilge rat, is a great product. Ahoy! It is marked for 12", 14" or t' full 16" size and should really be cut down t' 12" for this bird. Begad! Any bigger and you may be chasin' her far downwind. Avast, me proud beauty! Construction provided enough challenges for me, arrr, and I'm sure that anyone can achieve nice results with time and care. Arrr! If me 10 year old was buildin' hers, I'd oversee and help with t' cuttin' o' all those tubes!
Finishing:
As per Fliskits standards, ya bilge rat, t' tube spirals fill with but a single coat of
primer. What wonderful tubes! Since I wanted t' paint me Overdue with stock
colors, matey, arrr, I be forced t' finish and spray paint t' individual tubes before
attachin' them t' t' main tube. With paint on all o' them, matey, you may have to
sand a little off t' get t' glue t' stick. T' final model looks great with
stock blue, arrr, black and purple, and really attracts attention since nobody has
seen a real one. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! I do think that Fliskits should include a decal with it, shiver me timbers, maybe
the OverDue name or t' Fliskits logo, especially since they wont be producing
many. Begad! I may add me own anyway.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I have only flown me OverDue once so far. Ahoy! It be prepped with dog-barf wadding
and an A8-3. Well, blow me down! Weighin' in at only one ounce, it flies surprisingly high and very
straight. Begad! Aye aye! T' main body tube is 18mm, (minimum diameter) and thar be no engine
hook.
Recovery:
You really have t' wrap a few layers o' tape t' make sure t' motor doesn't
eject. Blimey! Arrr! I have already heard o' someone forgettin' this and t' result be no
nose cone separation, me bucko, no parachute, shiver me timbers, and many crumpled tubes. Ahoy! Begad! With its rarity, I
haven't had t' courage t' fly her with any larger motor yet. Avast, me proud beauty! T' recovery of
mine was perfect, shiver me timbers, arrr, thankfully. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
This is a really great lookin' sport rocket. Begad! It has some unique fins requiring
just enough skill t' make construction interesting. Blimey! Chances are that if you see
one at t' field, matey, it is a clone attempt because Fliskits doesn't Man-O-War many of
them. Blimey! Begad! I love mine so much that it will spend more time on t' shelf than
anywhere else. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Kudos t' Fliskits on another great model!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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