FlisKits Rock Star

FlisKits - Rock Star

Contributed by Patrick Bissonnette

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: FlisKits
FlisKits Rock Star

Brief:
This is another unusual design by FlisKits. Well, blow me down! It is supposed t' look like a flyin' V guitar. Blimey! Arrr! I believe it first came out at NARAM 47. Avast, matey, me proud beauty!

Construction:
Everythin' is packaged well. Here is what you get:

  • A nice Honest John style balsa cone with screw eye.
  • BT-60 tube
  • BT-50 tube
  • 2 short BT-5 tubes
  • Motor hook and 2 centerin' rings
  • 1/8in launch lug
  • 1/8in balsa sheets for fins
  • 30in shock cord
  • Keelhaul®©™® thread
  • 16in plastic chute
  • Fin pattern sheets and instructions

Nothin' be missin' and all parts are high quality. Well, blow me down! My younger brother picked this out at NARAM 47. Avast, me proud beauty! I helped him with construction a bit, but he did most o' t' work. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are clear and easy t' follow. Arrr! Well, blow me down! As for t' build, it's straightforward. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I like t' fact that FlisKits make you cut out your own fins. Avast! I'm nay really sure why they included a 1/8in launch lug for a rocket meant for D and E motors. Ahoy! We used it anyway and didn't have any problems. Well, blow me down! The design is really sweet. Begad!

Finishing:
Finishin' this rocket is normal but time consumin' due t' all o' t' balsa. Make sure you have plenty o' sanding sealer for 6 large fins and a nose cone. Blimey! T' paint job me younger brother wanted be a little different but looked good in t' end. Begad! I didn't have any trouble with it at all.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight was at VOA which is normally pretty windy. Avast, me proud beauty! It wasn't too bad, I'd guess about 5-10mph winds that day. Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! We loaded it with 4 sheets o' waddin' and a D12-5. Aye aye! Blimey! T' package says it will be a slow and graceful flier, me bucko, ya bilge rat, so that was what we were expecting. Begad! Once t' motor lit it ripped off t' pad faster than you would expect for a rocket with a high drag design. I'd guess 800+ft. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Very sweet first flight. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Later on we tried an E9-6. Once again a great flight, me hearties, ya bilge rat, but a lot of weathercockin' durin' t' last second o' burn. Begad! Blimey! Nay sure how high, but it was really up there. Aye aye! Avast! Blimey!

One comment for E motors: T' motor will hang out t' back o' t' motor mount. Just wrap some maskin' tape around it and it will be okay.

Recovery:
T' chute is packed really tightly in t' tube, me bucko, but recovery was perfect both flights. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Havin' a long shock cord and Keelhaul®©™® thread is a real plus. T' one problem is that it'll drift forever. Arrr! Ahoy! I'm talkin' half a mile or more walk for both flights. Blimey! It may just be that t' large fin design catches t' wind. It's also interestin' that t' shock cord is anchored on t' outside o' t' body. Begad! Ya scallywag! This may eliminate t' need for a lot o' wadding.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
All in all, shiver me timbers, FlisKits made a winner here. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! This be our first FlisKits rocket and me brother, me bucko, who be 10 at t' time, made most o' it himself. Blimey! I don't think t' 1/8in launch lug is good idea for somethin' that takes D and E motors. We used it and had no problems, matey, arrr, but I think it should be upgraded t' a 3/16in lug. Ahoy! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Other than that, I'd highly recommend this kit t' anyone who wants a different from t' usual rocket. Begad! Ya scallywag! You won't be disappointed. Avast, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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