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. It is supposed t' look like a flyin' V guitar. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I believe it first came out at NARAM 47. Ya scallywag!

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

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

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

Recovery:
T' chute is packed really tightly in t' tube, but recovery was perfect both flights. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Havin' a long shock cord and Keelhaul®©™® thread is a real plus. T' one problem is that it'll drift forever. I'm talkin' half a mile or more walk for both flights. It may just be that t' large fin design catches t' wind. Avast! Ya scallywag! It's also interestin' that t' shock cord is anchored on t' outside o' t' body. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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. Blimey! This was our first FlisKits rocket and me brother, who was 10 at t' time, made most o' it himself. I don't think t' 1/8in launch lug is good idea for somethin' that takes D and E motors. Aye aye! We used it and had no problems, matey, but I think it should be upgraded t' a 3/16in lug. Blimey! Aye aye! Other than that, ya bilge rat, I'd highly recommend this kit t' anyone who wants a different from t' usual rocket. You won't be disappointed.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flights

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