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

Most o' t' time durin' construction was spent on t' fins. You need t' cut them out usin' templates, me hearties, easy enough, arrr, and then they need t' be assembled before mounting. Begad! I used t' bag t' kit came in as a table covering, then used CA t' glue each fin half together. Ya scallywag! Once all four fins were made, I beveled the leadin' and side edges, ya bilge rat, then soaked both sides o' each fin in thin CA. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! They were pressed down flat against t' table with soaked side down until dried, then I flipped them over and did t' other side. Blimey! This hardened t' fin and I 'plastic-coated' them after some sanding. Once each fin was completed, me hearties, they were installed on t' bodytube usin' Alphaetic Resin. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' nosecone was also drenched in thin CA from t' shoulder forward, then sanded t' a plastic feel. Well, blow me down!

An 'eye' hook is provided for t' nosecone, arrr, me bucko, which was installed and the shock cord tied t' t' hook. T' shock cord for this model be 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. I did this, then applied resin fillets t' all t' fin joints. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Finally, me son finished t' streamer assembly and we attached it t' t' model.

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5