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Modification - Powered FLICS

Modification

Manufacturer:Modification

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Brief:
When I read that Hans "Chris" Michielssen had converted a Quest FLICS rubber band powered rocket to MicroMaxx power, I immediately gave it a try. I too have had a stash of these freebies with no plans for what to do with them.

I wasn't going to review this...er...rocket but, when I saw his review of a 13mm version, I thought, "why not?" I've also built a 13mm version but haven't had a chance to fly it yet.

Modifications:
I first bent the FLICS body sections and glued them together as instructed. I then cut a MicroMaxx motor tube the length of the body and glued it into the 'V' formed by the two body sections. It sits below the body by about 1/8", which leaves a similar gap at the top. I cut a motor block from a spent casing and stuffed a second casing with lead shot and capped it with Fill'n'Finish. The latter was inserted in the top of the motor tube and was taped to the tube and body panels. A piece of Bic pen ink tube was used as the Micromaxx launch lug. The rocket used lawn dart recovery just like the stock version.

Construction:
This build requires a FLICS, a full length MicroMaxx motor tube, two spent Micromaxx motors, some Fill'n'Finish, a little lead shot, and a piece of a Bic pen's ink tube.

No finishing was required.

Flight:
I inserted a Micromaxx motor, slid it onto the pad, and let her rip. On both flights, it headed off at a steep angle due to thrust mis-alignment and rod whip. I estimate an altitude of about 30 feet based on the obstacles it cleared. Since I flew it twice, I obviously recovered it once. But only once.

Summary:
I agree with Chris that the performance of the MicroMaxx FLICS stinks. But after saucer-like objects, monocopters, heavy PMC's and largish paper conversions, this was at not that bad. The main down side is the 'boink' recovery. It won't do much damage, but you shouldn't fly it around unsuspecting passers by.

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