FlisKits Caution Rocket

FlisKits - Caution Rocket

Contributed by Kyle Hancock

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: FlisKits

FlisKits Caution! Rocket Launch in ProgressBrief:
This rocket is a single-staged, streamer recovery rocket that is made entirely from cardstock. It's unique triangular body tube make this a Level 1 kit. Most cardstock rockets require precise rolling and bending, making them too hard for younger modelers. With only straight folds, this rocket can easily be done by a small child.

Construction:
Everything you need to build this rocket prints on three sheets of 8.5" x 11" cardstock. The plans and instructions can be downloaded from the FlisKits website.

Construction begins with cutting out the parts from the cardstock. Because of the clean design, I was able to cut it out completely with scissors instead of a knife. This is a plus for younger modelers. Scoring with a straightedge was easy since all the score lines were relatively short. I suspect that you could actually construct this model without scoring although the result might not be as clean.

Gluing the body tube is easy but since it is so long, you may wish to use a dowel or ruler to support the tab along the entire length as you adhere it to the opposite side.

The nose cone is also easy to form into a perfect point, since all the folds are straight. Attach the paper shoulder and it is finished.

The fins are very easy to construct since they are three layers of laminated card stock instead of a more complex origami-like 3D fold up. Be sure to press them under a flat weight (like a heavy book) since they will warp if you don't. After they are dry, attachment to the body tube is easy since the body tube is also flat surfaces.

The construction of the engine mount was unique. First, you actually wrap the mount around the casing twice, using tape to secure each wrap. In addition to making the tube easier to construct, it also prevents glue from oozing out and adhering the casing into the tube. Then instead of making a separate thrust ring, you simply fold and crimp the tube down in on itself, much like a roll of coins from the bank.

FlisKits Caution! Rocket Launch in Progress Construction is finished with mounting of the shock cord and streamer and the weighting of the nosecone, which I did with BBs and white glue.

Finishing:
Since the design is pre-printed, the only finishing suggested is a coat of clearcoat. However, since blanks are provided, this rocket is infinitely customizable.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
I flew this rocket for the first time on a B4-2. It was the only B engine I had left, and I judged the risk to the streamer to be low. After easily packing the relatively large body tube with cellulose wadding and friction fitting the engine, we were off to the pad. The flight was excellent, if unusual. At about 30', it began a very tight spiral which looked more like an aileron roll than the corkscrew flight paths I have seen before. It was very cool and left an interesting smoke trail. It was probably due to some sort of minor warpage of the fins, but they look pretty flat to me so it may be a characteristic or tendency of triangular designs. Ejection came at apogee with the nose still up a bit but not by much.

Recovery:
The streamer worked properly and the rocket was recovered with no damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
This is a great rocket at twice the price! Seriously, this is a great design and I had a blast building it. I only subtracted 1/2 a flight point because some purists might not like the corkscrew I saw, however, I personally liked it.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • FlisKits Caution Rocket By Chan Stevens

    Brief: This was a special edition of the standard Caution paper rocket, commemorating the 2004 National Sport Launch. I downloaded it from the NSL site that year, and have been waiting for the right occasion and motivation to build it. Thanks to the 2005 EMRR challenge, I found both on a "snow day" in mid December. Construction: This was a great little project to do in a ...

Flights

Comments:

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C.D.C. (July 2, 2004)
I just built and flew eleven of these last weekend (my son's birthday party, each kid got a rocket to decorate and fly!) and this is a great little rocket. I have experience building paper models (mostly buildings) and this kit is fairly simple to build, although a tad time-consuming for it's simple appearance. And the instructions are great! Many tips and options presented to make construction go more smoothly. The fin design makes alignment nearly impossible to screw up. This would be a great rocket kit for a class on a low budget.
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LU (March 5, 2007)
After having build and launched several Caution rockets - compliments to FlisKits! The design is easy to construct (2 hours for prototype, 1 hour for each of the others)and reaches altitudes of over 700 ft on the B4-4 engines we use. To avoid warping of the card stock I have used UHU glue that contains no water and dries chemically. Therefore fins and body tube came out straight. After competition all rockets received a single coat of dope (yep, the one you use for airplane models)which stiffens the cardboard additionally and makes it waterproof without adding much weight. On this first coat I applied a thin layer of acrylic colour with a brush. The acrylic sticks well to the surface and gives a highly visible finish. Both coats also have the advantage that they dry quickly. The nose cone shoulder received a wrap of TESA film for stiffness and easier removing. All streamers were cut from blue trash bags. The shock cords came from a girl friends pants. Overall costs per rocket were around $2, including the engine. The flights went better then I had expected and until now we only have lost one rocket to the roof of a skyscraper. Another one didn't survived the kids that were hunting for it, since they were not able to decide, who of them will bring her back. Another one safely landed after a successful flight in a distance of 60 ft from the launch pad. I want more of that! Yours sincerely Lars Urban

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