Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Rocket Pad |
Brief:
This is a single stage skill level 3 kit. This kit is inspired by a rocket in a
1929 sci-fi movie. I built a Frede sometime back in early 2004 and lost it on a
windy day so I got another one in September 2005. It uses an 18" mylar
parachute. I enjoyed the first one, so that's why I got a second one.
Construction:
The kit comes with a 2.6" Estes type body tube. It also features plywood
centering rings and a Kevlar®
shock cord system. It does not have fins per se but what Rocketpad calls
"fin units". There are 4 of these fin units. They are made from nice
quality balsa and the inside of each unit is basswood. It uses a plastic nose
cone and a 3/16" launch lug. Also, there is a block of clay weight for the
nose cone that is soft and easy to use. All around nice parts in the kit. You
even get a spacer for the shorter D motors!
The instructions on the second Frede kit is a bit different than the first one. There are lots of detailed numbered pictures that the instructions call out for you to look at. The assembly was very easy on this second one. (The first one I had was OK but this new one is first rate.) The instructions are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. to the end on a few sheets. It's not a kit for the first time builder but fine if you have built a few skill level 2 kits. I looked at the original review and don't see the problems the reviewer saw! The fit in the centering rings was fine. There was one hole in each one for the 4" motor tube. My first kit also hade lite ply centering rings with multiple cutouts but this one is much improved. I use a combo of Elmer's wood glue and CA for construction. I had no problem following the instructions at all. There were no cons in the constructions of the second Frede kit.
Finishing:
I finished the Frede kit the same color as the one in the place card in the
kit. I first used 3 coats of sanding sealer on the balsa fin units, and the
body tube was fine and need no filler. I used a Gray Rustoleum spray paint to
paint the rocket. The decals went on fine are of a nice thickness--not the real
thin stuff you sometimes get. I think the finished kit looks real sharp and the
guy get a kick out of the different look of this rocket. The finishing was
straightforward like any other kit although Rocketpad suggests that you to use
a high temp paint on the inside basswood part of each fin unit. I used hot
fuel-proof dope from model airplanes that I got at a local hobby shop. They
state that the rocket weights 7.9oz. I weighed it on a lab scale at work. My
kit's weight was close at 8.2oz.
Construction Rating: 5 out of 5
Flight:
I first launched this new kit using a D12-3 motor. They warn you not to use any
of the 24mm C11 motors. The flight was straight up with no swaying or anything
different than any other kit. The ejection was as the rocket started to head
down--just at the turn. The next flight got the E motor, an E9-4. It blasted
off most impressive off the pad--quicker than the D motor! The flight was much
higher than the D I first used. The flight was fine also. From what we all
could see, the parachute came out as it was pointed down. I used Estes recovery
wadding for the flights and it was fine. No con here in the flights.
Recovery:
The 18" parachute worked as it should. It did come down a fraction faster
than other kits with an 18" but still hade a soft landing on our grass
field. After 5 flights, the inside of the fin units were blackened a bit and
the paint was a bit heated from the E motor but I cleaned it up a bit and have
repainted it. There was no damage to the fin units though. I think I should
have used a third coat of dope though on the original paint job.
Flight Rating: 5 out of 5
Summary:
OK, I read over the first review and have come to some conclusions on what
happened to the first reviewer's Frede kit. I put my 3/16" launch lug on
the outside of the fin unit/body tube junction as the instruction stated and
used standard Aerocoat sanding sealer on the fin units. I think he did mess up
the air flow with the launch lug inside the fin unit. Also, I am sure the stick
on paper used on the fin units messed up the balance of the kit for its bad
flight. I don't see any problems in the instructions either as they are
numbered in order with reference to the numbered instructions. I think it pays
to follow the instructions as the manufacture say to get the same results. I
have 4 of Rocketpad's kits and find them great. They are builders kits though.
This is not a kit for beginners.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5
Brief: Frede Kit #1005 is a 1/300 scale model of the 1929 sci-fi movie rocket ship featured in Fritz Lang's film, Frau im Mond . Construction: Included in the kit: balsa and basswood for fins light plywood centering rings engine hook, motor mount and motor block Kevlar ® and shock cord BT-80 body tube and Fat Boy type plastic nose cone mylar parachute ...
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