FSI - Micro {Kit} (1008, MRK-8) [1968-1994]

FSI Micro Clone

FSI - Micro {Kit} (1008, MRK-8) [1968-1994]

Contributed by Bill Eichelberger

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2015-02-11
Manufacturer:	FSI
Style:	Sport

Brief

Before the untimely end of Semroc I spent the bulk of a year using their parts to create upscales and 1:1 clones of FSI kits. For the most part, this meant that I was building the rockets, then figuring out a paint and decal scheme that was of my own making, something I'm not exactly a master at. One exception to this was the Micro. The plans for the Micro are located at the YORF plan site. http://www.oldrocketplans.com/fsi/fsiMRK-VIII/fsiMRK-VIII.htm The Micro was a long running kit in the FSI catalogs, showing up from at least 1970 to 1996, but the decals that were included with the scans didn't match up to any of the photos/drawings included in any of the catalogs. Since the Micro would be a quick, easy build, I decided to try my hand at it and placed the Semroc order.

Components

BC-8F28 nose cone (Semroc)
ST-8F80 body tube (Semroc)
TR-7 thrust ring (Semroc)
2 - CR-78F centering rings (Semroc)
ST-730E engine tube (Semroc)
3/32" basswood fin stock
12" Kevlar shock cord
18" sewing elastic shock cord
small screw eye
medium snap swivel
12" parachute
decal

Construction

The Micro is a 3fnc bird, so very little about the construction would puzzle anyone with a rocket or two under their belt. I would rate the build as on par with an Estes Alpha or any other skill level 1 rocket. Fins were cut out of 3/32" basswood because they stick out a lot and seem fragile.

Finishing

The red and black paint scheme for the Micro was pretty much predetermined by the decal scan, which was fine with me. After killing off the tube spirals and balsa grain with thinned Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Filler, the whole rocket was primed, then sprayed gloss white. The upper body tube above the fin can was then masked off and one fin was painted gloss red. When that was dry it was also masked off and the fin can and two remaining fins were painted gloss black. All paints were of the Valspar variety because Lowe's is a five minute drive from my house. The decals are minimal, with a red wrap decal that I placed at the top of the rocket, and a black "MICRO" that went above the FSI logo. Excelsior also has a decal set for the Micro, which I believe is what Mark Kulka used in finishing his. http://www.rocketreviews.com/mark-kulkas-plans---fsi-micro.html

Construction Score: 4

Flight

I had planned to fly it at an earlier post-practice launch at B6-4 Field, but I had dropped it and cracked a fin fillet while blotting the decals dry one night. I had fixed that fin, but hadn't noticed the other cracked fillet until I got to the field, which effectively scratched any flight operations for the night. With both fillets fixed, I loaded the Micro with the obligatory A8-3 and let rip. The Micro arced slightly, the flight path taking it back over Woodfill Avenue in the direction of the school. Ejection occurred and the streamer deployed, riding the breeze back to recover on the field. Hard. As soon as I saw the impact, I knew there would be damage, which there was. The fin that I hadn't previously broken had broken. I chalked it up to experience and decided that the Micro would be a small chute bird from that flight on. AS INTENDED!

Second flight was also at B6-4 Field, so it was also on an A8-3, this time with a parachute. The flight path and recovery both mimicked the first flight almost to a T. A gentle arc out toward the school, ejection and a breezy ride back toward the field, and another HARD recovery. I saw the bounce and figured it was trouble, but when I got to the landing area I found no damage. I think I'm onto something. I'm tempted to try this with a B6-4, but it would have to be on a night when the skies are totally devoid of wind. It might be the perfect combination of height and size at B6-4 Field, but any wind would be death.

Flight Rating: 3