Quest FLIC Kevlar Replacement

Sure, I could have built another Quest FLIC, but I like the Shuttle decor.

I thought the Kevlar had broken off at the engine block. It actually burned through a few inches above that. Looking back, that line looks a little thin.

I pulled it out the back with long tweezers and cut it off with my hobby knife.

Through the back end, I took my awl and pushed it through the engine block / body tube seam.

The awl is very sharp, be careful not to punch it through the body tube and into your hand!

The engine block was lifted to allow passage of the new line.

A double knot was tied in a new, thicker piece of Kevlar.

The free end (no knot) was fed under the raised engine block using the long tweezers. The Kevlar was pulled through from the front until the double knot came close to touching the engine block.

Using a dowel, the lifted side of the engine block was pressed down and back into it's round shape against the inside wall of the BT-5 airframe.

The Kevlar line was pulled again from the front, seating the double knot against the engine block

A drop of glue was set in place using a dowel.

The glue was placed on the joint where the (previously raised) engine block and Kevlar knot came in contact with the inside mainframe body tube.

With the knot in place below the engine block, the "T" engine might extend out the body 1/16" more than before the repair.

No big deal, the FLIC is probably stable with a slight change to the center of gravity.

FLIC A10-3T SUCCESS!

I flew my (F2G2) Quest FLIC Shuttle with an A10-3T engine this morning.
F2G2 stands for FLIC Two, Generation Two.

In this second version, I glued a 10 1/2" BT-5 right down the middle of the normally rubber band launched FLIC. A plastic nose cone half filled with clay was my stability guarantee.

What a great, stable, high flight from such a cheap, simple, cool rocket!

I thought there might be a little lean with the slight offset of the engine, but it went straight up.

Full deploy of the streamer while it was slowing down, the nose cone still pointing up.
I just might have to make a few more of these.

Also flown at today's today "Lone Wolf" launch:
MMX Carded Zoom Broom, Carded Cherokee T Downscale on a 1/2 A3-2T, MMX Downscale Sky Writer and Downscale Carded MMX Red Max.

Quest FLIC - It's back!

Look out Dick Stafford! Here we go again!

I recieve a small parts order from Quest yesterday.
Another FLIC Freebie!

This version won't fly with a Micro Maxx engine but with a A10-3T engine housed in a 10 1/2" long BT-5. Recovery is by a small streamer, topped with a plastic nose cone half filled with clay.

For added stability, this version has a longer length body tube.
I actually like the looks of it. It looks like a Shuttle riding a very thin booster.
Well - exactly.

MMX Quest FLIC - Don't Bother!

I've had a dozen Quest FLICs sitting in a box for a year now.

They send them as a "Freebie" with orders.

My youngest daughter has some fun with them, flying them with the rubber band launching stick.

I've had fun burning through too many surplus MMX engines lately and figured: "What the heck - why not?"

I got into my spare parts box and found some Quest MMX parts. That's a Quest MMX-2 body tube, .392" diameter. I sanded a Quest Micro Max nose cone to match the contour of the FLIC body.

Recovery was simple nose blow, thin Kevlar is anchored at the engine mount and nose cone.

A swing test told me to add a clay worm, pressed over the top of the FLIC side of the nose cone. After four other sucessful MMX launches I loaded up the FLIC.

At launch - It's stable! It got to a whopping 25 foot altitude and popped the nose cone.

Will it fly again? Maybe at the next Orlando R.O.C.K. monthly launch.
The guys always look to me to provide at least one laughable launch.