FlisKits Borealis build thread

[EchoVictor]

Well,

it was one heck of a great NARCON! I got to meet many great folks that make up this hobby, see some really cool new stuff, and get in a few launches to boot. Ultimately, one of the highlights of the weekend was being able to get first crack at the new FlisKits Borealis.

I was lucky enough to catch Jim at the iHobby show in Chicago last year and snag the US TOG production #16, so I was hoping I might be able to grab a comparable low number Borealis. Hand over my $29 and.........score! Production # 7!!!

Now, I had some spare time last night, so it was time to get down to business. In what has become a fun little way for me to torment all of you collectors out there, here's the cutting of the bag;

As you can see, there's a bunch of parts, and those ring fins are huuuuuuuge....

The first couple of steps have you construct the lower half of the ship, called the "2nd Gen Ram-Flush Engine Module".

Next up are the ring fins and their supports. These have to be the most elegant looking rocket sub-assemblies I've ever had the pleasure of working on. I can't even begin to imagine the nightmare that hand-cutting the prototypes must have been!

Here's a view of all three rings drying...

.......continued............

 

[EchoVictor]

Now comes the hard part, the midships section that consists of a trio of BT-2 tubes. These are tricky to get together and straight, so make sure you follow the directions carefully.

Well, that's as far as I got last night. I did read ahead a bit, and saw that there's a little jig you're supposed to glue to the back of the header card for aligning the body when you put it together. There's no way I'm doing anything to mess up my #7 header card, so I used a little bit of scrrap balsa so that the alignment jig could stand on its own.

While messing with that, the tubes dried pretty quickly, so here's a quick dry-fit to end the night....

Later,
EV

 

[dtomko]

Wow!

Drew

 

[Daniel Runyon]

That is one fantastic looking kit to build...

 

[cmmeyers]

I said it in the "introduction" thread in the vendor section, and I'll say it now : That is one fine looking kit, and I will definitely be purchasing one of these!

 

[jflis]

I am SO thrilled to see this build thread.

Beleive me folks, this was a tough design to get into kit form.

The build seems to be going very well. I need to ask how have the instructions worked, materials, those fins and fin rings?

I have enjoyed building mine, but that's different as I knew what I was getting into. For you, you are discovering as you go from step to step and that is something that I don't get to explore...

jim

 

[dasein668]

So does the ejection charge go up through the bt-2 tubes to blow out the nose cone, or does the 'chute reside in the lower section?

I love those ring fin assemblies.

 

[jflis]

The BT-2 assembly acts as a baffle and the parachute goes in the forward BT-55 tube.

 

[dasein668]

Originally posted by jflis
The BT-2 assembly acts as a baffle and the parachute goes in the forward BT-55 tube.

That was my guess.

Nice looking kit!

 

[dasein668]

I suppose if I had gone and looked at Jim's website before I posted that, I would have known it was a baffle!

 

[Rocketboy89]

wow, that looks awesome!

 

[Bowhunter]

WOW That looks awsome!!!!!!!!! Once agian Jim comes thru with another great kit

 

[geof]

I love the looks of this kit, but just let me say that I don't like the choice of nose cone. When I build one, I think I'll swap out for a sleeker nose. Despite that, congrats to JF for yet another fantastic design!

 

[paulk]

I look forward to seeing the finished model, this is one unique kit! To be honest, I haven't yet warmed up to it yet, but no question it is exotic, so just give me time. Wish I could have been to NARCON this year, but my wallet is glad. What color schemes do you have in mind EV?

 

[jflis]

Like any/every kit, they aren't for everyone. That's why we try so hard to have a very wide and growing variety

As for the nose cone, I myself waffled on that for a while... I tried several different styles and finally landed on that one just for the "capsule" look it had, no other reason...

 

[Bohica]

I like it. I would worry only about the durability of the small connecting (T-2?) tubes. But I am sure Jim has already figured that into the design...I will be picking one up soon.

 

[BobCox]

Originally posted by jflis
As for the nose cone, I myself waffled on that for a while... I tried several different styles and finally landed on that one just for the "capsule" look it had, no other reason...

Sorry to admit it, but the capsule-shaped nose cone is my least-favorite part of the Borealis. However, the rest of the kit is so wicked cool that it would be worth getting even if it used the nose cone from an Astron Mark II ("the ugliest rocket ever made" according to Semroc ).

Jim,
Maybe you could change the nose cone before you release the next batch of Borealis kits. Then those of us who already have one of the first 100 kits would have some really rare limited edition collectors' items. ( I haven't opened mine yet, so it is getting more valuable by the minute. )

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by Bohica
I like it. I would worry only about the durability of the small connecting (T-2?) tubes. But I am sure Jim has already figured that into the design...I will be picking one up soon.

Yep, that was a concern of mine till the end of the first flight...

Very first launch of the very first proto... ...no ejection charge. None, nadda, nothing. Lawn dart...

Pulled her out, dusted her off, stuffed another motor in and put her in the air...

No damage to speak of (one loose fin joint that I discovered *after* the fact and you can see a seam in the BT-55 where that tube started to buckle *just* a bit, but held together.

So I was satisfied that she was robust. Frankly, like the USS Grissom and Night Whisper, you risk more damage transporting than flying this model

jim

 

[jflis]

Originally posted by BobCox
Sorry to admit it, but the capsule-shaped nose cone is my least-favorite part of the Borealis. However, the rest of the kit is so wicked cool that it would be worth getting even if it used the nose cone from an Astron Mark II ("the ugliest rocket ever made" according to Semroc ).

Jim,
Maybe you could change the nose cone before you release the next batch of Borealis kits. Then those of us who already have one of the first 100 kits would have some really rare limited edition collectors' items. ( I haven't opened mine yet, so it is getting more valuable by the minute. )

So, should I host a "Suggest the new Borealis nose cone" contest???

 

[rokitflite]

Originally posted by jflis
So, should I host a "Suggest the new Borealis nose cone" contest???

The nose cone is not THAT bad... Just say the the actual ship is made to transport warm milk

 

[jflis]

you are SO bad LOL

So, Eric, how's the build going???? keep us posted guy!

 

[JRThro]

Originally posted by rokitflite
The nose cone is not THAT bad... Just say the the actual ship is made to transport warm milk

Would interplanetary milk delivery be economically viable?

 

[EchoVictor]

No chance for building this weekend. I'm still trying to decide on a color scheme anyway, and the things I have in mind for this require I paint the rings separate from the body....

I did, however, get a chance to launch the US TOG on her 2nd flight. Perfect flight again on D12-5. This time, no landing in a puddle!

Later,
EV

 

[judo]

Yeah, like maybe that odd-ball nose cone from Estes' Beta Launch Vehicle.

 

[Daniel Runyon]

Originally posted by JRThro
Would interplanetary milk delivery be economically viable?

To me it would make much more sense to just deliver some cows... not only would it take up way less space / weight (assuming we're talking quantities of milk that would be substantial enough to warrant interplanetary delivery... nobody's gonna wanna just have a gallon flown to them), but the whole give an alien some milk v/s teach an alien to make his own milk thing and all that.

 

[jflis]

A wonderful build that, unfortunately, will be delayed just a bit...

Eric and I have been discussing a problem that he has been having with the assembly. This discussion lead to a confirmation of what Eric had discovered, namely an error in the laser cut Main Fins.

The Borealis has been placed on hold and a corrected fin is being drawn up and sent for fabrication.

I will be in touch with our retailers as well as those who have purchased a Borealis via our web site. If you purchased one from one of our fine retailers or from our booth at NARCON, please contact me directly so that I am sure to have your contact information.

Please follow this link for more details

I apologize for this inconvienence...

jim

 

[BobCox]

Woohoo! The collector's value of those first 100 kits just went even higher.

Seriously, though, I know that Jim will do a good job taking care of his customers.

I'd be interested to hear exactly what the problem was. Echo Victor looked like he got his built okay.

 

[jflis]

I'll let Eric provide the details of his build, but while the fins go TOGETHER just fine, it turns out they don't attach to the rocket properly. The root edge of the fin wants to reside *inside* the body tube.

Not good. Nope, not good at all. nope....

You have NO idea what today has been like... (well, you may... )

I need a day off LOL

 

[EchoVictor]

Basically, the problem is that the Main Fin is too wide. The easiest way I can describe it is this drawing;

I rotated the fins to lay beside the tube rather than on it when I took that photo of the dry fit.

Jim has been super understanding on this issue. I feel sorry for the headache that he's having right now, but I'm actually cool with the fact that I've now got an extra set of wicked-looking ring fins to play with.

I've even decided on a name for my yet-to-be-designed creation...

"Australis"

Later,
EV

 

[BobCox]

Laser-schmaser! What's wrong with an X-Acto knife and some sandpaper?.

Oh... wait a minute ... maybe not. I suppose if you cut the root off the main fin, then the rear ring won't fit, will it? Aaargh!