Quest Pip Squeak

Quest - Pip Squeak {Kit} (1001) [1992-]

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Quest
Style: Sport
Quest Pip Squeak

Brief:
A three fin 18mm rocket with streamer recovery. Minimum diameter with swept back fins. A small rocket designed for speed.

Construction:
Kit consists of:

  • Motor clip
  • Blue thrust ring
  • Yellow motor mount tube
  • Body tube
  • 3 balsa fins
  • Plastic launch lug
  • Plastic nose cone in two parts
  • 24 inch elastic shock cord
  • 21 inch Kevlar® shock cord
  • 2 foot streamer
  • 1 gripper tab

To build the kit I used:

  • White glue
  • Model knife
  • Sand paper
  • Plastic cement

The quality of the components are very good, the body tube had no grooves etc, so finishing was easy. The instructions are very clear, and this rocket builds in minutes plus glue drying time.

The only part of the rocket design that I did not like is that the motor mount sticks out of the rear end of the body tube. I assume that this is so the motor clip can flex, however, it does spoil the simple clean look of the rocket and does bring the CG back. I would be tempted when building another, to ditch the clip and move the motor mount up the tube so that the two tubes were flush at the rear.

The fins need a bit of sanding and filling. I attached them using white glue to the body tube after I had sanded the finish off the area of contact. I used an Estes fin alignment tool to hold the fins in place whilst the glue dried.

I trimmed the edges off the launch lug at a 45 degree angle at both ends. Apparently this significantly lowers the drag on a rocket.

All joints were triple filleted with white glue.

Finishing:
The design on the insert card shows a plain yellow rocket with one orange fin. I chose an all purple design.

Two coats of gray primer were applied, sanding between each coat, followed by two coats of purple spray paint.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
With its low mass, this rocket leaves the pad in a flash. My first and last flight was straight and true.

Recovery:
The streamer brought the rocket to a safe landing in a tree! That was the end of this rocket!

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Built, flown, and lost all in a flash!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • Quest Pip Squeak By Norbert Lis

    ( Contributed - by Norbert Lis) Brief: Light weight is perfect for high-altitude flights and dependable streamer recovery returns your rocket for one exciting flight after another! Construction: The kit contains: 1 body tube 1 motor mount tube 3 fins die-cut for easy assembly Plastic nose cone 2 foot recovery streamer Kevlar ® shock cord The instructions ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
B.C. (September 1, 2001)
Although this kit's review is short, I feel it is accurate. The Pip Squeak was my first Quest rocket, and I find it a fine little bird, indeed. The Kevlar shock cord is great, and I was amazed to see that in conjunction with the supplied elastic shock cord, the whole thing was over 3 times the length of the rocket. Very cool! Just for fun, I "streamlined" my fins, and filled the tube spirals with Elmer's Fill and Finish. I've flown mine on as large as an Estes B6-4 motor, and the long shock cord system and bright streamer brought it all back in a horizontal position, begging for another flight. It's a inexpensive kit, and great for flying at the high school field with kids!
avatar
B.S. (February 27, 2006)
I watched this rocket get launched the other day in 5-10 mph winds. The rocket was setup with traditional streamer and a C6-7! The rocket went up... up... up... you get the picture. I think it made the 1800' they claim but who knows. It was never seen again. The guy said he had shot it successfully many many times. But not with that much wind and with that engine. I have my own kit of this and when I build it I'm not sure I will be willing to use the C6-5 engines I had originally thought would be fun in it.

comment Post a Comment