FlisKits - Deuce's Wild {Kit} (CL002)

FlisKits Deuce's Wild

FlisKits - Deuce's Wild {Kit} (CL002)

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Diameter:	1.64 inches
Length:	21.20 inches
Manufacturer:	FlisKits
Skill Level:	3
Style:	Cluster, Sport

Brief:
Just another quick review of The Rocketry Forum's favorite kit...large fins, 2 canted 18mm motors, 'nuff said!

Construction:
I won't repeat all of this information, I'll just be pointing out what I think are the high points, assuming you have read the other reviews, above.

The parts are all of good quality, and the laser cut fiber motor mount components make assembly easy. With a balsa nose cone, and cut-them-yourself fins remind me of the 'old days'. The only change I made was adding a leader of Kevlartwine that I epoxied to the motor mount before its insertion.

Finishing:
I strengthened the tip of the cone with thin CA and filled all balsa surfaces with Fill-N-Finish. The cone looks nice and is relatively hard, but the surface is rougher than most. This required an extra filling cycle, but the end result is great. The only other issue is that the proximity of the motor mounts makes masking the fins a bit tricky. I painted mine sort of like the packaging shows, using Testor's Sapphire and Lime-Gold Metal Flake paint. The Testor's paints really look nice.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
As with most model rockets, I used dog barf wadding wrapped in a layer of Estes wadding. No motor hooks are provided, so I wrapped the motors in masking tape. I flew my Deuce on 2xB6-4, 2xC6-3, 2xA8-3, and 2xC6-5, in that order. All were great flights - the logs are below. Oddly, on the flight on the C6-5s, it unexpectedly turned slightly with the wind at about 100'. Must have hit a gust.

Recovery:
On the first 2 flights, I lost shroud lines, so I replaced the 'chute with a nylon one for the subsequent flights. The Kevlar/elastic shock cord kept the nose well away from the body. No 'smiles' here.

Let's see, take away a point for the 'chute, and half a point for the lack of a Kevlarleader. Add back in 2 points for being totally cool, and you get a flight rating of 5.5. Oops, can't go over 5 :-).

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Cool looks, cool flights with dual smoke trails...5 points! BTW, someone else at the launch is building a 24mm upscale.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Reviews

FlisKits Deuce's Wild By Hank Helmen (November 13, 2008)
This is a skill level 3, two engine canted cluster rocket. The Duce has one body tube and uses four fins. It comes with a very nice balsa nose cone and two parachutes. The motor mount is unique but goes together easily and works great. Two pre-cut engine mounting rings are included with in the hardware. A BT-60 body tube is supplied in the kit as well as 30" of thin shock cord. The 1/8" ...
FlisKits Deuce's Wild By Mike Salter
The Deuce's Wild! is (in my opinion) one of the most innovative kits available at the moment and will undoubtedly become a classic. It's unique point is the dual smoke trails from the canted motors, a great spectacle that grabs anyone's attention. The moment I saw the Deuce (when FlisKits first opened), I wanted one and soon set about trying to bring them to the UK...this basically involved ...
FlisKits Deuce's Wild By Carl Tulanko
Brief: The Deuces Wild is a very unique model rocket from FlisKits, a newer company on the block in the model rocket industry. The Deuce boasts a cluster using dual 'canted' 18mm motors, which gives it a really cool look both on the pad and in the air. The model came in a plastic bag, similar to Estes Rockets, but that is where the similarity ends. Inside the bag was a real balsa nosecone, ...
FlisKits Deuce's Wild By Jason Toft
(by Jason Toft - 04/15/03) Brief: An awesome little rocket with dual canted motor mounts. Just BEGGING to be upscaled Construction: When I received my Deuce, there was one 17 inch BT-60 tube, a balsa ogive nose, fin stock, motor mount materials, and other miscellaneous materials required for construction. (launch lugs, chute, etc.) I opened the package and inspected the quality ...
FlisKits Deuce's Wild By Douglas Gardei
Dual Canted 18mm motor mounts. Designed to produce two distinctive smoke trails when launched. The Deuce's Wild comes with Estes quality parts. The Body tube is BT-60 sized, and is topped with a nice Balsa nosecone. The kit includes two 18mm motor tubes, and two thrust rings. No motor hooks are provided. Two sheets of balsa is used to cut out the four large fins form the pattern provided. The ...

Flights

Comments:

J.F. (October 2, 2002)

As the manufacturer of the Deuce's Wild, I wanted to make a couple of comments about the kit and the review: First, and quite important, the Deuce's Wild! (and all FlisKits rocket kits) come with VERNON Estes quality parts. A significant difference we beleive, in the eyes of the long-time rocketeers. As for the motor mount, we have has several people construct the motor mount as described in the instructions with no problems, but we are still looking into possible changes per Doug's input. Cutting fins out by hand is a *feature* of FlisKits products. Gives a modeler a reason to learn how to use the tools of the trade, in our opinion. FlisKits is in the process of lengthening the shock cord on most of our kits, but the cord currently packaged with the Deuce's Wild is 18". If the one received with this kit was "less than a foot", then a problem got past our QC and will be corrected. We have also found tape disks with a much higher tack adhesive, so FlisKits parachutes will exhibit much higher quality and long life for your model. The paint job, pictures and vid's are all WONDERFUL. You did a FINE job constructing this model! KUDO's!

L.V. (November 23, 2002)

I also have a Deuce's Wild kit #7. I too had a little problem with the motor mounting, but the rest of the kit went together great. I like the idea of cutting out the fins. I remember that from my early days of building rockets. I hope they don't change that. Mine has flown twice so far both times on a pair of B6-4s.Both flights straight and perfect. I also left the chute large. The dual smoke trails are really neat. This rocket is well worth the cost and is a lot of fun. Thanks Fliskits!!!

G.D. (December 1, 2002)

My Fliskits Deuces' Wild is production #33. Just building it slow. Nice kit!

J.F. (January 3, 2003)

UPDATE from FLisKits: For the record, after talking with other folks and reviewing the kit, parts and instructions, FlisKits decided that Doug was right on the money in regard to the motor mount assembly on the Deuce's Wild. Therefore, we have created a set of laser-cut rings and changed the assembly instructions to match what Doug came up with. These new rings, with modified instructions are already shipping with new orders. Additionally, FlisKits has contacted all customers who have purchased but not yet built their Deuce's Wild! kit and have shipped them a set of rings and instructions for use. We (FlisKits) have a very good product set, but not a "perfect" product set. Your help, feedback and suggestions go a long way toward helping us reach perfection. You talk, we listen and everybody benefits! Thank you!

C.T. (January 24, 2003)

I just finished building my Deuces Wild and wanted to add that this kit is a MUST HAVE for anyone's fleet. I was one of the first if not the first to use the new "Laser Cut" black fiber Centering Rings during construction and they were a dream to work with; it takes all the worry of cutting your own out of the picture...Well done FlisKits! I alos agree with the ease of construction that Doug has posted and the results are astounding. Mine will fly this weekend and I will post a report.

J.W.M. (May 6, 2003)

I got my Deuce in the mail on Sat and built it that nite! It has the new laser cut rings and went together like a dream! Painted on Sunday and I can't wait to fly it (raining and 40 M.P.H. winds today). I gotta a bulk pack-o-motors and a fresh charge on the launch batteries just waiting for the sun!!

D.A.S. (August 19, 2003)

After losing my beloved and much-launched Flea at a CMASS launch, I had the good fortune to purchase my second FlisKit, the Deuce's Wild, from Jim himself! This is definitely a "builder's" kit. The jewel-like quality of the components, and excellent instructions, make it a real kick to build. You can really sink your teeth into this one. It's no wonder this kit keeps getting rave reviews- they are well-deserved. It looks bad to the bone with those huge fins and dual motor mounts. I can't wait to get my Deuce to a big field and fly it. Keep up the good work, Jim and Brian!

S.E.O. (August 30, 2004)

Sent My DW up on it's maiden flight. The canted motors are very cool. This kit is definitely worth every penny!

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