FlisKits Midnight Express Assembly Instructions

Engineering Directive
From: From:
From: From:
Vehicle(s): Vehicle(s): Vehicle(s): Vehicle(s):
Effective Date: Effective Date: Effective Date: Effective Date:
Chief Ordinance Engineer
Effective immediately, the attached procedures will be used in
the assembly and deployment of Launch Vehicle FRE01,
known as "Midnight Express".
Recommended Motors: A6-4, A8-3, B6-4, C6-5
Flying Model Rocket
Assembly Instructions
The Midnight Express model rocket kit is a FREE download kit available from FlisKits, Inc.
These instructions, and available pattern sheets are copyright 2003, FlisKits, Inc. and can not
be reproduced in any way, by any means, electronic or otherwise without the expressed
written permission of FlisKits, Inc.
The Midnight Express will provide you with hours of building and
flying fun while showing that very non-conventional materials can be
used to build a very conventional looking model rocket. Other than the
recovery device (Shock Cord and Streamer), there are NO standard
model rocket materials used in this kit. The entire model (body tube,
fins, launch lug and nose cone) is made entirely from a single sheet of
card stock!
The Midnight Express will show you techniques that you can apply to
other models, both kits and scratch built models. You will learn how to
fabricate tubes, cones and fins, each with surprising strength, from
very simple and readily available materials.
One set of patterns comes pre-printed with the Midnight Express
artwork. A second pattern sheet is available that has just the outline of
all of the parts needed for this model. You are encouraged to use your
imagination and decorate this model in any way you choose! You may
wish to color/decorate this other kit before assembly, as you may find it
easier to do so while the parts are flat (something you can't do with
conventional model rocketry materials!) You can use paints, markers,
pencils and even crayons to get just the look you want for your paper
model rocket!
To construct your Midnight Express, you will need the following:
Pencil, razor knife, white glue, 1/8" dowel (for shaping launch lug),
short length of BT-5 body tube or other narrow tube, 3-4 expended
engine casings (for shaping the body tube), patience and your
imagination! You will also need the following components to add to
these patterns, to complete this FREE kit:
12" – 18" Shock Cord material
o
12" Cotton Button Thread
o
Masking Tape or tape disk
o
18" Crepe Paper Streamer
o
Clay Weight or other nose weight material
o
 2003, FlisKits, Inc., All rights reserved
Office of Chief Engineer
FRE01
26-March-2002
Chief Deployment Engineer
Please read these instructions through, to become familiar with each
step, before beginning construction. You must go to
and go to the Products section to obtain the pattern sheets for the
Midnight Express (Under Sport rockets)
1. Referring to Figure 1, use a straight edge and razor knife to cut
out the Body Tube from the provided pattern.
Figure 1
2. Resting the pattern on your fingers, print side down, press and roll
the body tube, with the unprinted side against a table edge, as
shown in Figure 2. This will cause the paper to begin to curl in
the direction needed for assembly.
Figure 2
3. Tightly roll the Body Tube until it is narrow enough to fit INSIDE a
narrow tube (like a BT-5 body tube). Place this inside the narrow
tube, as shown in Figure 3, and set aside. This will help it to
retain its shape as you go on to the next few steps.
Figure 3
4. Using your razor knife cut out the Nose Cone. (NOTE: Take your
time while working the Nose Cone into shape for gluing. A
second Nose Cone is provided should the first one not come out
right) Referring to Figure 4, set the curl in the nose cone, with the
edge of a table, as you did for the Body Tube. After the curl has
begun, continue rolling the Nose Cone between your fingers,
bringing the edges together, until the Nose Cone can hold its
shape.
Midnight Express Instruction Sheet: FK-INS-FRE01
http://fliskits.com/