The Edmonds Cici is a boost glider. It ejects the motor during flight, prior to starting its glide down. Keep looking up as you launch so you can see where the motor comes down. Don't get hit by it. This beginner's model can be launched of a variety of rocket motors. Only eight pieces to assemble and the only hobby supply needed is glue.

Parts List

All you'll need in addition to the kit itself is glue. White glue (like Elmer's) or hobby wood glue will work.

- balsa nose cone
- motor tube
- balsa canard, wing and fins
- balsa fuselage
- launch lug
- instructions with illustrations

The balsa canard, wing, fins and fuselage are all laser-cut, no cutting is required.

Construction

All instructions are on one side of a single sheet of paper. Illustrations are included to make assembly very easy. The pre-cut balsa pieces (eight total) fit together easily.

This model rocket kit is extremely easy to build. Highly recommended as a first glider or for younger rocketeers.

To build it, you'll glue the nose cone to the motor tube. Next, all the balsa pieces are glued together (and the motor tube with nose cone). Once the glue dries, the launch lug is glued into place. Wait for that last bit of glue to dry and the glider is ready for launch.

Measurements

With a wingspan of 8", the glider is nearly 13" long (measured from tip of nose cone to bottom of fuselage).

Finishing

The instruction sheet doesn't mention finishing at all. The face card shows the boost glider heading up without any paint. To avoid affecting its flight capabilities, the model used for review wasn't painted.

Flight Data

The Cici Edmonds glider is best used with the following rocket motors : A8-3, B4-4, C6-5. When preparing for launch, make sure the controller's wires won't snag the plane.

When launced with a B4-4, the glider shot up and starting its arc. The motor ejected and it started to glide. As it didn't reach high of an altitude (perhaps due to mild wind), there wasn't too much of a glide. It was, however, enjoyable to watch. Using an A8-3, the glider didn't seem to get lifted high enough to glide at all. Same scenario as on the first B4-4 launch, with even less altitude. Launched on a B4-4 again, it went up a mere 20 feet and flew horizontal at great speed, away from the launch rod.

Then, it took a sharp turn and hit a pile of nearby rocks, nose first. The ejection charge fired right before the glider hit the rocks, which gave it even more speed. As you can see in the image, part of the nose cone is missing and the nose cone itself is cracked. A fin from one of the wings also went missing.