This rocket is offered as a free download from the FlisKits web site. Instructions needed to assemble the model rocket are also available at no charge. The files are in .pdf format and are easy to print out. If you don't have access to a color printer, blank patterns are available also. Those can be printed black and color can be added to the model rocket later. The rocket has a triangular body tube and is made almost entirely from paper (card stock). This makes it very lightweight, it moves around the launch rod quite a bit, even with a modest breeze. Considering the Nebula model rocket is free, it obviously looks great. Looking at the image, it's hard to say if this is a regular rocket built from a kit or a free download.

Parts List

Below is a list of the items you'll need as part of construction of the free Nebula model rocket.

- 60 to 110 lb card stock
- 15" Kevlar
- 12" elastic shock cord
- 3 toothpicks
- clay weight (modeling clay)
- 12" streamer material

Building supplies needed include hobby knife, metal ruler, pencil, scotch tape, and glue.

Construction

There are three full pages of detailed instructions, complete with illustrations. For a free rocket, FlisKits provides very high quality instructions.

Start by printing out the .pdf file that you downloaded on 60 to 110 lb. card stock. Don't forget to cut out the motor mound which is located on the 3rd page of the instructions. Print this page on card stock too. Cut out the various sections with a sharp hobby knife. Use a metal rules to guide your knife to get straight cuts.

During construction, you'll gently run a hobby knife across some of the lines on the pattern. This is done on the back side (non-printed) of the card stock. There are no lines on that side, to ensure you make the crease in the correct spot, hold the card stock up to light. You'll see the lines and can draw them on the back side of the card stock with a pencil.

Assemble the various parts, as shown in the image on the right. From left to right, there's the fins, nose cone, motor mount and launch lug. The body tube (with Kevlar thread) is on the bottom. Glue the motor mount into the body tube and fill the empty space with glue and paper tissue.

Glue the fins and launch lug to the airframe tube. The three toothpicks are glued to the inside of the fin corners to add strength to the fins. Glue the elastic shock cord into the nose cone and join the Kevlar and elastic shock cords. Attach the streamer to the shock cord.

Lastly, you'll need to add weight to the nose cone. This is done to bring the center of gravity to the correct location. The instructions provide you with required details.

Finishing

For this review, I downloaded the pre-printed rocket pattern. However, a blank pattern is available, which lets you finish the Nebula rocket as you see fit.

Measurements

The free Nebula paper rocket is 13" long, has a diameter of 0.978" with a fin span of 1". It weighs 0.6 oz (including streamer and recovery wadding, no engine).

Flight Data

Recommended motors for use with this free model rocket are : 1/4A3-3T, 1/2A3-4T and A10-3T. The instructions don't seem to mention recovery wadding. I added three sheets, to be on the safe side.

Launched on an A10-3T. This rocket wasn't stable at all, it was trashing around in circles. Will read the instructions on adding nose weight again to ensure that was done correctly. It needs more nose weight.