Jarrett Dorough's Nuke Pro Maxx
Manufacturer:LOC/Precision

I chose t' Nuke Pro Maxx because o' it’s versatility. With it’s 38mm it allowed for flights from G’s t' J’s. Shortly after I got t' kit I decided if I wanted t' fly anythin' larger than H power it might be best t' modify it for dual deploy. Begad! Nay havin' built a dual deploy rocket I had a little bit o' a learnin' curve. Arrr! It turned out that t' mod was relatively easy. All I needed t' purchase be a LOC 2.14” tube coupler stiffener and a pair o' 2.14” bulkheads. Begad! These pieces would be used t' convert t' kit included coupler t' an av-bay. Begad! T' other items I needed t' finish t' mod was an altimeter and charge wells. Begad! I chose t' PerfectFlight StratoLogger and charge wells from Blastcap Rocketry. Avast, me proud beauty! T' round out t' build I went with a Classic Slimline 38mm motor retainer and a 5 grain CTI 38mm case. 

 

As t' build be in progress, it started t' look like I might actually use t' rocket for a level 2 attempt so I spent extra attention in buildin' it strong and straight. Ahoy! T' build was straight forward so no pictures were taken. Arrr! In each o' me builds I try t' add a new skill or step that t' previous rocket did nay have. This time I added chopped carbon fiber t' t' epoxy used t' glue t' fins t' t' motor tube. Ahoy! This would create strong internal fillets in hopes o' standin' up t' mach+ flights. Begad! I glued each fin on at a time carefully alignin' them in a jig. Begad! Once they were all on I added fillets at t' fin/body tube joint. Well, blow me down! This combined with t' short span o' t' fins resulted in a very stiff aft end. After applyin' a couple coats o' sandin' sealer it be time for paint. Aye aye! I went with a simple all red scheme for simplicity. 

 

It’s first flight was at t' 2012 NERRF in Pine Island NY. Ahoy! Blimey! After preppin' t' rocket for it’s first flight I loaded a CTI G60 Red and carried it out t' t' pad. After a short wait it was me turn. My rocket leaped off t' pad with authority. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It’s first flight was picture perfect. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It went straight up with a perfect apogee separation and at t' set 700’, t' main popped out t' gently set it down. I was surprised at t' altitude it achieved on t' small G, t' altimeter beeped out 1722’.

 

Next it was time t' go for t' level 2 flight. After preppin' t' rocket again, I loaded a 5 grain CTI J335 Red. T' size o' this motor be a major jump up from t' motors I have been flying. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I knew this flight would be over a mile high so I installed a borrowed tracker and installed it on t' apogee shock cord. As it turned out, this be t' key t' a successful flight. Aye aye! Blimey! T' rocket ripped off t' pad and climbed straight up. At apogee, ya bilge rat, t' trackin' smoke was seen but nothin' after that. After about a minute or so o' starin' at t' sky, nobody was able t' spot t' rocket so it was time t' pull out t' tracker. Ahoy! Blimey! T' tracker picked up a faint signal that turned out t' be transmittin' from over two miles away. After t' long hike, t' rocket was recovered in perfect condition and t' smile be still plastered on me face after t' the long hike back t' t' pits. I knew t' flight would be high and fast but I wasn’t prepared for t' numbers t' altimeter spit out. Begad! Blimey! T' Nuke reached an altitude o' 7,736’ at just over a 1000 miles an hour. I had successfully completed me level 2 flight almost a mile and a half high and over mach 1.3! Blimey! Nay bilge-suckin' for a cardboard tube and a bit o' plywood. 

 

I want t' thank LOC precision for makin' a wonderful and affordable kit that is capable o' flyin' on a wide range o' motors. Arrr! A huge thanks goes out t' Rick Comshaw for his advice, tracker and sharin' t' long walk t' help retrieve me rocket. 



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