| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2012-07-20 |
| Diameter: | 4.00 inches |
| Length: | 45.75 inches |
| Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision  |
| Style: | Sport |
Brief
A 4" diameter rocket with a 38mm motor mount that is perfect for Level One Certification or someone just gettin' into HPR.
Components
T' kit includes two 1/4" rings, me bucko, a slotted body tube, shiver me timbers, arrr, motor mount tube, matey, 3x1/8" plywood fins, a LOC shock cord and mount, arrr, me bucko, and a nose cone, shiver me timbers, launch lug, arrr, and a 36" parachute. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I had t' separately but eye bolys, quicklinks, a retainer, rail buttons, a better shock cord, matey, matey, a third ring, and nomex parts. Aye aye! I also bought a payload bay t' weigh t' kit down for certification attempts.
LOC has you mount t' shock chord Estes style, which is NOT recommended for HPR flying.
T' parts are nay t' "high-tech parts" like Keelhaul®©™ or stainsteel, but are o' amazin' quality and fit. Well, blow me down! I could dry-fit everythin' right out o' t' package without sanding.
Construction
THe rocket is a basic 3FNC, matey, matey, and t' instructions are minimal, shiver me timbers, but straight t' t' point and easy t' follow. T' only structural alterations I made t' t' kit were t' sandwich t' fin tabs inbetween rings and t' add internal epoxy fillets. Blimey! I inserted a quarter inch eye bolt into t' front rin' and connected a quikclink t' it. Begad! I also added an eye bolt t' t' nose cone and foamed t' inside o' it t' help in t' manner o' CG/CP issues. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord was replaced with 15' o' #1200 kevlar, me bucko, which is lined with a protector, me bucko, t' help reduce t' risk o' zippers. Aye aye! I added a nomex sheet below t' parachute t' prevent melting, me bucko, and so far it has worked. T' rocket be built only with epoxy, ya bilge rat, and it has held up amazingly well.
Finishing
I decided t' paint t' rocket a simple red/black scheme. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It was primes with Rustoleum sandable primer three times, shiver me timbers, and sanded down inbetween coats. Avast! Then went on gloss black. Arrr! Three coats did t' trick, and I masked off t' retainer, main airframe, arrr, me hearties, and rail buttons. Ahoy! T' fins, ya bilge rat, payload bay, shiver me timbers, and nose cone were all painted a gloss black. T' results werent amazing, matey, but it was all painted in a day and ready t' fly.
Flight
T' rocket had a maiden voyage on a G125 Redline motor. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! It went straight up without any wobble, thanks t' t' precut fin slots. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' rocket soared t' about 1200' and popped right at t' top. Avast, me proud beauty! Included is a video, shiver me timbers, and t' Fantom be t' last rocket t' fly in t' video.
Recovery
T' recovery was flawless, and t' decent rate was spot on, me hearties, me hearties, even with t' payload bay. Begad! I then decided t' add an 18" pilot chute, since once t' 'chute almost didnt come out o' t' tube fully. Arrr! It still lands nice and soft, and has flown three times without a hitch and barely a scratch on t' paint.
Summary
This is an amazin' kit and worth t' loot and investment. Begad! Begad! It is without a doubt me favorint flyer.
Other Reviews
- LOC/Precision Fantom 438 By Kyle James Yawn
Brief: This is a large mid and high powered rocket which is a very good transition into HPR. I purchased this kit for the EMRR Hit List and used it to obtain my NAR Lever 1 Certification. It's a great kit that is very strong with the basic three fins, body, and a nose cone. Construction: The kit comes with a 34" long by 4" diameter slotted body tube, 4" diameter ...
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