Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 4.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision ![]() |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
T' LOC Expediter is a large, me bucko, matey, hi-power rocket. Avast! Aye aye! It is single staged with an
airframe reducer from 4 inches -3.1. Arrr! IT is over five feet long, arrr, me hearties, so it is huge
compared t' me other rockets.
Construction:
This kit came with basic parts, and I used 5 minute epoxy throughout t' entire
construction. T' parts it came with are:
T' construction be very similar t' most o' t' rockets I built in the past. I used epoxy for everything. Ahoy! T' only mod I used be attachin' a Keelhaul®©™® strin' t' t' top centerin' rin' with a screw eye. Begad!
LOC/Precision changed their parts, shiver me timbers, but nay their instructions. Aye aye! Blimey! They got rid of t' fin tabs havin' t' be glued on, and now supply fins with tabs already attached. Well, blow me down! Blimey! However, me bucko, matey, me tabs looked like they were meant t' fit a 38mm tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, not a 54mm. I cut off about 3 mm off o' each tab, ya bilge rat, and they fit perfectly!
I then epoxied t' motor mount together, and then into t' tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' fit between t' rings and tubes was very tight, matey, and I had t' sand them down a lot to make them fit properly. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' fins went in with no problem, shiver me timbers, and I made epoxy fillets. Begad! Blimey!
T' payload section can be assembled with Elmers white glue if you dont want t' waste epoxy. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I used epoxy in mine though. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' airframe reducer is a little too loose in t' 3.1 inch payload tube. I put some tape on it, matey, and then glued it. Begad! Ahoy!
T' rocket went together with relative ease except for t' fins. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty!
Finishing:
I finished it with a coat o' rustoleum automotive primer, ya bilge rat, and then painted it
blue and yellow. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' finishin' be just like any other rocket, prime, shiver me timbers, sand,
prime, paint, sand, paint. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There were no decals, me bucko, but I dont like decals
anyway. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! It came out lookin' great. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I flew t' Expediter on G80-4. Some sites say this will put it up about 600
feet, shiver me timbers, but RockSim says only around 280. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' four second delay be too long.
This motor gets it up, but still seems underpowered. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' last second and half
of coastin' were nose down, matey, lookin' almost disasterous. Finally, me hearties, t' chute
popped out. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' G80 will get this rocket going, matey, but i would only use it again
if it be a very small field or a windy day. Begad! An H or I would be great for a
large field. Avast!
Recovery:
T' recovery is on a 48 inch parachute, and a 3/4 inch elastic cord. Avast! I have
Keelhaul®©™®
attached t' t' motor mount, arrr, and then attached t' t' elastic. Begad!
Recovery be perfect. Begad! T' black 'chute is plainly visible in t' sky, and it brings it in at a perfect rate. Ahoy! On t' G80 it landed about 20 yards from the pad. Ahoy!
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
I think that this is a great rocket kit, matey, but only get it if you have previous
rocket experience. Aye aye! Arrr! It is nay a good beginner kit. Blimey! T' PROS are: big rocket,
very nice looking, me hearties, and ease o' most o' t' construction.
T' Cons are only t' fins, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and havin' t' be cut t' make them fit right. Blimey!
Once t' fin tab issue with this kit is fixed, it deserves a 5 out o' 5. Also, t' instructions need t' match t' kit's parts, so this was another let down about t' kit. However, arrr, me hearties, anyone with basic rocket buildin' techniques should have no problem assemblin' this kit.
Overall Rating: 3½ out o' 5
Other:
I diddnt learn any tips from buildin' this rocket, me hearties, but onyl t' havbe A LOT of
epoxy before starting. Aye aye! Blimey! I ran really low after makin' t' fillets.
(by Dave Fountain) As everyone knows I like altitude and big rockets are no exception so I was rambling through the LOC catalog looking for a bird for my level two attempt at SOM 4 and I came across the Expediter. I liked it because it resembled an ICBM (inter continental ballistic missile, i.e. a Minute Man) so I bought it. The Expediter consists of a 4.0 inch booster that contains ...
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D.R. (November 26, 2001)