Brief:
LOC's Minie-Magg is a single-staged HP rocket popular with many fliers. Ahoy! Its stubby profile combined with a basic build make it a fun flier for larger motors, matey, ya bilge rat, as well as smaller H motors for a lesser field.

Construction:
T' parts were contained in a durable plastic bag. Ya scallywag! T' inventory o' parts are as follows:

• 1 nosecone, plastic
• 1 kraft paper airframe 5.54" diameter (fin slots pre-cut)
• 1 kraft paper 38mm motor tube
• 2 birch ply centerin' rings
• 3 birch ply fins
• 1 elastic shock cord
• 1 braided nylon shock cord mount
• 1 nylon parachute (mine is bright orange)
• 1 launch lug (1/2" diameter)

I felt t' components t' be a fine quality, arrr, and found no warpin' o' t' fins.

Outside o' t' Minie Magg's size, it is a basic build. Blimey! I used 15 minute epoxy for t' assembly and 30 minute on fillets. Ahoy! Begad! T' instructions are simple t' follow and are included on t' back-side o' t' info/picture card. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I would speculate that a person should have no problems assemblin' this rocket from t' instructions LOC supplies.

All t' parts fit together well and required minimal, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, if any sanding. Ahoy! Begad! I decided t' deviate slightly from t' instructions, though, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, in order t' add a few things t' improve t' longevity o' me Minie-Magg. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' supplied shock cord mount is epoxied on t' inside side o' t' airframe, ya bilge rat, and uses elastic for shock cord material. I did nay feel confident usin' this arrangement, arrr, so I put an eyebolt in t' forward centerin' rin' t' anchor t' shock cord. Avast! I also opted t' use 20' o' tubular nylon in lieu o' t' elastic. Attachin' t' cord t' t' eyebolt was done via quick link. Begad! I also felt t' plastic eyelet on t' nosecone would prove weak on this larger rocket. Blimey! T' remedy this, I drilled a 1/2 hole in t' base o' t' nosecone, matey, passed me shockcord through it, and passed it back through t' hole pre-existin' at t' bottom center o' t' nosecone. Begad! Thus far, it has held up well.

Another minor "CON" t' this rocket be t' fins do nay go all t' way t' t' motor tube. Arrr! Blimey! T' make amends, matey, I decided t' keep t' aft centerin' rin' off until after I put t' fins on. Aye aye! Blimey! On t' inside o' t' airframe where t' fin tabs came barely through, shiver me timbers, I put 2 inch wide fiberglass bandaids t' length o' t' fin root.

Lastly, I added t-nut & brass strip Kaplow-style motor retention before addin' t' aft centerin' ring.

As for building, here are me thoughts: PROS 1. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Quality o' airframe, wood components, and nosecone. 2. Exceptional fittin' o' parts. Begad! Well, blow me down! 3. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Simplicity o' build/instructions, even if built "stock."

CONS 1. Begad! Shock cord attachment and shock cord material. Ahoy! 2. Begad! Fins are nay t' t' motor tube. Ahoy! Aye aye! 3. Lack o' motor retention, shiver me timbers, which is fairly common in mid-power and HP rockets.

Finishing:
T' finish off me Minie-Magg, me bucko, I filled t' tube spirals with 3M Spot Putty. Ahoy! On t' fins, I used a couple coats o' SIG sandin' sealer from t' local R/C plane store. Well, blow me down! After sandin' things smooth, ya bilge rat, I employed two light coats o' white Krylon primer, sandin' betwixt coats. Ahoy! For me color coat, I chose Glossy Krylon Grape. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I chose this color in honor o' me friends' daughter, arrr, me bucko, whose name is Violet and likes rockets.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep for this rocket is easy. Ya scallywag! It's wide enough t' fit all recovery items with no hassle. Instead o' t' large amount o' waddin' t' Minie Magg would require, me hearties, a 18"x18" piece o' Top Flight Nomex was used. Arrr! I also added one o' their Nomex sleeves for good measure. Arrr! T' LOC catalog notes that one could fly this rocket with a G80 SU motor.

T' maiden flight o' me Minie-Magg was at Black Rock XII in Nevada. Ya scallywag! I chose an I161 medium for t' ice breaker. Ya scallywag! It was a good choice and recovery happened without a hitch. Ya scallywag! At this point, me bucko, I've gone as large as an I211. All flights have been arrow straight, and exceptional "rock & roll" motors for this rocket seem t' be t' I300, me hearties, I357, and o' course, t' I211. Arrr! For good measure, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me breakdown o' motors used in t' Minie-Magg are thus:

• H123
• H242
• I161
• I300
• I357
• I211

I've had only one incident when t' fin popped loose. Avast, me proud beauty! In light o' that, I would rate t' Minie-Magg's flyin' and prep at a top notch 5.

Recovery:
No cons regardin' flight recovery after swappin' out t' shock cord and usin' a different anchorin' system. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Pros: Stock 'chute seems adequate.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I'm quite pleased with this rocket. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! In me opinion, shiver me timbers, it only needs a couple o' things added t' improve it: Shock cord and shock cord attachment. Well, blow me down! Avast! Also fin root strengthenin' is probably a good idea. Even if built stock, me hearties, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' parts are outstandin' in their fit and quality, and t' build is straightforward. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Overall, it's a fun flier. Arrr! Arrr! I'm constantly amazed at how many Minie-Magg's I see at launches. Avast! Begad! I believe it's a fine L1 rocket on t' H123, also.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5