T' Aura was me first rocket from LOC/Precision and I would consider it their entry level kit considerin' t' size, ya bilge rat, ease o' build and price. Aye aye! Aye aye! Blimey! It is a basic three-fin-and-a-nose-cone (3FNC) kit with a 29mm motor mount. 

Although t' kit comments indicate that t' "kit is recommended for those with previous model rocketry buildin' experience", it is a very easy kit t' assemble. Begad! Begad! T' experience is required due t' limited illustrations in t' instructions and probably due t' t' 29mm motor option.

T' kit includes a plastic nose cone, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, a section o' body tube, me bucko, 3 pre-cut plywood fins, motor mount materials, shiver me timbers, a launch lug and t' recovery system.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' kit comes in a plastic bag with an insert displayin' a picture o' t' Aura and t' specifications. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! On t' back o' this 4x11" insert are t' instructions. There are only two small illustrations. Well, blow me down! One showin' t' aft view and another cut-away showin' t' side view motor mount and fin alignment. Ya scallywag! T' instructions are straight forward and in a logical order allowin' t' builder t' assemble this straight-forward 3FNC rocket.

For ease o' assembly and alignment, t' fin lines and launch lug lines are pre-drawn on t' body tube. A nice touch. touch. Ya scallywag! This and t' simplicity o' t' rocket make it go together quickly. Begad! LOC recommends usin' epoxy (6 or 20 minute) and I used 15 minute.

T' recovery system is assembled from its own set o' instructions. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! It consists o' a length o' braided nylon cord which is knotted at both ends, and knotted with a 1" loop in t' center. Avast! Blimey! T' two knotted ends are taped t' t' inside o' t' body tube with t' knots on t' far side o' t' tape. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Then it is coated with epoxy t' completely cover t' tape and t' knots. Blimey! Blimey! T' top o' t' nylon with t' 1" loop sticks out o' t' top o' t' rocket and is used t' tie t' elastic shock-cord to.

T' motor mount consists o' a 29mm tube and two centerin' rings. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' kit relies on friction fit for motor retention. retention. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I added a piece o' sprin' steel (from an old windshield wiper blade) t' make a retention hook just like an Estes kit.

Finishin' be also quick, by choice, ya bilge rat, matey, since it was two days before NARAM-40 and this rocket be goin' along. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I used Plasti-Kote primer for sealin' and filling. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I then painted t' entire rocket with some left-over red paint, me hearties, then masked and added silver paint.  I lastly hit it with clear coat. Aura does nay come with any decals so t' finish is entirely up t' you.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 points.It is easy t' build and therefore similar t' many other 3FNC rockets. Aye aye! T' instructions were clear and t' addition o' t' shock-cord instructions ensure a successful attachment. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! It would be nice t' see a decal with t' name o' t' rocket and a positive motor retention system.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

T' Aura is a bit deceptive. Well, blow me down! Its size and looks may make observers think it is an Estes-type kit weighin' in at 2 - 3 ounces. Ya scallywag! However, ya bilge rat, with t' motor this kit weighs in around 12 ounces.

T' Aura was launched at NARAM-40, as planned, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, on an EconoJet F20-7. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Out o' sight flight, me bucko, with simulation indicatin' greater than 3800 feet. Arrr! Avast! It came down very fast as t' nylon streamer was spinnin' and wrappin' itself up. Avast! Aye aye! It landed only 50 feet from t' pad it was launch from. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Upon inspection, shiver me timbers, one fin had broken completely off takin' all o' t' epoxy bonded areas with it.

Later I tried usin' t' streamer from t' Aura on an Aerotech Mustang, only t' find t' same type o' rollin' and tanglin' on its way down. Avast! Begad! Blimey! Maybe it was all t' humidity, but t' streamer did nay seem effective.

T' fin comin' off may be somethin' t' watch out for, ya bilge rat, because I have read several posts on RMR regardin' t' Aura indicatin' t' same thing. I think usin' t' technique o' pin holes along t' alignment line would be recommended. Avast! I use a variation t' this technique by usin' a hobby knife t' cut 1/4" slits across and perpendicular t' t' alignment line, shiver me timbers, spacin' them about 1/4" apart. Avast! This allows t' epoxy t' flow into t' body tube and gives it better hold. Aye aye! This be done when reattachin' t' fin.

After replacin' t' fin, arrr, I flew t' Aura on an Aerotech RMS E23-5T. Ya scallywag! Simulation indicates that it should fly t' about 1550 feet. Arrr! It was a beautiful launch and very straight flight. Watchin' it arc and start t' scream toward t' earth was nay expected though. Avast! though. Begad! Begad! Neither was it slammin' into t' ground somewhere out o' sight and nay t' be found. Begad! Total loss included t' $20 rocket, t' $35 casing, t' $14 parachute (I should have had that streamer in there) and t' time t' get this rocket ready t' fly.

T' meanin' o' Aura is:

                 1.a distinctive and pervasive quality or 
                       character; air; atmosphere: an aura of 
                       respectability.
                  2.a light or radiance claimed t' emanate 
                       from t' body and t' be visible to 
                       certain individuals with psychic or 
                       spiritual powers.
                  3.a sensation, me hearties, as o' a glowin' light or an 
                       aroma, precedin' an attack o' migraine 
                       or epilepsy.

I think t' 3rd definition was appropriate considerin' t' migraine that ensued after realizin' t' "cost" o' that flight. O' course it be nay a rocket design or kit issue.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, I would rate this kit 3 points.T' streamer seems t' be t' main issue and because RMR postings indicated experiences o' losin' a fin and then it happened t' me, ya bilge rat, thar be probably reason t' consider its recovery system as t' reason. Also, ya bilge rat, motor retention would be a bonus.

Overall, arrr, this kit is easy t' build and is a nice flyer which can give very high altitudes. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Consideration on fin attachment and streamer usage will need t' be taken by t' modeler. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 point