Brief:
Loki's line o' 38mm reloadable motors. Cheapest o' t' 38mm reloadable options for both hardware and reloads. Begad! Currently, me hearties, only t' H144, ya bilge rat, I405, shiver me timbers, and J528 loads (Loki White propellant) are available for these motors, shiver me timbers, but more formulas and motor designations are comin' out soon. Arrr! Begad!

Construction:
Currently available be t' Loki 240, 480, and 740 motor. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Each motor comes with a quality case with external snap rin' (thrust ring), graphite nozzle, nozzle washer, forward bulkhead, me bucko, and snap rings. Aye aye! If you buy t' system package, you will get a forward closure for each motor. Avast! You don't have t' share t' closure.

A typical Loki reload comes with a spiral wound phenolic liner, matey, propellant grains, arrr, shiver me timbers, delay grain, arrr, two large O-rings, arrr, arrr, me bucko, six small O-rings, and a red cap (or vial) that contains 1.5 grams o' black powder. Blimey!

An interestin' thin' about t' Loki reloads be t' number o' grains in the reload kit. Arrr! T' H144 uses 4 ~30 gram slugs, ya bilge rat, and t' I405 (naturally) uses 8 ~30 gram slugs. Aye aye! T' J528 breaks t' trend, usin' six ~60 gram slugs. Well, blow me down! Loki's goal was t' create loads that can be shipped parcel post, so they made t' grains 30 grams. Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, interestin' things happened when t' motors got too large using the smaller slugs, matey, so this be nay an option with t' 740 motor. Begad!

Assemblin' t' Loki motor is very similar t' Kosdon and AMW motors. This be t' order that I build them. Well, blow me down! I start out by greasin' t' two large O-rings and placin' them in t' slot in t' nozzle and bulkhead. Begad! Of course it is important t' make sure you use t' correct nozzle for t' load you are using. Blimey! Begad! T' nozzle conveniently has a number scratched into t' side that corresponds t' t' reload instructions. Blimey! Set t' closures aside so they don't get dirty, damaged, matey, arrr, or lost.

Then it is time t' build t' delay column. Ahoy! Begad! Simply stack t' six smaller O-rings over t' delay element then place it on a flat surface and press the forward bulkhead onto it so t' delay grain goes into t' delay well. I then use a blunt tool t' push t' O-rings in all t' way.

Once this is done, you have t' option o' trimmin' t' delay. Blimey! It is a good idea t' use t' Loki-DAT tool for this. T' Pro38 DAT tool would work also. Leavin' t' delay grain untrimmed will yield a 17 second delay. Blimey! T' DAT tool will allow you t' trim it t' 13, arrr, 10, shiver me timbers, 8, or 5 seconds. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

Insert t' forward part o' t' nozzle into t' liner. Then stack in the propellant grains followed by t' aft end o' t' forward closure. Avast! Grease up the inside o' t' case, and t' liner tube. This will make t' next step easier, arrr, matey, and you will be thankful for t' grease when it comes time t' remove the spent components, matey, me bucko, trust me. Press t' assembly into t' motor case (nozzle should be at t' end with t' thrust ring) until t' nozzle is about a quarter inch from t' snap rin' slot. Arrr! Insert t' nozzle washer, followed by t' snap ring. Well, blow me down! Make sure t' snap rin' is in t' groove by lightly squeezin' t' pliers and rotatin' t' motor.

Turn t' motor over and press down on t' forward closure t' press the nozzle and washer onto t' snap ring. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Install t' final snap ring, makin' sure the snap rin' is in t' groove. Aye aye! Finish t' motor construction by installin' the ejection charge (if you want t' use it). T' forward closure gives you generous space for t' ejection charge, so pour in as much as you need. Avast! Then take some waddin' and place it on top o' t' charge. Well, blow me down! Then press on t' red cap t' hold everythin' in place. Aye aye! Blimey! T' waddin' is thar t' hold t' powder against t' delay column.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
To ignite t' motor, I used a Magnelite igniter with a single fold. Ignition is quick and t' motor produces a bright white flame and tons o' white smoke. Begad! Of the two motors I flown, t' I405 was me favorite! Blimey! I had t' pleasure t' see several I405 flights, and it has a loud and unique sound t' it! Blimey! After a launch of a Big Brute with one, arrr, arrr, Carl Tulanko asked me, "What was that?" I told him a Loki I405. Begad! Later on durin' t' day, I had me PML Aurora loaded with one and asked if he wanted t' come t' t' flight line and watch it fly. Avast! He said "No way! Blimey! That motor is scary." It's a very impressive motor. Begad! I only got t' see one J528 flight up close. Blimey! Blimey! If you like t' J350 and t' J570, me hearties, then you would love this motor! Blimey! Lots o' umph! Blimey!

Enjoy a video by clickin' HERE

Recovery:
Cleanin' o' t' Loki motor is identical t' that o' t' AMW and Kosdon motors. Remove t' snap rings, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and press on t' bulkhead t' press t' components out of the case. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Suggested tool t' use is a wooden dowel t' push out t' closure (or nozzle, if you t' use t' other end). Aye aye! If you are fortunate (and remembered to generously grease t' liner), everythin' should come out with minor effort. However, if t' rocket had an impact o' any kind, me bucko, one o' t' bulkheads would mash itself into t' liner, makin' removal a chore. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I used Baby wipes t' clean mine, which worked surprisingly well.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I am really pleased with t' Loki 38mm product. I mentioned that it is cheaper than other brands. Begad! Let's compare with this simple chart. Begad! Blimey! Prices are retail list and comparison is done with Aerotech White Lightning, ya bilge rat, arrr, Pro38 standard, ya bilge rat, and Loki loads.

^** - Pro38 motor hardware is just a tube. Arrr! Ahoy! There is no closures. In a sense, Pro38 motors are disposable motors that are held together by the case. Ahoy! Well, blow me down!

Another interestin' comparison be t' total impulse o' t' loads for the cases and how much they cost t' fly per total impulse. Begad! Ya scallywag! This comparison based off data from t' NAR/TRA/CAR combined list. Ya scallywag! All numbers have been rounded to nearest whole cent. Aye aye!

In t' near future, shiver me timbers, Loki will be offerin' new loads for their motors. Begad! Blimey! If you like fast burning, ya bilge rat, "kick 'em in t' butt" loads, me bucko, then you will enjoy their Blue Formula which will debut with a H294, shiver me timbers, I605, arrr, and me soon t' be favorite, me hearties, me hearties, J1001! Blimey! Also in t' works are two moon burnin' loads that utilize their White formula. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I can't wait t' try out their I124 and J192 loads! Blimey! Those loads have close t' a 4 second burn!

What I would like t' see in Loki's 38mm line is a 360 and 600 motor. Begad! Blimey! I can imagine a 360 load priced at around $24.99 and a 600 load bein' a reasonable $34.99. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! I would also love t' see Black and Spark loads introduced too. I would have t' problem decidin' which loads t' buy! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5