LOC/Precision Big Nuke-3E

LOC/Precision - Big Nuke-3E

Contributed by Michael Schneider

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: LOC/Precision
(MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E

Brief:
This kit was modified sightly for level 3 certification flight with dual deployment with t' SkyAngle Cert-3 24" drogue t' pull t' SkyAngle Cert-3 main chute from t' deployment bag at 1,200 feet.

Construction:
This is one o' Barry Lynch's great kits with some up grades for M powered flights. Begad! T' kit includes:

  • 1 5.38" LOC BT paper tube, 45" long
  • 1 5.38" LOC BT paper tube, me hearties, 24" long
  • 1 5.38" LOC BT paper tube, 2" long for electronics bay section
  • 3 LOC G10 fins
  • 1 5.38L PNC LOC ogive nose cone
  • 1 LOC 3" MMT, me bucko, 28" long
  • 3 LOC 5.38" x 3.00" x .250" aircraft plywood centerin' rings
  • 3 1" tubular nylon shock cords
  • 1 60'for apogee
  • 1 30'for main
  • 1 2'cord from drouge t' main
  • All attachments are 4.25" stainless forged eyelets and 5/16" delta style quick links
(MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E T' instructions that came with t' kit were easy t' follow. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I did use a mill to set up t' cuts o' t' centerin' rings as I wanted t' make sure that 120 degrees at each cut was maintained for a sure and true alignment o' t' fins. With this type o' setup, arrr, I could make t' threaded rods used t' make sure the fin grooves were lined up as close as possible. Blimey! Ahoy! All centerin' rings fit in the body tubes were just right.

T' design o' t' fin mountin' was completed with help from Art Upton at BoosterVision. Well, blow me down! This is a fin can unit with three 1/4" all-thread rods that tie t' centerin' rings together as one strong unit.

(MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E

Finishing:
I used Aeropoxy for t' Aerosleeve glass with some Superfill epoxy filler that was purchased from Aircraft Spruce Specialty Company. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! This is also where I got the Aeropoxy resin. All instructions for t' products were very good and easy to use. After some filler and a few coats o' primer and sanding, a light coat followed by a heavy coat o' epoxy appliance paint be applied. Ya scallywag! There was no need t' do a clear coat as t' epoxy paint had a great shine t' it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' kit has a recommended motors o' J, shiver me timbers, K, matey, ya bilge rat, L, me bucko, and a few small M motors. Begad! With the added glass and stronger fin can type construction, matey, we felt that a Pro75 M1400 would give this rocket a big flight.

T' first test flight was on a Pro54 K530SS t' an altitude o' 2,400 feet. It was a straight flight and perfect main deployment at 1,200' for a very soft landing.

T' next flight be a Pro75 L800. Avast! Altitude be 7,388 feet along with deployment at 1,200 feet. Avast!

(MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E Finally. Begad! Blimey! t' big L3 cert flight was a Pro75 M1400. It roared off t' pad with attitude and great performance thanks t' a special thermalite igniter from Miller Motor Works.

SUCCESSFUL LEVEL 3 FLIGHT!

May 29, arrr, 2005
Tripoli Mid-Ohio Memorial Day Launch
Rocket - Modified LOC Nuke-3E
Weight - 19.7 lbs
Motor - Cesaroni M1400
Altitude 12,175 Feet

Recovery:
I did nay use t' stock shock cord in this rocket project as I felt that with this much power I did nay want t' take a chance, matey, so I used 1" tubular nylon instead. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 60 feet were used for t' drogue at apogee and 30 feet for the main chute. All motors were held in by t' 75mm Aero Pack retainer and it worked great each time.

T' two test flights were very slow decent at 20-23 fps and t' rocket with the M motor casin' be 29 fps. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Nay too bad for weighin' 31 lbs at liftoff! Blimey! No damage at all from all three flights.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

(MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E (MODS) LOC/Precision Big Nuke 3E

Summary:
Like all t' kits I have purchased from LOC, ya bilge rat, they all have t' same thing: the right clearance for t' centerin' rings, tubes, matey, and nose cones, me hearties, and are all great performin' kits.

T' only CONs about this kit is thar are no decals and I feel that all high power kits should have 9/16" or 1" tubular nylon in them.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • LOC/Precision Big Nuke-3E By Steve Naquin

    Brief: The Big Nuke-3E is one of the newer Loc/Precision kits designed by Barry Lynch. The clean styling and mach fin design of the Big Nuke-3E is based on the classic PK-4 Lil' Nuke featured in the 2" kit line. Construction: The kit is shipped in a large, well packed box with a label with the kit name and a picture of the kit pasted on the outside of the box. I'm sure the ...

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