Brief:
T' followin' information be taken from T' Launch Pad's website: THE Launch PAD's Lance missile is a 1/8.48 mid-power scale design for your choice of either t' nuclear warhead armed version o' t' MGM-52 or t' conventional warhead missile which uses slightly smaller fins. Arrr! Blimey! At 28.75" in length its "D" powered liftoff used t' get it up and away in a hurry, and testin' has been completed t' certify this rocket for use with t' Aerotech "E" or "F" power!

Construction:
T' instructions are 3 pages long and are very detailed t' guide you through the construction and finishin' process. T' kit is packed in a long plastic bag with all t' components included. One very nice feature in t' kit are the cardboard templates for t' tail cone, nose shroud and wings. Aye aye! Avast! T' kit is easy to build but does offer some challenges durin' t' process. Aye aye! T' first challenge is makin' t' paper shroud for t' tail cone. Take your time in formin' the tail cone and you will be very pleased with t' results. Ya scallywag! T' wings are cut from balsa supplied with t' kit and are surfaced mounted. Begad! Again, take your time and you will be pleased with t' results. Aye aye! T' final challenge be t' paper nose cone extension. Avast! T' plastic nose cone is extended by usin' a paper shroud to form t' sharp point like t' real missile. Aye aye! I have found that makin' t' nose cone extension and fillin' t' seam betwixt t' nose cone and t' extension the be t' most difficult part o' buildin' t' Lance. Avast!

Finishing:
T' kit is highly detailed when finished. Aye aye! Blimey! Decals are nay included with t' kit. Detailin' instructions are very explicit and easy t' follow. Begad! Blimey! T' one detail feature I like t' most are t' rivets made by clippin' t' shafts from modeler's pins and usin' t' pinheads. Ahoy! Blimey! T' pinheads are glued t' t' kit using CA and look very much like rivets under t' paint! Blimey! I painted t' kit with Testors Flat Olive Drab. Avast! Blimey! I used 3/4" vinyl letters and pinstripin' for the white details. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew me Lance on Estes D12, Aerotech E-15 and Aerotech F24s. Blimey! Begad! T' D12 is great for small field flying. Aye aye! Recovery always seemed t' be close t' t' pad. Well, blow me down! T' E-15 was good in medium sized fields! T' kit is very light and a slight breeze will really push it down range. Ahoy! Aye aye!

I flew me Lance on an F24 at Whitakers, matey, shiver me timbers, NC and it was awesome! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It roared off the pad and flew out o' sight! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A large field and minimal wind are required if you want t' fly F's in t' Lance. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I use a Pratt Hobbies heatshield for wadding and I have had a 100% success rate for deployments. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' Nomex® has gotten dirty but continues t' perform its mission each and every time.

Motor retention is with an Estes-style clip! I learned t' hard way that you can't just use t' clip for an Aerotech reloadable motor. Begad! My first 24mm reloadable case blew out at apogee and is still lost t' this day. Begad! Since that flight, I have been usin' maskin' tape t' secure t' motor clip and motor together and have had good success!

My Lance flies very stable in flight and flies very straight even on the lower impulse Estes D12 motors.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is mounted t' t' inside o' t' body tube with a cardboard tab. If I were t' rebuild t' kit I would use a piece o' Keelhaul®©™® wrapped around the motor mount! T' Launch Pad designed motor mount has never failed but I still think that if I could do it all over again I would change t' shock cord mount design. T' shock cord is elastic and has a swivel attached t' t' end for attachin' t' parachute and nose cone. Ahoy!

T' parachute is highly reflective mylar. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' mylar is very light and very compact and fits well into t' parachute compartment. Blimey! Preparin' t' rocket for flight is easy and quick. Recovery is at a good decent rate and I have always recovered t' rocket intact. Begad! My last flight on this kit was with an Aerotech F24. Arrr! T' rocket survived t' flight but shows signs o' wear and tear! The inside o' t' tail cone was blackened by t' exhaust gases. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Launch Pad Lance MGM-52, and Launch Pad kits in general, me bucko, are great kits if you like buildin' mid-power scale military rockets. Pros: Quality o' the instructions sent with t' kit. Well, blow me down! Avast! Cons: Havin' t' form paper shrouds for t' tail cone and nose cone extension. Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

* SPECIAL NOTE off o' RMR from Chuck Barndt, President o' T' Launch Pad