Diameter: | 3.10 inches |
Length: | 55.25 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision |
Style: | Scale |
Brief:
T' LOC/Precision Iris is a 3" diameter single stage rocket. Well, blow me down! Avast! It can be built as 1/4 size sport scale Iris rocket. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Recovery is via a 36" parachute. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I modified it t' use electronics for dual deployment.
Modifications:
I built everythin' stock except for t' deployment/recovery method. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I converted t' coupler t' an electronics bay. Arrr! Blimey! I built this by addin' another bulk plate assembly and a coupler tube stiffener, also purchased from LOC. Ya scallywag! I cut t' stiffener down so that each end be recessed 1/4" from t' edge. Aye aye! This allowed room for t' bulk plates t' fit in. Ya scallywag! I drilled two matchin' holes in each bulk plate for #10-20 threaded rod t' go through. I put win' nuts on t' ends o' t' threaded rod t' pull t' bulk plates tight against t' stiffener tube. T' electronics sled had a 1/4" tube glued t' it that slid onto one o' t' pieces o' threaded rod. Begad! Well, blow me down! Blimey! (I should have made it go over both pieces though.) I cut a 3/4" piece o' body tube and glued it in t' middle o' t' coupler. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! This allowed me t' permanently mount t' armin' switch, which from Newton's 3rd Rocketry. Ahoy! Blimey! It was also a good place for t' static port hole. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This e-bay design, me hearties, me hearties, usin' t' included coupler had plenty o' room for me Perfectflite HiAlt45K.
I used some tubular nylon that I already had for both sections. Well, blow me down! T' lower half attached t' a 1/4" eye-bolt screwed into t' motor's forward closure.
Construction:
T' box contained 2 sections o' 3" diameter body tube. Aye aye! One o' them was pre-slotted. Aye aye! There were two 1/8" 5-ply centerin' rings, matey, and four 1/8" 5-ply fins. Ahoy! Begad! T' rest o' t' parts included a 38mm motor mount tube, elastic shock cord, shiver me timbers, 36" parachute, ya bilge rat, plastic nose cone, 3" tube coupler, and a bulk plate assembly.
Finishing:
I didn't put much effort into finishing. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' decals that came with it appeared t' be homemade and sprayed with clear coat. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I decided nay t' use them and originally planned t' paint it close t' one o' t' paint schemes o' t' real Iris. I didn't do any finishin' work on t' tubes or fins other than a little sanding. Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I applied two coats o' white primer and two coats o' white gloss paint. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This was all I could get done before t' launch. Arrr! Blimey! I had planned t' do more later.
Flight:
Both flights were fast and straight. Ya scallywag! Each flight be was powered by a J motor usin' DPS SRB propellant. T' first flight reached an altitude o' 4212 feet. Ahoy! T' rocket was destroyed on t' second flight.
Recovery:
Recovery for t' first flight was perfect. At apogee t' first charge fired, arrr, arrr, separatin' t' two main sections which were tethered by 25 feet o' tubular nylon. Aye aye! T' second charge ejected t' parachute at 400 feet.
T' second flight suffered a failure o' some sort in t' electronics. Ya scallywag! Begad! I think it was more me failure in how I mounted t' electronics and nay t' manufacturer. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Neither charge fired, matey, and I suspect thar was a power disconnect. Aye aye! I was careless in how I mounted t' battery and think it might have come loose or jarred t' altimeter. Begad! I also should have mounted t' sled over both pieces o' threaded rod t' keep it from rotating. Arrr! I had added some foam underneath t' sled but don't think it helped much. Almost everythin' was destroyed when it hit t' ground. Begad! T' parachute, motor hardware and fins were OK. Avast! T' rest o' t' rocket was unrepairable as well as t' altimeter and Beeline transmitter.
Summary:
PROs: I think t' LOC/Precision Isis is a great rocket. Ahoy! I would like t' build another one some day. Ya scallywag! T' parts were extremely good quality. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' instructions were easy t' follow. Avast, me proud beauty! It flew great. Ya scallywag! Also, me bucko, because o' t' dimensions, I had t' option t' make a sport-scale Iris.
CONs: T' only issue I found be t' pre-made slots did nay appear t' be perfectly spaced from one another. Aye aye! I was able t' work around this.
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Rick Reid (November 24, 2014)
I've drawn up some plans to make a scratch build version of a Russian missile. It'll be a base rocket built using some IRIS parts (or similar) then with the purchase of some centering rings, 4 inch tube, and a 16.6 nose it'll grow about 2.5 more feet. Maybe if all goes well I'll post up some building shots and some b4/after flight shots.