LOC Graduator review is provided courtesy of:

This rocket is a popular LOC kit for people new t' composite motors. Begad! I liked t' looks o' t' rocket and was in need for a new kit in that power range (D-G). Begad! Begad! T' Graduator came promptly and packed well, however, shiver me timbers, t' shippin' company had still managed t' kink t' body tube. I contacted Barry, t' new owner o' LOC, and he shipped out another tube without question that also arrived on me doorstep in a timely fashion. 

Now that all t' parts were here it be time t' build! After test fittin' t' parts (which were all snug fits) and lookin' over t' instructions (one-sided/brief), shiver me timbers, I decided t' bevel t' edges o' t' plywood fins. Blimey! Begad! I swept each side o' t' fin’s edges through a grinder too create a nice bevel with minimal work. Blimey! I lightly sanded them t' remove any imperfections from t' grinder. Begad! Begad! Next came t' motor mount assembly. This consists o' 2 centerin' rings, arrr, a 29mm tube, me hearties, a baffle, and 24/29 motor adapter. Ahoy! I attached t' centerin' rings with 15min epoxy after they’d been lightly sanded. I opted t' nay epoxy in t' baffle unit since I plan t' use some longer 29mm motors and t' baffle might prevent them from bein' inserted. Begad! However, me hearties, this is a nice addition t' t' kit that is nay usually seen in similar kits by other manufactures. Begad! Next, t' motor mount was slid into t' tube and secured by 15min epoxy. This rocket be goin' t' be t' testbed for a fillet technique that I’d read about. Blimey! Arrr! After t' motor mount be dry I popped one fin into t' slot and dammed up t' forward and aft end o' t' fin root with maskin' tape and wood. Aye aye! Arrr! T' rocket is placed at a 5 degree angle (nose end down) and t' fin should be at approximately a 45 degree angle with t' floor. Blimey! Begad! I then mixed up a small (one pump) batch o' West Systems epoxy (105/206). Avast, me proud beauty! T' epoxy is thin and runs easily. Aye aye! I poured a small amount into t' fin root near t' aft dam and it slowly flows down t' root. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Once it reaches t' forward end, me bucko, t' rocket is placed horizontal t' t' ground and t' epoxy will level. Some will seep into t' tiny void betwixt t' slot edge and t' fin which locks t' fin in t' slot. Aye aye! This is critical and convenient because t' fins don’t extend all t' way t' t' motor mount so they need this extra reinforcement. A second dose o' epoxy might be needed since some has flowed inside t' tube. Begad! Once cured, t' fillet is in near perfect and glass smooth. Arrr! Avast! This process is repeated for each o' t' other 5 roots. This process is quite time consuming, me hearties, however, arrr, t' outcome is very rewarding. Well, blow me down! Once t' fin can be complete I moved onto t' recovery system. Aye aye! Begad! This kit comes with t' typical LOC shock cord mount, a nylon string. It is looped, knotted and epoxied t' t' inside o' t' airframe. Arrr! At first glance, this type o' shock cord mount seems insufficient, me hearties, me hearties, but I’ve personally never had one fail. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This was again epoxied with 15min. Aye aye! T' kit comes with an elastic shock cord that attaches t' t' nylon strin' and nosecone eyelet. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' parachute is a standard one piece 18” black nylon chute. Avast, me proud beauty! T' final construction step was t' attach t' 1/4” launch lugs t' t' airframe. Begad! It needed t' be cut in two and sanded t' properly support t' rocket. 

For finishing, arrr, I first filled and sanded any ruts with Bondo filler and once complete I applied a coat o' gray primer. Arrr! Ahoy! I painted t' fin can and nosecone gloss black and t' mid section a cranberry red. 

For t' first flight I loaded her up with a F52. I attached a Nomex® heat shield (Courtesy o' Dave Pacheco) t' t' shock cord. Arrr! T' 1/4” rod be grungy and a tight fit so I move her down t' a 3/16” which was just slightly loose. Blimey! At liftoff she jumped off t' pad and headed into t' wind. T' chute deployed on cue and brought her home safely. Despite t' 10mph winds t' Graduator was recovered fairly close t' t' pad for a successful flight. Next, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I headed down t' Pennsylvania in March t' launch with PARA. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I be in a good mood and decided t' give her a ride on an H128. Begad! I prepped t' motor t' night before and headed out t' t' site at about 9:30 t' next morning. Begad! I got caught up watchin' others fly and while preppin' t' Graduator’s recovery system at about 10:45 t' winds started t' kick up. Avast, me proud beauty! I was finally ready t' launch but when I got out t' t' pad t' rod was wayyyy t' tight. Avast! I had t' run back t' t' car and sand t' lugs. Ya scallywag! I realized that t' uppper lug be slightly off center which wasn’t helpin' me cause. I removed t' lug and whipped out t' 5 minute epoxy. Avast! While she was dryin' t' winds were gettin' worse and they eventually t' range was shut down. Ahoy! Bummer! T' weather up in New England has been horrendous and I still have t' H128 loaded hopin' t' launch eventually. However, me bucko, matey, matey, One weekend I decided t' go out with a couple buddies at launch locally. Avast! I loaded up a G35 because I didn’t want t' launch t' H128 at an unorganized launch and t' site be a tad bit too small. Begad! I flew t' Graduator off a 3/16” rod once again. Aye aye! Ahoy! She roared off t' pad on a nice plume o' Econojet smoke. Ya scallywag! Avast! Deployment was right at apogee and she came down gently nay very far away. Aye aye! There was absolutely no damage. 

This is a great kit, but if you do decide t' purchase it, shiver me timbers, matey, I have several suggestions. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! T' cardboard lugs must be cut in two, so you should replace them with 1/4” brass or copper piping. Begad! This be t' second time I’ve had trouble with lugs. Avast! Blimey! Many people would also recommend modifyin' t' fins so they go all t' way t' t' motor mount. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! However, me hearties, for this kit I do nay think it is necessary. Ahoy! If you put a little extra effort into t' fillets and reinforcement, t' fin can will be rock-solid and will stand up t' a lot o' beatings. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! In conclusion, matey, this is a great quality kit that is well worth t' loot and it’s an excellent flier! 

Written and submitted by Todd Harrison for Rocketry Online -- Copyright 1996-2000