Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Diameter: | 3.10 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
This LOC/ Precision Forte is a simple 3.1 inch kit. Begad! Begad! It has a 38mm motor mount, and can fly on anythin' from an F25-4 t' a J350 with a lot epoxy and fiberglass. It does nay have a payload section, and t' fins go all t' way t' t' motor mount (thank you LOC).
Construction:
All t' parts that came with this kit fit together perfectly and were very sturdy. T' parts included:
All t' parts were kraft paper, plastic, plywood, nylon, me hearties, and elastic.
T' instructions like all LOC instructions were printed on t' back o' t' face card. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! I didn't use them. Blimey! Blimey! This rocket is a very simple build. Avast, me proud beauty! All t' parts fit together perfectly. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I used 15 or 30 epoxy throughout t' entire construction.
First t' motor mount be assembled. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I wanted t' try makin' internal fillets, me hearties, so I made a centerin' rin' out o' cardboard t' keep t' motor mount tube even while t' aft rin' be nay in place. Well, blow me down! So t' forward centerin' rin' be epoxied 1/8th o' an inch away from t' top o' t' motor tube, me hearties, and t' cardboard one about 7 inches from t' bottom. Blimey! Once it dried, I slid it into t' main airframe and lined up t' bottom ends o' each tubes. Begad! Begad! After filletin' around t' top and bottom o' t' rings, T' first fin was epoxied on. Since I be runnin' low on epoxy, I tried makin' internal fillets with white glue. Aye aye! This slowed down t' process. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! All four fins were soon glued in place, arrr, shiver me timbers, with four fillets per fin on t' inside. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! External fillets were made with epoxy. Blimey! After it be fully cured, shiver me timbers, t' aft centerin' be epoxied in place.
Not havin' any Keelhaul®©™ around, I used t' three fold paper method on a larger scale, ya bilge rat, usin' thick CA glue and then epoxyin' it deep inside t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Once cured, me bucko, I smeared epoxy over it, just t' guarantee that it wouldn't rip out. Well, blow me down! I always forget t' put t' launch lug on, so I always do it last.
T' lug be glued and filleted on with epoxy.
Finishing:
Finishin' is just like any other rocket. Prime and paint. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! I used painters touch primer and then Krylon gloss black. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Four vertical white stripes were added over each fin. Arrr! Blimey! Finally, I printed off some skull and cross-bone decals for t' fins.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
T' first flight was in Amesbury at a CMASS launch. Ahoy! Ahoy! I prepped it with an F25-4 usin' a 38-29mm adapter. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Everythin' be friction fit. Begad! It was windy that day, with winds over 10 mph. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' LCO counted down, me hearties, and as t' launch button was pressed, arrr, me hearties, t' ignitor fell out (I hate Copperheads). It lit on t' second time though, me hearties, carryin' t' "Pirate Rocket" on its maiden voyage t' around 700 feet. Ejection be right at apogee, me bucko, and t' bright purple chute opened almost instantly. Arrr! Lettuce rained down on everyone below, arrr, and t' rocket landed on top o' Jim Flis' tent (oops). Well, blow me down! Begad! We got it down, ya bilge rat, and thar wasn't a scratch or any damage on it.
Recovery:
Recovery was perfect. Ahoy! Ejection was right at apogee, and t' chute opened as soon as it made contact with t' air. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! T' decent rate be perfect. Avast! It landed around 50 feet away from t' pad. T' lettuce makes great wadding. Arrr! Begad! For 99 cents you can get about 5 or 6 flights out o' 3 inch rockets.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' LOC/Precision Forte is a great kit. Avast! Very simple t' put together, me bucko, me hearties, and very sturdy when completed. I cant wait t' see what she can do on a G40-7.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
The Forte' is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can fly on as little as an F up to an H or I, and maybe with a lot of reinforcements, a J350. It is a fairly basic rocket, my second mid-power. I probably could have made it without instructions, it's so easy. It does not have a payload section (Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh), but I plan on adding one soon. It has a heavy duty cardboard airframe ...
Brief This is a single stage, baffled, glass reinforced model. Construction The kit arrived in a plastic bag containing laser cut 1/8" plywood fins and centering rings, plastic nose cone, elastic shock cord, 24" chute, 29mm motor mount tube, clear concise instructions (on the back of the cardboard label). No decals are included and no paint scheme is suggested, although one can copy the ...
Brief: Single staged, came with black, 24-inch diameter nylon chute. Has 4 fins. Construction: All parts were there and in good shape. I didn't get decals, but that's not a problem for me, as I often customize my rockets. The fins (4) are plywood, precut, and are clipped delta shape. The nose cone is hollow plastic, 11 inches long, fitting the standard LOC body tube of 3 ...
C.B. (May 1, 2001)