Maybe it’s t' current political/military situation or maybe it’s just me strange fascination with relatively small Army missiles designed t' launch nuclear warheads short distances that caused me t' purchase t' LANCE MGM-52 from T' Launch Pad.

This scale kit is based on t' LANCE mobile field artillery system. Aye aye! Ahoy! It was t' replacement missile for t' Honest John and t' Sergeant systems. Arrr! T' LANCE was unique in that it used prepackaged liquid fuel propellants that could be swapped in and out smartly in t' field. In t' early 1970’s t' LANCE achieved minor notoriety as t' launch system for t' “Neutron Bomb.” Fortunately, shiver me timbers, President Jimmy Carter killed this insane weapon in 1978.

T' Launch Pad LANCE is 28.75” long and 2.6” in diameter and is designed t' fly on a range o' 24mm motors from D12’s t' F24’s. Blimey! Even though t' kit is rated at skill level 2 it should nay be treated as an Estes level 2. Avast, me proud beauty! There are several challenges includin' rollin' paper shrouds for t' nose cone tip extension and t' tail cone.

T' 5-page instructions are fairly detailed and together with t' line sketches they are relatively easy t' follow.

Construction:
Construction: T' parts included with t' kit are all “Estes quality” meanin' thin Kraft paper body tubes and balsa fins that must be cut from stock. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I rarely build a kit exactly t' t' instructions and this kit be no exception. Ahoy! Arrr! I chose t' upgrade some o' t' components t' produce a more durable rocket.

I replaced t' balsa fins with basswood and covered them with a layer o' 3 oz. Aye aye! Blimey! glass. T' body tube was then rolled with 2 wraps o' 3 oz. Aye aye! Blimey! glass.

T' most challengin' elements in t' construction o' this kit are t' paper nose cone extension and t' tail cone. Avast! Patience is key here. After cuttin' t' pattern out o' card stock I found it helpful t' drag a pencil over t' inside surface t' induce a curl. Avast! Then heat a cup o' water in t' microwave and hold t' paper shrouds over t' water. Ahoy! Begad! This will cause t' shrouds t' curl even further. Blimey! Aye aye! Simply glue them together and paint them with CA. Avast, me proud beauty! I also filled t' space betwixt t' very tip o' t' extension and t' round top o' t' plastic nose cone with epoxy. (I know this adds weight, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but with these military styled kits and their close CP/CG relationships that is a good thing.) T' extension is glued t' t' nose tip. Ahoy! Blimey! Body filler and sandin' will produce a smooth joint.

I replaced t' paper centerin' rings with thin LOC rings so that I could use 2 tee-nuts for motor retention instead o' t' engine hook. Arrr! T' last modification I made be t' replace t' thin mylar parachute with a Top Flite nylon chute and t' elastic cord with 3/8” nylon tape.

Finishing:
After a filler coat o' Kilz and sandin' I used Krylon primer and their camo flat green paint (which I only ever see in t' stores durin' huntin' season.) T' kit does nay come with any decals. Begad! White vinyl trim can be used for t' straight lines but you’ll have t' have someone cut t' 3/4” U.S. Blimey! ARMY decals.

Overall I am very pleased with t' realistic field look o' this model. Blimey! If it lands in deep grass though, ya bilge rat, findin' it could be a problem. Avast! It really blends in!

On t' last page o' t' directions thar are drawings and instructions for makin' t' LANCE an incredibly detailed missile. Ahoy! I chose t' do some o' t' black and white stripe detailin' but stopped short o' cuttin' pinheads t' use for scale rivets! After all, I’ve got 6 other piles o' rocket projects scattered all over t' basement and garage includin' me L3.

Launch Pad kits are a nice challenge t' build and finish. Blimey! They usually have options for construction and detailing. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I would recommend t' LANCE (or any Launch Pad kit) as a nice alternative t' t' basic formula build mid-power kits. Ahoy! It is definitely for t' experienced modeler.

I had planned on flyin' t' LANCE by now but so far (as we all know) t' weather recently in t' Northwest has been less than stellar for flying. Begad! So instead I’ve had t' be satisfy t' need t' fly by chasin' me 7 yr. old around t' house pretendin' t' nuke him if he doesn't hide well enough. He thinks t' LANCE looks v-e-r-y realistic!