Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 4.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision ![]() |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
T' LOC Expediter is a large, hi-power rocket. Begad! Arrr! It is single staged with an
airframe reducer from 4 inches -3.1. IT is over five feet long, me bucko, so it is huge
compared t' me other rockets.
Construction:
This kit came with basic parts, me bucko, and I used 5 minute epoxy throughout t' entire
construction. Aye aye! T' parts it came with are:
T' construction was very similar t' most o' t' rockets I built in the past. I used epoxy for everything. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' only mod I used be attachin' a Keelhaul®©™® strin' t' t' top centerin' rin' with a screw eye.
LOC/Precision changed their parts, but nay their instructions. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! They got rid of t' fin tabs havin' t' be glued on, and now supply fins with tabs already attached. Arrr! Begad! However, me tabs looked like they were meant t' fit a 38mm tube, not a 54mm. Avast! I cut off about 3 mm off o' each tab, ya bilge rat, and they fit perfectly!
I then epoxied t' motor mount together, and then into t' tube. Avast! T' fit between t' rings and tubes was very tight, arrr, and I had t' sand them down a lot to make them fit properly. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' fins went in with no problem, and I made epoxy fillets. Begad! Blimey!
T' payload section can be assembled with Elmers white glue if you dont want t' waste epoxy. I used epoxy in mine though. Aye aye! T' airframe reducer is a little too loose in t' 3.1 inch payload tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I put some tape on it, and then glued it. Begad!
T' rocket went together with relative ease except for t' fins. Arrr! Arrr!
Finishing:
I finished it with a coat o' rustoleum automotive primer, and then painted it
blue and yellow. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' finishin' was just like any other rocket, prime, sand,
prime, ya bilge rat, paint, me bucko, sand, shiver me timbers, paint. Ahoy! There were no decals, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but I dont like decals
anyway. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! It came out lookin' great.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
I flew t' Expediter on G80-4. Some sites say this will put it up about 600
feet, arrr, but RockSim says only around 280. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' four second delay was too long.
This motor gets it up, matey, arrr, but still seems underpowered. Begad! Blimey! T' last second and half
of coastin' were nose down, arrr, lookin' almost disasterous. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Finally, ya bilge rat, t' chute
popped out. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' G80 will get this rocket going, ya bilge rat, but i would only use it again
if it be a very small field or a windy day. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! An H or I would be great for a
large field. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!
Recovery:
T' recovery is on a 48 inch parachute, and a 3/4 inch elastic cord. Blimey! I have
Keelhaul®©™®
attached t' t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, and then attached t' t' elastic. Begad!
Recovery was perfect. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' black 'chute is plainly visible in t' sky, matey, me bucko, and it brings it in at a perfect rate. Blimey! On t' G80 it landed about 20 yards from the pad.
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
I think that this is a great rocket kit, but only get it if you have previous
rocket experience. Ya scallywag! It is nay a good beginner kit. Begad! T' PROS are: big rocket,
very nice looking, matey, shiver me timbers, and ease o' most o' t' construction.
T' Cons are only t' fins, and havin' t' be cut t' make them fit right. Begad!
Once t' fin tab issue with this kit is fixed, it deserves a 5 out o' 5. Also, shiver me timbers, t' instructions need t' match t' kit's parts, me bucko, so this was another let down about t' kit. Begad! However, anyone with basic rocket buildin' techniques should have no problem assemblin' this kit.
Overall Rating: 3½ out o' 5
Other:
I diddnt learn any tips from buildin' this rocket, but onyl t' havbe A LOT of
epoxy before starting. Begad! I ran really low after makin' t' fillets.
(by Dave Fountain) As everyone knows I like altitude and big rockets are no exception so I was rambling through the LOC catalog looking for a bird for my level two attempt at SOM 4 and I came across the Expediter. I liked it because it resembled an ICBM (inter continental ballistic missile, i.e. a Minute Man) so I bought it. The Expediter consists of a 4.0 inch booster that contains ...
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D.R. (November 26, 2001)