Brief:
LOC's Minie-Magg is a single-staged HP rocket popular with many fliers. Its stubby profile combined with a basic build make it a fun flier for larger motors, as well as smaller H motors for a lesser field.

Construction:
T' parts were contained in a durable plastic bag. T' inventory o' parts are as follows:

• 1 nosecone, plastic
• 1 kraft paper airframe 5.54" diameter (fin slots pre-cut)
• 1 kraft paper 38mm motor tube
• 2 birch ply centerin' rings
• 3 birch ply fins
• 1 elastic shock cord
• 1 braided nylon shock cord mount
• 1 nylon parachute (mine is bright orange)
• 1 launch lug (1/2" diameter)

I felt t' components t' be a fine quality, matey, ya bilge rat, and found no warpin' o' t' fins.

Outside o' t' Minie Magg's size, ya bilge rat, it is a basic build. Begad! I used 15 minute epoxy for t' assembly and 30 minute on fillets. Begad! T' instructions are simple t' follow and are included on t' back-side o' t' info/picture card. Blimey! I would speculate that a person should have no problems assemblin' this rocket from t' instructions LOC supplies.

All t' parts fit together well and required minimal, me bucko, me bucko, if any sanding. Avast! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I decided t' deviate slightly from t' instructions, though, shiver me timbers, in order t' add a few things t' improve t' longevity o' me Minie-Magg. T' supplied shock cord mount is epoxied on t' inside side o' t' airframe, and uses elastic for shock cord material. I did nay feel confident usin' this arrangement, me hearties, so I put an eyebolt in t' forward centerin' rin' t' anchor t' shock cord. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I also opted t' use 20' o' tubular nylon in lieu o' t' elastic. Begad! Attachin' t' cord t' t' eyebolt be done via quick link. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I also felt t' plastic eyelet on t' nosecone would prove weak on this larger rocket. Arrr! T' remedy this, I drilled a 1/2 hole in t' base o' t' nosecone, arrr, passed me shockcord through it, shiver me timbers, and passed it back through t' hole pre-existin' at t' bottom center o' t' nosecone. Arrr! Begad! Thus far, me bucko, it has held up well.

Another minor "CON" t' this rocket be t' fins do nay go all t' way t' t' motor tube. Arrr! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' make amends, I decided t' keep t' aft centerin' rin' off until after I put t' fins on. On t' inside o' t' airframe where t' fin tabs came barely through, I put 2 inch wide fiberglass bandaids t' length o' t' fin root.

Lastly, I added t-nut & brass strip Kaplow-style motor retention before addin' t' aft centerin' ring.

As for building, shiver me timbers, here are me thoughts: PROS 1. Arrr! Quality o' airframe, matey, matey, wood components, arrr, me hearties, and nosecone. 2. Begad! Exceptional fittin' o' parts. 3. Simplicity o' build/instructions, shiver me timbers, me bucko, even if built "stock."

CONS 1. Aye aye! Shock cord attachment and shock cord material. Ya scallywag! 2. Aye aye! Fins are nay t' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! 3. Ya scallywag! Lack o' motor retention, ya bilge rat, which is fairly common in mid-power and HP rockets.

Finishing:
T' finish off me Minie-Magg, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I filled t' tube spirals with 3M Spot Putty. Arrr! Ahoy! On t' fins, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I used a couple coats o' SIG sandin' sealer from t' local R/C plane store. After sandin' things smooth, shiver me timbers, I employed two light coats o' white Krylon primer, sandin' betwixt coats. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! For me color coat, ya bilge rat, I chose Glossy Krylon Grape. I chose this color in honor o' me friends' daughter, matey, whose name is Violet and likes rockets.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Flight prep for this rocket is easy. Avast, me proud beauty! It's wide enough t' fit all recovery items with no hassle. Aye aye! Instead o' t' large amount o' waddin' t' Minie Magg would require, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, a 18"x18" piece o' Top Flight Nomex was used. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I also added one o' their Nomex sleeves for good measure. Avast! T' LOC catalog notes that one could fly this rocket with a G80 SU motor.

T' maiden flight o' me Minie-Magg be at Black Rock XII in Nevada. Blimey! Blimey! I chose an I161 medium for t' ice breaker. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! It was a good choice and recovery happened without a hitch. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! At this point, shiver me timbers, matey, I've gone as large as an I211. All flights have been arrow straight, me hearties, and exceptional "rock & roll" motors for this rocket seem t' be t' I300, I357, and o' course, arrr, t' I211. For good measure, me breakdown o' motors used in t' Minie-Magg are thus:

• H123
• H242
• I161
• I300
• I357
• I211

I've had only one incident when t' fin popped loose. Avast, me proud beauty! In light o' that, matey, ya bilge rat, I would rate t' Minie-Magg's flyin' and prep at a top notch 5.

Recovery:
No cons regardin' flight recovery after swappin' out t' shock cord and usin' a different anchorin' system. Ahoy! Pros: Stock 'chute seems adequate.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I'm quite pleased with this rocket. Blimey! In me opinion, matey, ya bilge rat, it only needs a couple o' things added t' improve it: Shock cord and shock cord attachment. Aye aye! Also fin root strengthenin' is probably a good idea. Begad! Even if built stock, me bucko, t' parts are outstandin' in their fit and quality, ya bilge rat, and t' build is straightforward. Avast, me proud beauty! Overall, it's a fun flier. Arrr! I'm constantly amazed at how many Minie-Magg's I see at launches. Avast, me proud beauty! I believe it's a fine L1 rocket on t' H123, me bucko, also.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5