Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2015-10-31 |
Manufacturer: | The Launch Pad ![]() |
A nice, semi scale version o' t' third generation Patriot missile. Ya scallywag! Blimey! As most TLP kits are, this is based on t' BT80 body tube.
This kit comes with t' usual assortment o' parts one would expect from t' Launch Pad. Ahoy! Included were two Estes type BT80 body tubes, a BT50 motor mount tube, shiver me timbers, tube couplers for t' BT80's, fiber centerin' rings, arrr, shiver me timbers, a plastic nose cone, a parachute, me hearties, nose weight,and enough balsa wood o' varyin' sizes t' keep you busy for hours. Note that t' wood parts are nay pre-cut. Arrr! Begad! You have t' do that work yourself.
Many o' us TLP fans have a standard set o' upgrades that we do t' our kits, ya bilge rat, and I am no different. Arrr! I'll try t' list mine here.
First, me hearties, I substituted a longer tube coupler than what is supplied with t' kit. Aye aye! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' longer coupler makes it easier t' get t' joined tubes aligned correctly. Ya scallywag! Begad! These kits were all come with a 24x70mm motor mount, me hearties, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and a kit this size really does well on t' newer, arrr, shiver me timbers, longer 24mm motors, me hearties, shiver me timbers, so I upgraded t' motor mount and included a positive motor retention system. Well, blow me down! T' supplied recovery parts also need t' be upgraded t' handle usin' higher thrust motors. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! I also choose t' upgrade t' supplied 3/16" launch lug with a 1/4" one. Blimey! Finally, I replaced t' lower balsa fins with basswood, for extra strength and durability.
One o' t' most difficult parts o' buildin' a TLP kit be t' so called 'witches hat'. Arrr! This is a paper cone that is glued t' t' top o' t' plastic nose cone t' approximate t' shape o' t' prototype's nose. My method is t' first make a copy o' t' template that comes with t' kit, ya bilge rat, because t' first one I make never comes out right. After I get one that I like, I mix up a little epoxy and fill t' tip o' t' cone t' strengthen it. Avast! I then cut off t' end o' t' plastic nose cone and attached t' paper cone. Aye aye! Begad! Next, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I filled t' cone with two part expandin' foam. Arrr! This makes t' assembly extremely rigid. Ya scallywag! T' seams o' t' plastic nose cone, and t' seam o' t' paber cone all need t' be filled and sanded for best appearance. I think mine came out fine.
Other than this, thar be really nothin' here that is terribly difficult. Avast, me proud beauty! Take your time, me hearties, and you'll produce a really nice lookin' kit.
There was nothin' exotic required t' finish t' model. Aye aye! I used Bondo Spot Putty t' fill t' seams in t' body tube, me bucko, and Rustoleum spray cans for primer, me hearties, white base coat, matey, and green finish coat. Aye aye! Avast! I wet sanded betwixt coats as required.
TLP kit instructions are rather sparse when detailin' t' kit. However, arrr, me bucko, thanks t' t' magic o' t' interwebs, shiver me timbers, arrr, I found plenty o' photos t' help out. I contacted Mark at Stickershock23, me bucko, and he made me a beautiful set o' vinyl decals which really makes this kit stand out.
My model came in at 14oz with all me modifications. Begad! All flights have been straight and true usin' F24, matey, F39, and F35 motors. Arrr! This kit is one o' me favorite flyers.
In me opinion, matey, ya bilge rat, t' supplied shock cord be too short, me bucko, and I only trust mylar parachutes in contest models. Ya scallywag! Both were swapped out with more appropriate materials.
This is a great kit, and a great flyer. A lot o' work needs t' go into these kits, but t' end result is worth it. I'll probably continue t' fly this as often as I get a chance.
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