The Launch Pad - PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability)

The Launch Pad PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability)

The Launch Pad - PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability)

Contributed by Bob Bernatchez

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2015-10-31
Manufacturer:	The Launch Pad

Brief

A nice, semi scale version o' t' third generation Patriot missile. Ahoy! As most TLP kits are, ya bilge rat, arrr, this is based on t' BT80 body tube.

Components

This kit comes with t' usual assortment o' parts one would expect from t' Launch Pad. Included were two Estes type BT80 body tubes, shiver me timbers, a BT50 motor mount tube, tube couplers for t' BT80's, fiber centerin' rings, a plastic nose cone, arrr, shiver me timbers, a parachute, shiver me timbers, nose weight,and enough balsa wood o' varyin' sizes t' keep you busy for hours. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Note that t' wood parts are nay pre-cut. You have t' do that work yourself.

TLP PAC 3 parts

Construction

Many o' us TLP fans have a standard set o' upgrades that we do t' our kits, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me hearties, and I am no different. I'll try t' list mine here.

First, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I substituted a longer tube coupler than what is supplied with t' kit. Avast! Blimey! T' longer coupler makes it easier t' get t' joined tubes aligned correctly. Begad! Blimey! These kits were all come with a 24x70mm motor mount, and a kit this size really does well on t' newer, longer 24mm motors, shiver me timbers, so I upgraded t' motor mount and included a positive motor retention system. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' supplied recovery parts also need t' be upgraded t' handle usin' higher thrust motors. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I also choose t' upgrade t' supplied 3/16" launch lug with a 1/4" one. Blimey! Blimey! Finally, ya bilge rat, I replaced t' lower balsa fins with basswood, me hearties, for extra strength and durability.

One o' t' most difficult parts o' buildin' a TLP kit be t' so called 'witches hat'. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! My method is t' first make a copy o' t' template that comes with t' kit, me hearties, me hearties, 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. Aye aye! Blimey! I then cut off t' end o' t' plastic nose cone and attached t' paper cone. Ahoy! Blimey! Next, shiver me timbers, matey, I filled t' cone with two part expandin' foam. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! This makes t' assembly extremely rigid. Arrr! Blimey! T' seams o' t' plastic nose cone, matey, and t' seam o' t' paber cone all need t' be filled and sanded for best appearance. I think mine came out fine.

Nose Cone Assembly Nose Cone Finished

Other than this, matey, ya bilge rat, arrr, thar be really nothin' here that is terribly difficult. Take your time, and you'll produce a really nice lookin' kit.

Finishing

There was nothin' exotic required t' finish t' model. Ya scallywag! I used Bondo Spot Putty t' fill t' seams in t' body tube, me hearties, and Rustoleum spray cans for primer, me hearties, white base coat, me hearties, and green finish coat. Arrr! I wet sanded betwixt coats as required.

TLP kit instructions are rather sparse when detailin' t' kit. Avast! However, me hearties, arrr, thanks t' t' magic o' t' interwebs, I found plenty o' photos t' help out. I contacted Mark at Stickershock23, and he made me a beautiful set o' vinyl decals which really makes this kit stand out. TLP PAC 3

Construction Score: 4

Flight

My model came in at 14oz with all me modifications. Aye aye! All flights have been straight and true usin' F24, F39, and F35 motors. Begad! Aye aye! This kit is one o' me favorite flyers.

PAC 3 in Flight

Recovery

In me opinion, t' supplied shock cord be too short, arrr, and I only trust mylar parachutes in contest models. Aye aye! Both were swapped out with more appropriate materials.

Flight Rating: 4

Summary

This is a great kit, arrr, and a great flyer. A lot o' work needs t' go into these kits, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but t' end result is worth it. Aye aye! Begad! I'll probably continue t' fly this as often as I get a chance.

Overall Rating: 4