LOC/Precision - LOC IV {Kit} (PK-48) [1985-]

LOC/Precision LOC-IV

LOC/Precision - LOC IV {Kit} (PK-48) [1985-]

Contributed by Alex Jordan

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Diameter:	4.00 inches
Length:	47.50 inches
Manufacturer:	LOC/Precision
Style:	Sport

Brief:
This is a large single staged, shiver me timbers, simple mid/high power rocket. It uses parachute recovery and was me first big rocket. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Mine came with a 38mm motor mount, although many websites say it has a 29mm motor mount. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Also, shiver me timbers, t' fin tabs extend all t' way t' t' motor tube.

Construction:
T' components o' this kit came in t' typical LOC plastic bag. Blimey! Blimey! All o' the parts were o' t' highest quality. Begad! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Get rid o' t' provided shock cord mount though. Ahoy! Blimey! A listin' o' t' parts are:

1 4" nose cone
1 4" pre-slotted body tube
1 38mm motor mount tube
2 4" x 38mm centerin' rings
3 pre-cut 3/32" plywood fins
1 36" parachute
1 shock cord mount
1 1/2" shock cord
1 6" x 1/4" launch lug

T' construction o' this kit is similar t' an Estes executioner or fat boy, or any other simple TTW (through t' wall) kit. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! This is an excellent beginner's kit. Avast! Blimey! It is big and simple t' construct. Ahoy! Blimey! T' fins fit nice and snug into the slots and extend all t' way t' t' motor tube. Aye aye! There are no cons about construction. Begad! Blimey! Use 5 or 20 minute epoxy throughout ENTIRE construction. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

PROs: Quality o' parts, fit o' parts, ya bilge rat, ease o' construction, and looks. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Blimey!

CONs: None!

Finishing:
I finished t' rocket with an orange body and blue fins and nose cone. Well, blow me down! There are no decals and none are necessary t' have a great lookin' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Make sure that excess epoxy is sanded down though. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I haven't flown this model yet, but it will fly first t' 900 feet on an F50-6. Aye aye!

Recovery:
This rocket will descend under a 3 foot chute, which I think be t' right size for t' big rocket. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great big, fun rocket for beginners and advanced. Begad! Well, blow me down! It's ease of construction are great for beginners and makes a great first epoxy rocket. Well, blow me down! It was also me first 4-inch kit and t' 4-inch tubin' is massive! This is an awesome rocket and it is worth t' 60 bucks.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

T' followin' excerpt is from "Sport Rocketry". Avast, me proud beauty! T' intention is t' allow guests t' get a basic feelin' about a kit. Blimey! We strongly suggest that you get a copy o' the referenced Sport Rocketry and read t' entire article. Begad! Inside you will find many helpful hints in construction as well as other useful information. For more information, me bucko, use t' two links above.

(Sport Rocketry - Sep/Oct 1999 - page 32 - by Bryan M. Avast, me proud beauty! Chuck)

"When I look t' buy a rocket, arrr, I want one that is straightforward."
". Begad! . Arrr! Arrr! . if t' kit is built t' t' letter o' t' instructions, it doesn't get any more basic."
". Avast, me proud beauty! . Blimey! Aye aye! . Arrr! Ahoy! I'm impressed with t' accurate fittin' o' each part, in particular the centerin' rings and fins."
"LOC provides ample length o' shock cord material . Ya scallywag! . Avast, me proud beauty! ."
" . Arrr! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! . Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! . Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! t' fin roots did nay extend all t' way t' t' motor mount tube." [by design]
"LOC's supplied [shock cord] mount is a strip of braided nylon, which t' builder loops and adheres into t' airframe."
"I have had no troubles with it . Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! . Ya scallywag! ."
"T' first flights o' me LOC IV were on a G80 motor, ya bilge rat, then a G64 reload."
"She boosted straight and true and cruised down under t' 36" nylon parachute."
"I chose an Aerotech H128 medium reload motor."
"Overall, I'm pleased with t' LOC IV."

T' entire article gives t' impression is that this kit would be for intermediate modelers and those lookin' for their first medium t' high power kit.

Other Reviews

LOC Precision LOC IV By Cody Smith (October 20, 2014)
This kit was my Junior. Level 1 and I must say it is a beautiful kit. Some people say this rocket is not good for certifications due to the fact that the fins hang below the body. But, unless you land on concrete or desert, these fins are hard to break off. This kit is four-feet tall, four-inches in diameter and, coincidentally, my finished weight was four pounds. I tend to build heavy and ...
LOC/Precision LOC IV By Frank Ross
( Contributed - by Frank Ross - 11/11/00) Brief: Up-scaled to 38mm. Modifications: For my level-1 certification and my first high-power rocket I wanted a large, simple rocket kit without any bells and whistles. I chose the LOC-IV as I thought it looked to fit the bill, and wouldn't break my credit card. I decided to up-scale to 38mm rather than stick to 29mm because I liked the ...
LOC/Precision LOC-IV By Chris Kiekens
Brief: An easy to build 3FNC rocket, built for my first shot with a reloadable motor. Construction: The kit contains a 4" kraft paper body tube, two centering rings (plywood) included, nose cone, 36" chute, elastic shock cord, 3 plywood fins, 29mm motor mount, and a 1/4" Launch Lug. This was a really easy kit to build. I spoke to LOC briefly regarding the fins, ...
LOC/Precision LOC-IV By Alex Rothchild
- by Tom Bell Instructions: The instructions were complete and easy to follow. Although this is a large rocket, it was not difficult to build. The parts were well manufactured and fit together without problems. This kit was my first large rocket, and it is a good starter kit for large rocketry despite its imposing size. This kit requires epoxy for assembly of the ...

Flights

Comments:

J.S. (November 1, 1999)

This is was my first High Power Rocket and my certification project (Level 1). Loc makes great kits and the transition to HPR is easy. The review is thorough and quite accurate in many respects, as the model will benefit from reinforcing the fin joints w/either with epoxy/FG on the fillet or better yet, extending larger fins thru the BT to the Motor mount. The fins extend below the bottom of the BT and "butt strikes" (even under canopy) tend to crack the fin joint loose. (My LOC IV needed fin reinforcing after each flight). I would like to know if anyone experienced this problem: On my first flight I used an Aerotech G55, which really put it up there, but the ejection heat must have damaged the stock white cardboard motor tube.... I couldn't get the Vulcan H100ss to fit for my next flight (certifiction) as the tube had collapsed somewhere ahead of the G55. So much for certifying that day. I extracted the whole works inside and replaced the stock kit motor tube with much sturdier stronger phenolic tube... no problem now!

M.K. (April 1, 2000)

Although I enjoy flying this rocket, I am disappointed by the fin design (true of all Loc/Prec models I have built). What would a few more centimeters of wood cost on the fin tabs? My Loc IV has been repaired every time I fly it, it is truly an epoxy sculpture. I guess I could 'glass the fins, but I really don't want to redo my paint job. My advice- if your looking for a 4" model to get into high power, check out Public Missiles instead. Their stuff is virtually indestructible.

S.F. (January 1, 2001)

The LOC IV was my first attempt into mid power rockets. I assembled the kit as per instructions and it was very easy to build. My rocket landed in a tree on its second flight, and broke a fin at the joint, despite glue fillets. I brought the rocket back home and used 2 oz. fiberglass and finish cure 20 min epoxy to reinforce the fins. This has made the fins extremely durable and the rocket is an outstanding flier on a RMS G64-4. To reinforce the fins, I first epoxied them into place and let them dry. Them I cut a piece of glass cloth slightly bigger than the area to be covered. I went down one fin, over the body tube and up the other fin. Then I repeated this until all fins were glassed. after the cloth was cut, I mixed enough epoxy to cover all surfaces I was immediately working with. Then I carefully laid the cloth on the fins and rocket and smoothed it out with a squeegee until the cloth followed all contours and flat on the fins. After this has been done to all sided, sand it smooth and apply a second coat of Finish Cure 20 min epoxy. When that is dry add the glue fillets along the fin joints let that dry and sand and paint. This is an excellent rocket for those wanting something bigger then an Estes. It is straight forward and easy to build. It is straight forward and easy to build. If you reinforce the fins the rocket will fly straight and true for a long time. The review was right on the mark. I also found the rocket to be everything the reviewer said.

R.A.V. (November 4, 2001)

The review was right on the mark. The LOC IV was an easy build and finished up real nice. As the other comments stated the fins could use some work and a heat shield would be nice for the chute. Flew great on low Aerotech G motors and that big red chute made it easy to spot as it slowly floated back down. I launched with zero wind so it didn't drift very far at all but if there was wind it would drift quite a distance I'm sure. Even with that big red chute and slow recovery speed it still popped a fin on landing. Gave it some good epoxy fillets and it should be fine.

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