Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Diameter: | 3.10 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision ![]() |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
This LOC/ Precision Forte is a simple 3.1 inch kit. Aye aye! It has a 38mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and can fly on anythin' from an F25-4 t' a J350 with a lot epoxy and fiberglass. Begad! It does nay have a payload section, and t' fins go all t' way t' t' motor mount (thank you LOC).
Construction:
All t' parts that came with this kit fit together perfectly and were very sturdy. T' parts included:
All t' parts were kraft paper, arrr, plastic, shiver me timbers, me hearties, plywood, ya bilge rat, nylon, and elastic.
T' instructions like all LOC instructions were printed on t' back o' t' face card. Ya scallywag! I didn't use them. Blimey! This rocket is a very simple build. Ahoy! All t' parts fit together perfectly. I used 15 or 30 epoxy throughout t' entire construction.
First t' motor mount was assembled. Aye aye! Begad! I wanted t' try makin' internal fillets, me bucko, so I made a centerin' rin' out o' cardboard t' keep t' motor mount tube even while t' aft rin' was nay in place. Blimey! So t' forward centerin' rin' be epoxied 1/8th o' an inch away from t' top o' t' motor tube, and t' cardboard one about 7 inches from t' bottom. Once it dried, me bucko, I slid it into t' main airframe and lined up t' bottom ends o' each tubes. Aye aye! After filletin' around t' top and bottom o' t' rings, me hearties, matey, me bucko, T' first fin be epoxied on. Since I was runnin' low on epoxy, arrr, I tried makin' internal fillets with white glue. This slowed down t' process. Arrr! All four fins were soon glued in place, me hearties, matey, with four fillets per fin on t' inside. Well, blow me down! Begad! External fillets were made with epoxy. Well, blow me down! After it be fully cured, t' aft centerin' be epoxied in place.
Not havin' any Keelhaul®©™ around, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I used t' three fold paper method on a larger scale, usin' thick CA glue and then epoxyin' it deep inside t' airframe. Arrr! Once cured, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I smeared epoxy over it, just t' guarantee that it wouldn't rip out. Aye aye! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I always forget t' put t' launch lug on, so I always do it last.
T' lug was glued and filleted on with epoxy.
Finishing:
Finishin' is just like any other rocket. Prime and paint. Avast! Begad! I used painters touch primer and then Krylon gloss black. Four vertical white stripes were added over each fin. Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, I printed off some skull and cross-bone decals for t' fins.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
T' first flight be in Amesbury at a CMASS launch. I prepped it with an F25-4 usin' a 38-29mm adapter. Begad! Blimey! Everythin' was friction fit. Well, blow me down! It was windy that day, with winds over 10 mph. Avast, me proud beauty! T' LCO counted down, and as t' launch button was pressed, t' ignitor fell out (I hate Copperheads). Arrr! Avast! It lit on t' second time though, me bucko, shiver me timbers, me bucko, carryin' t' "Pirate Rocket" on its maiden voyage t' around 700 feet. Arrr! Ejection be right at apogee, matey, and t' bright purple chute opened almost instantly. Begad! Lettuce rained down on everyone below, matey, and t' rocket landed on top o' Jim Flis' tent (oops). Ya scallywag! Ahoy! We got it down, and thar wasn't a scratch or any damage on it.
Recovery:
Recovery was perfect. Begad! Ejection was right at apogee, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' chute opened as soon as it made contact with t' air. T' decent rate was perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! It landed around 50 feet away from t' pad. Begad! T' lettuce makes great wadding. Avast! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! For 99 cents you can get about 5 or 6 flights out o' 3 inch rockets.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' LOC/Precision Forte is a great kit. Very simple t' put together, and very sturdy when completed. I cant wait t' see what she can do on a G40-7.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
The Forte' is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can fly on as little as an F up to an H or I, and maybe with a lot of reinforcements, a J350. It is a fairly basic rocket, my second mid-power. I probably could have made it without instructions, it's so easy. It does not have a payload section (Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh), but I plan on adding one soon. It has a heavy duty cardboard airframe ...
Brief This is a single stage, baffled, glass reinforced model. Construction The kit arrived in a plastic bag containing laser cut 1/8" plywood fins and centering rings, plastic nose cone, elastic shock cord, 24" chute, 29mm motor mount tube, clear concise instructions (on the back of the cardboard label). No decals are included and no paint scheme is suggested, although one can copy the ...
Brief: Single staged, came with black, 24-inch diameter nylon chute. Has 4 fins. Construction: All parts were there and in good shape. I didn't get decals, but that's not a problem for me, as I often customize my rockets. The fins (4) are plywood, precut, and are clipped delta shape. The nose cone is hollow plastic, 11 inches long, fitting the standard LOC body tube of 3 ...
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C.B. (May 1, 2001)