T' LOC Onyx is me second LOC kit and I purchased it as one o' three "stubby" rockets that were around three inches in diameter. Begad! This diameter compliments me 2.6" and me 4" collection. Ahoy! Aye aye! I had also purchased a RocketVision Grymm and t' Estes Big Daddy. Ya scallywag! See me 3" Stubby Rocket Comparison Page

T' Onyx be t' biggest o' t' three bein' 3.1" in diameter and 25.2" long, qualifyin' as a "stubby" rocket because it has less than 10:1 ratio (8.1 t' be exact). It also uses t' largest motor mount with a 29mm verses t' 24mm mounts in t' other two mentioned kits.

T' Onyx includes a 14" long standard LOC paper glassine coated airframe. Ahoy! Ahoy! It is pre-marked for t' fins and launch lug with lines. T' 11.2" plastic nose cone makes up t' remainin' length. Blimey! Avast! There are three (3) 1/8" thick plywood fins that are pre-cut. Begad! Blimey! There are also two (2) 1/8" thick plywood centerin' rings. Begad! T' motor mount is 29mm and 6" in length. T' recovery system consists o' a round 16" nylon parachute and ~65" o' 1/4" wide elastic along with t' standard LOC nylon loop for mountin' t' recovery system t' t' side wall. Ya scallywag! There is an 1/4" launch lug t' wrap up t' components.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions for t' Onyx were printed on t' back o' t' 8½ x 11" card stock that displays t' kit specifics through t' plastic bag that held t' kit. Aye aye! There are only two illustrations, matey, a aft view and a side exposed view. Blimey! These give some direction, however, t' kit is designed for those that have built some before and don't need picture-step t' picture-step guidance. T' text instructions are clear and take t' builder from start t' finish and give some insight into flyin' preparation. Begad! Also t' shock-cord mount has its own instructions separate.

I built this kit exactly as t' instructions directed. Avast, me proud beauty! There were no surprises and all o' t' parts fit very nicely.

I don't understand why LOC doesn't use through-the-wall fins that go t' t' motor mount (or even just some tabs) and had some frustration with that fact durin' flight.

I built me own 24mm adaptor for this rocket. Blimey! Begad! Here's what you need:

• 1/2" length o' 29mm tubing
• 4 t' 6" length o' 24mm tubin' (I used 4")
• maskin' tape

Take t' maskin' tape and start wrappin' at t' top o' t' 24mm tube about 1/8" from t' end. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Wrap fairly tightly and evenly. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Around and around and around until it looks t' be about 29mm in diameter. Tear off and test fit into t' 29mm motor tube. It should be snug but nay overly tight. Once you have t' right amount o' maskin' tape at t' top, me hearties, repeat t' process at t' bottom but makin' t' tape even with t' bottom o' t' 24mm tube. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Blimey! Test fit until it is snug then take two passes o' tape back off. Ahoy! Now take a hobby knife and cut some horizontal slits (while holdin' t' adaptor as it would sit in t' motor mount (up and down)) in t' tape on t' end. Avast! Make several on three sides. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! Wiggle t' knife so it opens up t' slit slightly. Next test fit t' 1/2" length o' 29mm tube and make sure it fits over t' tape. Begad! It's now ready for epoxy.

Usin' 30-minute epoxy, me hearties, ya bilge rat, seal and make a small fillet on t' both sides o' t' maskin' tape around t' top o' t' adaptor (opposite o' where you made t' slits). Begad! Begad! Be sure nay t' get epoxy on t' face o' t' maskin' tape as that will prevent t' nice fit into t' 29mm tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Next usin' some level o' precision, fill t' slits you cut with epoxy and then immediately coat t' inside o' t' 1/2" length o' 29mm tube. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Give it plenty. Begad! Then slide with twistin' motion t' 1/2" length o' 29mm tube over t' maskin' tape until it is even with t' end. Wipe off any excess that got onto t' face o' t' exposed maskin' tape and t' upper edge o' t' 29mm tube since this sits against your 29mm motor mount. Blimey! Run your gloved finger around t' end o' t' adaptor spreadin' t' epoxy on t' outer edges o' t' 24mm tube, shiver me timbers, maskin' tape and 1/2" length o' 29mm tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Wipe off any excess that got into t' 24mm tube. Place this assembly on some wax paper with t' 1/2" length o' 29mm tubin' down. Avast, me proud beauty! Once dry, ya bilge rat, arrr, make a small fillet on t' top o' t' lower maskin' tape t' same way as you did on t' top maskin' tape. Begad! That's it. Begad! You can modify this technique and add a motor hook t' t' 24mm adaptor, arrr, however, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, you would either need t' glue t' adaptor into t' motor mount or still come up with a way t' retain t' adaptor in t' motor mount.

T' Onyx's recovery system is assembled from its own set o' instructions. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! It consists o' a length o' braided nylon cord which is knotted at both ends, matey, shiver me timbers, and knotted with a 1" loop in t' center. Blimey! Ahoy! T' two knotted ends are taped t' t' inside o' t' body tube with t' knots on t' far side o' t' tape. Begad! Then it is coated with epoxy t' completely cover t' tape and t' knots. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' top o' t' nylon with t' 1" loop sticks out o' t' top o' t' rocket and is used t' tie t' elastic shock-cord to.

I know I didn't spend any time talkin' about t' actual construction and that is truly because it is straight-forward and quite easy.

For finishing, I didn't use anythin' t' fill t' spirals and just started in with several coats o' Plasti-Kote Sandable Primer. Avast! I coated t' plywood fins heavily with primer for t' first coat . . Ahoy! . Begad! and I mean heavily. I sanded back most o' this primer and did it again. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' third coat allowed everythin' t' look smooth. Blimey! I then painted t' entire rocket with Kylon Gloss Orange paint, me bucko, per t' recommendation and desire o' me 3 year old son. LOC doesn't provide any decals and since I was in Arizona, me hearties, where this entire rocket was built and finished, I grabbed an Arizona sticker t' commemorate that.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 points. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Instructions are adequate if you have built other rockets. It has quality components that fit together without sanding. Avast! T' main detractions are that t' fins are nay through-the-wall which for a 29mm powered rocket I would like t' see. Avast, me proud beauty! There is no provision for motor retention. Also this kit should have some decals t' spice it up.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Download RockSim file here! This file is set up with an added mass object that is used t' set t' weight equal t' me finished rocket (16 ounces) and adjust t' CG t' 16" without motor.

As I mentioned before I was in Arizona when I built this on a vacation. We planned this trip t' Arizona and it just so happened that thar was a launch on 12/23/00. So I packed this kit and 3 assembled rockets into a box and shipped them t' Arizona. Arrr! Ya scallywag!

I had t' rely on t' vendor at t' launch for motors and I be able t' buy a 2-pack o' EconoJet F23-7 BlackMax motors. Blimey! So, all set and ready t' go.

I prepped t' Onyx™ usin' a RocketMan RHFS12 Round Heatshield that I purchased from t' same vendor. Ahoy! After settin' up and positionin' for a picture . Well, blow me down! . . which I be nay successful in gettin' . Begad! . . Ya scallywag! I launched her.

It was an excellent flight, matey, with nice black smoke and very straight. It was just before apogee when t' ejection charge blew. Blimey! T' descent on t' supplied 16" round parachute was quite fast and it landed within 50 feet o' t' pad. Begad! Upon landin' one o' t' fins separated from t' body tube. Begad! T' fillet and paper tore away on one entire side and it be just hangin' by t' paper on t' opposite side just past where that fillet ended.

Well, since I wanted t' use both o' me EconoJets I decided t' try t' repair this in t' field. Blimey! Arrr! I had some SuperGlue and soaked t' paper under t' separation and held t' fin back in place. Begad! After about 1/2 hour I checked it and t' me surprise it felt really strong. Begad! I showed another rocketeer for a second opinion and then decided t' go for it. Begad! T' fact that I be flyin' on F23's helped me decision since it is a low thrust motor.

For t' second flight I added a second parachute (18"). Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' second launch was also very straight and ejection was just before apogee. Begad! Descent, although better, ya bilge rat, was still somewhat fast. No damage this time though.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, me bucko, I would rate this kit 3½ points. T' descent rate is simply too high for this rocket. Blimey! Even if it weighed in at t' manufacturer's specified weight o' 13 ounces, t' minimum diameter parachute should be around 30" for high descent rate o' 15 fps. Ya scallywag! My kit came in at 16 ounces so I would expect needin' an even larger one. Secondly, shiver me timbers, t' fin came off. This is probably due t' t' high descent rate, however, matey, ya bilge rat, t' surface mount fins didn't seem t' help t' situation.

Overall, t' Onyx™ has great looks and assembles quickly. Ahoy! It uses quality parts. Arrr! Its lack o' decals, motor retention and t' parachute size detract from it. Aye aye! Experienced fliers will adjust for all these things on their own which probably draws many builders t' this kit, however, as a kit it appears t' be lackin' some. I give t' kit an OVERALL ratin' o' 3½ points.