| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2012-07-20 |
| Diameter: | 4.00 inches |
| Length: | 45.75 inches |
| Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision  |
| Style: | Sport |
Brief
A 4" diameter rocket with a 38mm motor mount that is perfect for Level One Certification or someone just gettin' into HPR.
Components
T' kit includes two 1/4" rings, a slotted body tube, motor mount tube, shiver me timbers, 3x1/8" plywood fins, shiver me timbers, a LOC shock cord and mount, shiver me timbers, and a nose cone, launch lug, ya bilge rat, and a 36" parachute. I had t' separately but eye bolys, me bucko, quicklinks, me bucko, a retainer, rail buttons, shiver me timbers, me hearties, shiver me timbers, a better shock cord, ya bilge rat, a third ring, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and nomex parts. I also bought a payload bay t' weigh t' kit down for certification attempts.
LOC has you mount t' shock chord Estes style, which is NOT recommended for HPR flying.
T' parts are nay t' "high-tech parts" like Keelhaul®©™ or stainsteel, but are o' amazin' quality and fit. Aye aye! Ahoy! I could dry-fit everythin' right out o' t' package without sanding.
Construction
THe rocket is a basic 3FNC, and t' instructions are minimal, matey, ya bilge rat, but straight t' t' point and easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! T' only structural alterations I made t' t' kit were t' sandwich t' fin tabs inbetween rings and t' add internal epoxy fillets. Aye aye! I inserted a quarter inch eye bolt into t' front rin' and connected a quikclink t' it. I also added an eye bolt t' t' nose cone and foamed t' inside o' it t' help in t' manner o' CG/CP issues. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord was replaced with 15' o' #1200 kevlar, matey, shiver me timbers, which is lined with a protector, arrr, t' help reduce t' risk o' zippers. I added a nomex sheet below t' parachute t' prevent melting, and so far it has worked. T' rocket was built only with epoxy, shiver me timbers, and it has held up amazingly well.
Finishing
I decided t' paint t' rocket a simple red/black scheme. It was primes with Rustoleum sandable primer three times, and sanded down inbetween coats. Ya scallywag! Then went on gloss black. Three coats did t' trick, ya bilge rat, arrr, and I masked off t' retainer, me hearties, main airframe, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and rail buttons. Blimey! T' fins, arrr, payload bay, me bucko, and nose cone were all painted a gloss black. Blimey! Avast! T' results werent amazing, but it was all painted in a day and ready t' fly.
Flight
T' rocket had a maiden voyage on a G125 Redline motor. Begad! Blimey! It went straight up without any wobble, thanks t' t' precut fin slots. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' rocket soared t' about 1200' and popped right at t' top. Arrr! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Included is a video, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and t' Fantom be t' last rocket t' fly in t' video.
Recovery
T' recovery was flawless, and t' decent rate was spot on, even with t' payload bay. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I then decided t' add an 18" pilot chute, shiver me timbers, since once t' 'chute almost didnt come out o' t' tube fully. Arrr! Begad! It still lands nice and soft, shiver me timbers, and has flown three times without a hitch and barely a scratch on t' paint.
Summary
This is an amazin' kit and worth t' loot and investment. Aye aye! Blimey! It is without a doubt me favorint flyer.
Other Reviews
- LOC/Precision Fantom 438 By Kyle James Yawn
Brief: This is a large mid and high powered rocket which is a very good transition into HPR. I purchased this kit for the EMRR Hit List and used it to obtain my NAR Lever 1 Certification. It's a great kit that is very strong with the basic three fins, body, and a nose cone. Construction: The kit comes with a 34" long by 4" diameter slotted body tube, 4" diameter ...
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