North Coast Rocketry Lance Beta

North Coast Rocketry - Lance Beta {Kit} (K-47) [1987-?]

Contributed by Todd Harrison

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstar_borderstar_borderstar_border
Manufacturer: North Coast Rocketry


Rocket PicBrief:
This is a scale-like rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' Lance Beta uses 8 fins instead o' t' normal 3 or 4. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is single staged and recovers with a red nylon parachute.

Construction:
This was me first high powered rocket and t' instructions were easy t' follow. Aye aye! There were several diagrams t' aid me as I built t' rocket. This is a very sturdy rocket and can be flown many times. T' only problem was t' upper set o' fins need quite a bit o' reinforcement since they are surface mounted. Begad! All t' parts fit together fine in this rocket. T' only part that required sandin' besides t' fins were t' two plastic centerin' rings.

A few bullets about t' kit:

  • One body tube
  • A plastic nose cone, seems t' dent easily
  • A Gorilla Shock Cord recovery system attached through t' upper centerin' ring
  • Gorilla-Lok Motor retention - locked by a plastic screw on cap. Ahoy! It screwed into bottom centerin' ring.
  • Bottom fins are through-the-wall but t' upper weren't
  • Two launch lugs were made o' cardboard and attached t' t' sides o' t' fins
  • Two plastic centerin' rings
  • 7 foot (approx) strap nylon shock cord
  • Multiple page instructions - clear with several illustrations

Finishing:
This kit comes with a load o' different decals. Blimey! They vary from orange stripes t' US Army decals. Avast! Basically you just paint t' rocket white and stick t' decals you'd like t' t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! So t' decals wouldn't peel as much, me bucko, I covered with a final coat o' Krylon clear spray.

Construction Rating: 4

Flight:
On t' first flight o' this kit I used a F62-4 Darkstar motor, produced by NCR. Aye aye! Blimey! T' only problem was t' motor didn't easily fit into t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I ended up just peelin' off t' sticker, so it wasn't a big problem. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I used quite a few sheets o' Estes waddin' t' prevent t' 'chute from melting. T' flight itself was straight and t' ejection charge fired as t' rocket arced over.

Recovery:
T' recovery went well. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! It descended at a perfect speed into t' soft cornfield. Upon examination I noticed t' parachute was slightly scorched, arrr, but nay too badly. Blimey! For t' next flight I plan t' add a swivel t' t' chute t' prevent spinnin' o' t' shock cord.

Flight Rating: 3

Summary:
This is a great rocket for a person new t' mid/high power rocketry. Aye aye! T' only major downfall t' this kit is you must use NCR motors because t' motor mount is 28.5 mm rather than t' usual 29 mm, so Aerotech motors won't fit into t' tube. Ahoy! Otherwise this is an excellent rocket.

Overall Rating: 4

 

Flights

Comments:

avatar
Steve Lindeman (February 3, 2015)

NCR's web site lists this rocket as having a true 29mm motor mount so I'm wondering if this was an earlier version.  I have considered buying this kit or NCR's SA-14 Archer but only if Aerotech motors will fit as there is no mention of NCR having any motors at this time.

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