Diameter: | 4.00 inches |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision |
Style: | Sport |
As everyone knows I like altitude and big rockets are no exception so I be ramblin' through t' LOC catalog lookin' for a bird for me level two attempt at SOM 4 and I came across the Expediter. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I liked it because it resembled an ICBM (inter continental ballistic missile, i.e. Arrr! a Minute Man) so I bought it. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! T' Expediter consists of a 4.0 inch booster that contains a single 54mm motor mount reduced to 3.10" and is 61" tall and is recovered by a single 48" parachute.
To build t' Expediter I constructed t' motor mount usin' 30 min. Begad! epoxy and installed a recessed kaplow mount t' retain t' motor which required me to modify t' fins a bit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Next I constructed t' fin tabs which was t' hard part. T' big gripe I have about this kit be t' FIN TABS which requires separate tabs t' be glued t' t' bottom o' t' fin root which is very weak, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, t' fix this I glued t' tabs as t' t' instructions on wax paper and installed 3/4 oz. fiberglass on both sides o' t' tabs, matey, me hearties, me bucko, this greatly increases t' strength of the tabs.
Next I installed t' motor mount in t' tube with 30 min. Arrr! epoxy followed by the fins. Avast! Note: install an eye-bolt t' t' motor mount t' attach t' shock cord. Begad! Whatever you do, arrr, ya bilge rat, DO NOT USE THE STOCK SHOCK CORD MOUNT, matey, IT WILL RIP OUT OF THE ROCKET CAUSING IT TO GO SPLAT on t' hard surface which is not funny.
Next I built t' payload section by t' instructions with epoxy.
Finally, matey, me bucko, I painted t' entire rocket with Rustoleum paint.
Its first flight was at SoM-4, t' flight was picture perfect with no nose weight. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor I used for t' flight be an I357-m which produced a perfect, straight as an arrow, shiver me timbers, no roll flight which be recovered very close t' t' pad. T' next planned flight is on a J350 . . Blimey! Blimey! . Ahoy! Blimey! can you say Mach! Blimey! One suggestion: relocate t' shock cord mount t' t' center rin' because t' tube mount is not strong enough t' handle t' load.
Brief: The LOC Expediter is a large, hi-power rocket. It is single staged with an airframe reducer from 4 inches -3.1. IT is over five feet long, so it is huge compared to my other rockets. Construction: This kit came with basic parts, and I used 5 minute epoxy throughout the entire construction. The parts it came with are: -One 3 inch nose cone (plastic) -one 14x3 inch ...
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D.R. (November 26, 2001)