LOC/Precision Weasel-29

LOC/Precision - Weasel {Kit} (PK-3)

Contributed by Steve Graham

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 1.63 inches
Length: 48.00 inches
Manufacturer: LOC/Precision
Skill Level: 3
Style: Sport

Brief:
Single stage, shiver me timbers, 14" parachute recovery at apogee usin' motor ejection.

Construction:
Two airframe BT's (27", arrr, ya bilge rat, 13"), 1.6" LOC nose cone, matey, 3-plywood fins, 2- paper centerin' rings, LOC-type 29mm motor mount tube (8"long), 1 coupler, bulkhead, and eye screw.

You also receive a length o' 1/4" elastic for a shock cord. Arrr! No decals.

Instructions are straight forward. I always expect good things from Barry. Ahoy! Blimey! T' construction be very simple, matey, with tips on how t' beef up your fin joints for higher power flights. Ahoy! Aye aye! No alignment problems. Everythin' went together very well. Arrr! Because, ya bilge rat, I intend t' fly mine on H and I motors, arrr, I beefed up t' fin joints with fiberglass.

Finishing:
No special requirements are needed for t' airframe and fins t' get it ready t' paint. Aye aye! Begad! However; with all LOC nose cones, be sure you take extra care in preppin' it for paint. Ahoy! I usually sand mine down startin' with about 150-grit and progressin' up t' 600-grit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It makes for a nice smooth finish that will stand up t' a lot o abuse.

T' only CON I found with this kit is that it doesn't come with decals. Begad! I didn't worry about it that much as I just purchased vinyl letters.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
On t' day o' t' flight, I used an Aerotech G64. Since I replaced t' shock cord with Keelhaul®©™ and a chute protector, this made preppin' recovery very easy. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' rocket lifted off t' pad straight and true. Blimey! Blimey! With t' prevailin' winds from t' south at our launch site, arrr, t' rocket ended up driftin' down range a bit. Never t' less, it was recovered in perfect condition.

Since t' trailin' edge o' t' fins are 1 caliber in front o' t' aft end, t' chance o' breakin' a fin is minimized.

Next, I loaded it with an H128, ya bilge rat, which gave us a neck snappin' launch. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Again, t' rocket performed flawlessly.

T' third flight o' t' day was with a single use F32 with a 24mm motor adaptor. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It wasn't as excitin' as t' H128. Aye aye! T' F32 launched it t' a respectible altitude. Avast! Avast! My shock cord got tangled in t' shroud lines. So t' rocket flat spinned into t' Texas grass. I'm glad I glassed t' fins now.

Recovery:
Shock Cord: replaced with Keelhaul®©™ from Apogee Components.

Parachute: 14" flat panel- rip stop nylon. IMHO, me hearties, matey, too small. Ahoy! This rocket needs at least a 24" t' recover it. I think a 14" was chosen because t' fins are situated 1.5" ahead o' t' aft end o' t' rocket. Arrr! Aye aye! Thus, shiver me timbers, reducin' t' chance o' breakin' a fin on landing.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I don't have any bad things t' say about this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It went together very well and quickly. Ya scallywag! As I stated above, it needs a larger parachute. Begad! And replace t' elastic shock cord with Keelhaul®©™.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • LOC/Precision Weasel-29 By Lance Alligood

    Brief: The LOC/Precision Weasel is a simple, near minimum diameter 3FNC MPR that can fly as little as an E or absolutely tear a hole in the time-space continuum on a high thrust H. The Weasel is a basic kit with a minimal number of parts. The kit includes: 1 1.63"d ogive plastic nose cone 1 38mm x 11.5" payload tube 1 38mm x 27" body tube (premarked for fins and launch lug) 1 ...

Flights

Comments:

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R.T.P. (August 10, 2002)
Nice review! I do think though, that the fiberglass was overkill. Given the materials, wood glue would be stronger and lighter. To smooth the fillets, try Fill'n'Finish sanded smooth, then soak with thin CA. Very light and strong.
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S.G. (August 12, 2002)
Since the writing of this review, I have built another Weasel. This time, I built it with minimum diameter 38mm motor mount. I glassed all tubes and fins. There is an altimeter bay in the coupler that houses a Missile Works RRC2. The altimeter bay has bulkheads machined out of T-6 aluminum. (very light compared to wood, but stronger). In the picture, you will notice a chrome tape placed around the aft section behind the fins. My modified version has a machined aluminum collar replacing that tape. (Machined myself) It's machined to go up to just behind the fins. The aft part of the collar has a 3/4" section that is machined to match the ID of the airframe. Is used as a positive platform to support the thrust of the motor as well as motor retention. Plans are in order at the next launch to fly the new Weasel on a J350. RockSim indicates 8900 ft.
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P.C. (June 2, 2005)
This is one bulletproof rocket. I've had some trouble with recovery on two flights, an Ellis Mtn. G35 and an Aerotech G35. In both cases, the 'chute and shock cord tangled badly. On the last flight, the cord snapped in two at the chute attachment point. Payload and booster sections came down free-fall from about 2800', and the only damage was some scratched paint. I have no doubt it could take the Ellis long-burn 29mm I69 and probably tickle 10,000'.

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