(07/01/04) T' LOC Viper III is me third LOC kit and I purchased it for t' 24mm x 3 cluster aspect. Well, blow me down! I wanted a cluster rocket that could fly on D12's and E9's and t' Viper III fit t' bill. Aye aye!

T' Viper III is a 47.5" tall rocket based on a 2.6" airframe with t' cluster o' motor tubes stickin' out of the bottom. Aye aye! T' three fins are attached at t' joints o' t' motor tubes. Nothin' terribly fancy about t' rocket.

T' kit includes a 30" long body tube and a 9" plastic nose cone. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Then add t' three 12" long motor tubes that stick out 8 ½" t' make up t' 47 ½" total length. There are two 1/8" plywood centerin' rings, me hearties, three 1/8" plywood fins (pre-cut), a recovery system and a launch lug. T' recovery system consists of a round 18" nylon parachute and 96" (8') o' 3/8" wide elastic along with t' standard LOC nylon loop for mountin' t' recovery system t' the side wall.

CONSTRUCTION:

Typical LOC instructions: printed on t' back of t' 8½ x 11" card stock that displays t' kit specifics through the plastic bag that held t' kit. Begad! There are only two illustrations, a rear view and a side exposed view. Ya scallywag! These give some direction, me hearties, ya bilge rat, however, t' kit is designed for those that have built some before and don't need picture-step to picture-step guidance. Aye aye! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' text instructions are clear and take t' builder from start t' finish and give some insight into flyin' preparation. Ahoy! Also the shock-cord mount has its own separate instructions.

T' Viper III is really easy t' build. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! LOC recommends Epoxy glue, but for fun I used Omni-Stick glue for everythin' but the shock cord mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I did this t' test out t' strength o' this glue on a bigger rocket. It takes some gettin' used to, arrr, but grabs smartly (formerly called Quick Grab - see here for more info) and has adequate strength. Begad!

As I said, me hearties, this rocket is simple t' build. Here's what you do:

• Glue Motor Tubes together
• Glue Centerin' Rings on Motor Tubes
• Glue Motor Tubes into Body Tube
• Glue on Fins
• Attach Shock Cord Mount
• Attach Shock Cord and Parachute
• Attach Nose Cone
• Finish

That is it, really!

I didn't install LOC's launch lug, but instead used Rail Buttons.

I used me typical finishin' techniques for Kraft tubes and plastic nose cones. Blimey! I then used Walmart Gold and Gloss Black paint (additional comments about Walmart paint). After waitin' 1 week, I added vinyl letter that I bought at Ben Franklin's and then hit t' whole rocket with Walmart Clear coat.

Overall, shiver me timbers, me bucko, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Ya scallywag! T' instructions are adequate and will get anyone that has a bit o' experience through this simple t' build kit. Begad! It would be nice to have letterin' or decals. Avast! A bolt with nut could be glued betwixt t' three motor tubes for retention, but for this rocket, I'm more understandin' as to why their isn't motor retention. Begad! Quality o' parts was excellent and everything fit.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

LOC recommends three o' t' followin' motors: D12-5, D21-7, arrr, matey, me bucko, E9-6, matey, E15-7, shiver me timbers, E30-10, and F21-8.

LOC indicates t' rocket should weigh 16 ounces. Begad! Begad! My rocket weighed in at 16.3 ounces (with t' Nomex heatshield). Ya scallywag! Pretty dead on, I would say.

I added a piece o' Nomex® heatshield and prepared for its first flight on D12-7's. Ya scallywag! Begad! I followed the instructions and made a tape thrust rin' and then friction fit each motor into the motor tubes until they were all even. I then put in three Estes ignitors, added t' ignitor plug and then twisted t' ignitor wires together in parallel.

Usin' me Estes Command Controller on 14.4V all three motors ignited and lifted t' Viper III t' an excellent first flight. Begad! Ahoy! The flight be perfectly straight and it be a perfect apogee at ejection. Ya scallywag! Recovery was good with a fairly fast descent rate on t' smaller parachute.

I felt t' rocket would life fine on three C11-3's so I gave that a try. Unfortunately only two ignited and lifted the rocket t' about 25 feet, it turned and then a few feet from t' ground ejected. There be no damage.

T' third flight was on three E9-6's. Varooom! This was great! (see pic on right). Blimey! Well, blow me down! Straight and good altitude. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! It was still headin' up, but nay at a fast pace when t' ejection charge popped the parachute. T' fast descent rate helps t' keep it from driftin' off. Blimey!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. What a nice flier on Estes motors! T' descent rate is fast, me bucko, but t' rocket is sturdy and can take it. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It would be nice t' have a piece o' Nomex® included in t' kit, arrr, but since it isn't we recommend you get one.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 ½ points. T' rocket is super simple t' build. You can get away with wood glue (or Omni) except you should use epoxy for t' shock cord mount. This be t' type o' rocket that can give t' Estes-motor flier an entrance kit into LOC/Precision. Arrr! That can be a steppin' stone into mid t' high power. Definitely a kit t' consider.