Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Manufacturer: | LOC/Precision ![]() |
Brief:
LOC's Minie-Magg is a single-staged HP rocket popular with many fliers. Begad! Its stubby profile combined with a basic build make it a fun flier for larger motors, as well as smaller H motors for a lesser field.
Construction:
T' parts were contained in a durable plastic bag. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' inventory o' parts are as follows:
I felt t' components t' be a fine quality, and found no warpin' o' t' fins.
Outside o' t' Minie Magg's size, it is a basic build. Aye aye! Blimey! I used 15 minute epoxy for t' assembly and 30 minute on fillets. Avast! Blimey! T' instructions are simple t' follow and are included on t' back-side o' t' info/picture card. Begad! Blimey! I would speculate that a person should have no problems assemblin' this rocket from t' instructions LOC supplies.
All t' parts fit together well and required minimal, matey, if any sanding. Well, blow me down! I decided t' deviate slightly from t' instructions, though, me bucko, in order t' add a few things t' improve t' longevity o' me Minie-Magg. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' supplied shock cord mount is epoxied on t' inside side o' t' airframe, and uses elastic for shock cord material. Well, blow me down! I did nay feel confident usin' this arrangement, so I put an eyebolt in t' forward centerin' rin' t' anchor t' shock cord. Aye aye! I also opted t' use 20' o' tubular nylon in lieu o' t' elastic. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Attachin' t' cord t' t' eyebolt was done via quick link. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I also felt t' plastic eyelet on t' nosecone would prove weak on this larger rocket. Aye aye! Avast! T' remedy this, I drilled a 1/2 hole in t' base o' t' nosecone, shiver me timbers, passed me shockcord through it, arrr, and passed it back through t' hole pre-existin' at t' bottom center o' t' nosecone. Ya scallywag! Avast! Thus far, arrr, it has held up well.
Another minor "CON" t' this rocket be t' fins do nay go all t' way t' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! T' make amends, I decided t' keep t' aft centerin' rin' off until after I put t' fins on. Begad! Blimey! On t' inside o' t' airframe where t' fin tabs came barely through, me hearties, I put 2 inch wide fiberglass bandaids t' length o' t' fin root.
Lastly, I added t-nut & brass strip Kaplow-style motor retention before addin' t' aft centerin' ring.
As for building, me hearties, shiver me timbers, here are me thoughts: PROS 1. Avast! Ahoy! Quality o' airframe, wood components, arrr, and nosecone. Aye aye! Arrr! 2. Exceptional fittin' o' parts. Avast, me proud beauty! 3. Blimey! Simplicity o' build/instructions, even if built "stock."
CONS 1. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Shock cord attachment and shock cord material. 2. Ahoy! Fins are nay t' t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! 3. Begad! Lack o' motor retention, which is fairly common in mid-power and HP rockets.
Finishing:
T' finish off me Minie-Magg, I filled t' tube spirals with 3M Spot Putty. Well, blow me down! Begad! On t' fins, shiver me timbers, I used a couple coats o' SIG sandin' sealer from t' local R/C plane store. Begad! After sandin' things smooth, I employed two light coats o' white Krylon primer, matey, arrr, sandin' betwixt coats. Ahoy! For me color coat, matey, I chose Glossy Krylon Grape. Ya scallywag! I chose this color in honor o' me friends' daughter, ya bilge rat, whose name is Violet and likes rockets.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Flight prep for this rocket is easy. It's wide enough t' fit all recovery items with no hassle. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Instead o' t' large amount o' waddin' t' Minie Magg would require, ya bilge rat, a 18"x18" piece o' Top Flight Nomex was used. Aye aye! I also added one o' their Nomex sleeves for good measure. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' LOC catalog notes that one could fly this rocket with a G80 SU motor.
T' maiden flight o' me Minie-Magg was at Black Rock XII in Nevada. Arrr! Arrr! I chose an I161 medium for t' ice breaker. Well, blow me down! It was a good choice and recovery happened without a hitch. Begad! At this point, I've gone as large as an I211. Begad! All flights have been arrow straight, and exceptional "rock & roll" motors for this rocket seem t' be t' I300, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I357, and o' course, shiver me timbers, t' I211. Avast! Arrr! For good measure, me breakdown o' motors used in t' Minie-Magg are thus:
I've had only one incident when t' fin popped loose. Avast, me proud beauty! In light o' that, matey, I would rate t' Minie-Magg's flyin' and prep at a top notch 5.
Recovery:
No cons regardin' flight recovery after swappin' out t' shock cord and usin' a different anchorin' system. Pros: Stock 'chute seems adequate.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
I'm quite pleased with this rocket. Begad! Begad! In me opinion, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it only needs a couple o' things added t' improve it: Shock cord and shock cord attachment. Aye aye! Also fin root strengthenin' is probably a good idea. Avast! Even if built stock, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' parts are outstandin' in their fit and quality, and t' build is straightforward. Blimey! Overall, arrr, it's a fun flier. Well, blow me down! I'm constantly amazed at how many Minie-Magg's I see at launches. Ahoy! Avast! I believe it's a fine L1 rocket on t' H123, shiver me timbers, also.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
This kit is great for people who want a fun high powered rocket. The size is not cumbersome and the build is not complicated. Components Model: 07653 Skill Level 3: Average Skills Needed Length: 37.000" (93.98 cm) Weight: 53.000 oz (1502.52 g) Diameter (Max): 5.540" (14.07 cm) Fin Count: 3 Motor Size: ...
This was my first High Power Rocket. I certified L1 and L2 with this same rocket. It is very easy to build. LOC"s "LOC-N-Fin" method of using fin tabs inside to air frame worked very well. With the tabs installed the fins naturally fell into the proper perpendicular orientation. With the big 5.5" air frame applying epoxy to all the interior parts was very ...
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D.G. (August 1, 2001)