LOC-VII Build Thread

[jmuck78]

Right around 17 pounds. 1500 feet max altitude.

Did you fly it with an electronics bay and dual deploy, or motor eject?

 

[Padseven]

Did you fly it with an electronics bay and dual deploy, or motor eject?

Flew with the avbay dual rrc3 main deployment at apogee. This was the new LOC avbay with the short sled.

 

[Padseven]

I will try to get a video of the flight up too

 

[slothead]

I will try to get a video of the flight up tooView attachment 371626

Cant wait to see that video!

 

[jmuck78]

Right around 17 pounds. 1500 feet max altitude.

Interesting, my simulated weight with the electronics bay is closer to 20 pounds.

 

[jmuck78]

I will try to get a video of the flight up tooView attachment 371626

Nice shot!

 

[Jacob Nathan]

My school's club was sent this kit and we had a cato with our first flight because we didn't do internal fillets, but we ordered a second one and are building it with an excessive amount of rocketpoxy

 

[dhbarr]

My school's club was sent this kit and we had a cato with our first flight because we didn't do internal fillets, but we ordered a second one and are building it with an excessive amount of rocketpoxy

The motor overpressured due to lack of fillets? I'm guessing you mean you flew the fins off?

 

[Steve Shannon]

Damn, good point. Will a motor vendor allow you to buy an L motor for an L2 cert flight? I wish I had thought to ask that question for my L2...

Any L2 motor may be used for your L2 attempt: J, K, or L.

 

[Steve Shannon]

My school's club was sent this kit and we had a cato with our first flight because we didn't do internal fillets, but we ordered a second one and are building it with an excessive amount of rocketpoxy

A “Cato” is when the motor fails catastrophically. When the rocket flies apart due to inadequate construction that’s called a “shred.”
Rather than applying “an excessive amount of RocketPoxy”, I would recommend finding an experienced mentor who can help you judge the correct amount and the correct application. Feel free to message me and I’ll help you find someone.

 

[jmuck78]

I think I've decided against fiberglassing the tubes with this rocket, at least before I install the Fin Can / Motor Mount to the first body tube. The booster section is essentially two body tubes, 30'' and 15'', joined with a coupler. Ideally, that coupler would rest on and be bonded to the top centering ring. If I glass the tubes, I would install the coupler and mate the tubes so that the fiberglass layer covers the gap between the two body tubes and provides structural connection across that joint. It's going to be more difficult to line make the joint between the top centering ring and the first coupler if I install the coupler first, and also slightly more difficult to make the fillet between the top centering ring and the body tube / coupler if the second body tube is installed. So, it seems less risky and complicated to install the motor mount assembly and make those joints correctly than it does to glass the tubes and then try to make the complicated joints after. I believe I can glass the tubes after the fins are installed, I just don't have any experience doing that. Thoughts?

 

[jmuck78]

Any L2 motor may be used for your L2 attempt: J, K, or L.

Thinking back a little more, I didn't want a large motor for my L2 since I was using motor ejection, and you really do need to be able to find the rocket after the launch to pass. I was using a fairly light weight Madcow Torrent for the Launch, the same rocket I used for my Level 1 - so smaller motor correlated to higher probability of success.

 

[Pyropetepete]

Did my L1 with the biggest Pro 38 motor going in the UK. Seams only right to do the same with my L2 . Traditions are best kept and stuck too.



I’d like to built it light but also strong.

 

[jmuck78]

Did my L1 with the biggest Pro 38 motor going in the UK. Seams only right to do the same with my L2 . Traditions are best kept and stuck too.



I’d like to built it light but also strong.

The video was great - just couldn't understand the language. Is there an English translation?

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Did my L1 with the biggest Pro 38 motor going in the UK. Seams only right to do the same with my L2 . Traditions are best kept and stuck too.



I’d like to built it light but also strong.

Those I540 motors are awesome! I have a friend who calls the I540 the “Sledgehammer of Level 1 motors”! Another friend and I flew a drag race of our LOC Warlock rockets on I540 motors, and the thrust tore the rail guides off of BOTH rockets! That’s a pretty gutsy move, picking the I540 for your L1 certification flight.

So... what L motor are you using for level 2?

 

[jmuck78]

I installed the motor mount and fin assembly into the booster body tube(s). See post #3 for updates.

 

[DRAGON64]

Did my L1 with the biggest Pro 38 motor going in the UK. Seams only right to do the same with my L2 . Traditions are best kept and stuck too.

I’d like to built it light but also strong.

Nice flight Pyropetepete, that motor is a barn burner for sure, thanks for sharing the video!

 

[Pyropetepete]

Those I540 motors are awesome! I have a friend who calls the I540 the “Sledgehammer of Level 1 motors”! Another friend and I flew a drag race of our LOC Warlock rockets on I540 motors, and the thrust tore the rail guides off of BOTH rockets! That’s a pretty gutsy move, picking the I540 for your L1 certification flight.

So... what L motor are you using for level 2?

The biggest I can get within the UK. Would be something CTI. Attached is what I’ve been told I can get 75mm wise.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

The biggest I can get within the UK. Would be something CTI. Attached is what I’ve been told I can get 75mm wise. View attachment 371753

It looks like you have many good options.

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

When you assembled the motor mount and fin assembly, did you do anything special to ensure the fin alignment?

 

[Pyropetepete]

It looks like you have many good options.

Just not sure what! Has to be something 75mm

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

Just not sure what! Has to be something 75mm

Any L-class motor is going to be awesome. So it mostly comes down to your preference on propellant type and whether you need particular thrust characteristics. I like white propellants with visible flame and lots of white smoke, and it looks like there is only one 75mm L in White — the 3 grain. It looks like that would be good for a rocket up to 35 pounds or 15 kilos or thereabouts. There’s also white thunder, like the I540 you used for L1, if you want or need something faster, or if the rocket is heavier. If you really want the BIGGEST, then it’s the 5 grain Smokey Sam or the 4 grain Classic.

 

[Pyropetepete]

Any L-class motor is going to be awesome. So it mostly comes down to your preference on propellant type and whether you need particular thrust characteristics. I like white propellants with visible flame and lots of white smoke, and it looks like there is only one 75mm L in White — the 3 grain. It looks like that would be good for a rocket up to 35 pounds or 15 kilos or thereabouts. There’s also white thunder, like the I540 you used for L1, if you want or need something faster, or if the rocket is heavier. If you really want the BIGGEST, then it’s the 5 grain Smokey Sam or the 4 grain Classic.

Go big or go home ... right?

I think it’s gotta be something correctly matched and meets the needs for it all to be safe!

L2375 4G WT could be ideal. 629 peak but then
L1685 5G SS would be cool. 3 second burn big black trail. 578 peak so only 51 less.

L3200 is 1 second and 837. Might have to sim in and see some videos

 

[jmuck78]

Update: I've been adding fin fillets and installed the 54 mm motor mount adapter to check the fit.

One more set of fin fillets and install the rail buttons and the booster section is ready for finishing.

 

[jmuck78]

As I work on this rocket, I often put the nose cone in the incomplete booster section just to keep the nose cone out of the way, and it occurred to me that a short version of the LOC-VII would be fun too. The rocket looks stable and launchable without the payload bay, so I modeled it in OR and it looks good as a simple motor eject rocket:

 

[Nytrunner]

Too bad you can't get Aerotech over there. The L2200 Mojave Green is a monster of a motor (just ask Louisville's SLI team )

 

[ThirstyBarbarian]

As I work on this rocket, I often put the nose cone in the incomplete booster section just to keep the nose cone out of the way, and it occurred to me that a short version of the LOC-VII would be fun too. The rocket looks stable and launchable without the payload bay, so I modeled it in OR and it looks good as a simple motor eject rocket:

View attachment 371915

That's why I am very attracted to this rocket. You could fly it in long or short configuration. With the APE HED altimeter bay, you could still do electronic ejection if you wanted, or you could do motor eject, as you said. There's a lot of versatility. I own an LOC Warlock, and I recently bought the LOC 30" payload bay. So I can set it up stock at 52" or add in the payload bay for an 82" rocket. If I end up getting another big rocket, I'm leaning toward the LOC VII.

 

[Pyropetepete]

Too bad you can't get Aerotech over there. The L2200 Mojave Green is a monster of a motor (just ask Louisville's SLI team )

It’s a bit of strange one. Can and can’t. It’s a work in progress.

Just ran a sim for the L2375WTP. 7,178ft leaving the rod at 45.7mph. Max speed is 845mph and 23.3G. 18.1 seconds to Apogee. That’s gonna be cool!

 

[jmuck78]

I have completed the fin fillets and rail button installation (see post #4) and updated the Modular Motor Adapter post #6. The booster is now ready for finishing, as soon as I figure out a color scheme.

 

[Pyropetepete]

Update: I've been adding fin fillets and installed the 54 mm motor mount adapter to check the fit.View attachment 371907View attachment 371908

One more set of fin fillets and install the rail buttons and the booster section is ready for finishing.

This was all rocket poxy?