Rescuing a Loc Aura?

Well, I found my old, unfinished loc aura kit. Or, rather, 3 fins (one is attached), a nose cone, a streamer, and the airframe (launch lug and motor mount thingy is attached.). The places where the other fins should be are very gluey and generally messed up (I remember badly failing at attaching the fins ages ago...), but I've sanded them as best I can.

So...
1. What about the recovery system? What am I missing, and is it possible to make it myself?
2. How to go about attaching the fins (so they're 120 degrees apart and perpendicular to the tube and everything)

Thanks in advance, Tom

And I have the instructions btw, they're just kinda unclear :blush:

rocketman said:

Well, I found my old, unfinished loc aura kit. Or, rather, 3 fins (one is attached), a nose cone, a streamer, and the airframe (launch lug and motor mount thingy is attached.). The places where the other fins should be are very gluey and generally messed up (I remember badly failing at attaching the fins ages ago...), but I've sanded them as best I can.

So...
1. What about the recovery system? What am I missing, and is it possible to make it myself?
2. How to go about attaching the fins (so they're 120 degrees apart and perpendicular to the tube and everything)

Thanks in advance, Tom

And I have the instructions btw, they're just kinda unclear :blush:

Click to expand...

You are missing a nylon cord loop around 4 inches long, a piece of (probably) 1/4" sewing elastic about 2.5 feet long, and a long plastic streamer. You can get a new nylon cord at a home center and install it with the instructions you have, but a bit of kevlar works better. You can get the flat sewing elastic at a sewing shop or craft store. I suggest getting a 15" parachute from Top Flite, Al's Hobbies is having a 30% off sale on all HPR stuff.
You could make a marking guide from a piece of typing paper. Cut a 2.5 inch wide strip across the short side of the paper, wrap the paper around the tube and mark it where it overlaps, and cut off paper so it's only long enough to go around the tube once, then fold the paper in thirds, and then cut 1/8" off each end. Now you can mark the paper with a line where you folded it, then wrap it around the tube again, butting up against the fin that is on, and mark lines on the tube both for and aft of where the paper was folded. Remove the paper, connect the marks lengthwise on the tube and glue the fins on the marked lines. Here is a link to my Aura I am rebuilding:

https://www.rocketryplanet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6746

Thanks for the info!
To update, I've attached the fins and found the string, streamer, and the elastic shock cord (but it's a lot longer than expected, about 5 feet). I'm going to try to finish the build in the next couple of days (minus decorating), but I'd like to see a diagram of the recovery system if possible.
Thanks,
Tom

Properly built, an Aura is practically bulletproof. We core-sampled a sod farm with one where the elastic burned through and it came in ballistic and only had to remove an 8" slug of mud. The elastic is a weak link as you have little room for wadding. A kevlar shock cord would be my preference with a small chute (9" max) or streamer in a nomex recovery blanket. The reason for the small chute is that with a G80 an Aura will go nearly a mile high and you don't want a lot of drift, unless you just have miles and miles of empty space and enjoy walking.