LOC Black Brant X 1.63 Park-Flier

[Tyler P]

I picked this up as soon as I saw them available to add to my Black Brant collection! I also picked up an IRIS of the same series to go along with my 3" version.

These things are super solid and weighty! Heavy thick-walled tubing, thick ply fins and rings, and TTW fin attachment make this thing a beast. Just like they say, it will withstand fast descent rates so you can fly it at smaller fields without the fear of it drifting too far, which is good because it has a 29mm mount!

It also comes with a nylon chute and nomex chute protector.

I'm pretty sure that I've found the true everyday workhorses of my fleet!

I was excited to dig in and realized I forgot to take a pic before I got into the motor mount, haha!

Again, I've chosed to go with an Estes screw-on retainer. They're just easy with zero risk of a motor casing ejecting out the back. I had to pilfer this one out of a Star Orbiter kit I had in my build pile because I forgot to order one with this kit.

I'll make a little build thread, even though it's a very straightforward build.

Enjoy!

 

[Tyler P]

 

[Tyler P]

BSI 5-minute epoxy for the bulkhead coupler. I would have used Titebond III but the fit was a touch looser than I wanted for wood glue. The payload section is done. I'll sand it, give it a coat of EZE-Kote finishing resin and give it another quick sand with 400 grit before paint.

 

[Tyler P]

A dry fit of the fins.This revealed a little problem. The screw-on retainer needed to be modified to clear the fins. A quick little sanding on the bench sander and it is fixed up.

 

[solid_fuel]

I like the park flyer I have built. The 1.6 Magnum. Nice and solid little rocket. Flown on a few F39 blue motors. And once on a F35. Goes out of sight on F motors. I am afraid to fly it on G motors until I get figure out and implement tracking on it. Mine has a AeroTech retainer which is a nice fit on the back end.

 

[Tyler P]

I like the park flyer I have built. The 1.6 Magnum. Nice and solid little rocket. Flown on a few F39 blue motors. And once on a F35. Goes out of sight on F motors. I am afraid to fly it on G motors until I get figure out and implement tracking on it. Mine has a AeroTech retainer which is a nice fit on the back end.

The aerotech retainers are more sleek for sure.

 

[Tyler P]

I like the park flyer I have built. The 1.6 Magnum. Nice and solid little rocket. Flown on a few F39 blue motors. And once on a F35. Goes out of sight on F motors. I am afraid to fly it on G motors until I get figure out and implement tracking on it. Mine has a AeroTech retainer which is a nice fit on the back end.

Is the park-flier Magnum a cluster like the bigger one?

 

[solid_fuel]

Is the park-flier Magnum a cluster like the bigger one?

The park flier version is single 29mm in a 38mm body. I fly it with a 29mm to 24mm adapter for now. The Magnum is much shorter and lighter then the Bb2 though.
I also have the 3” magnum. Built and ready for paint. 3 29mms in a 3” cardboard body. I have a optional dual deploy set up ready too. Still need to set up eBay though. I plan to fly it fall of 2020 with an air start as the third motor. If I get around to it. That’s a lot of prep and I’m about 6 months behind already.

 

[Tyler P]

So, I like like to live dangerously, haha! Heated up some 30 minute epoxy by my shop heater to get it to thin a bit, as it has sat for awhile.

Then, I decided to attach all 4 fins at once. Not something I recommend but it's not my first rodeo and it's definitely doable with ttw fins.

Worked fast, as hot epoxy kicks off much faster than cold epoxy. 30-minute sets in about 15.

Turned out okay. I will also be doing filets but not tonight, I don't think.

 

[solid_fuel]

I like how you handled the retainer cap

 

[grouch]

Good flying rockets. I have flown my Tomahawk several times on G's and H's. It never disappoints.

 

[Tyler P]

Launch lug is on. I guess filets are next and then prep for paint.

 

[Tyler P]

An "all-together" shot.

 

[Tyler P]

The park flier version is single 29mm in a 38mm body. I fly it with a 29mm to 24mm adapter for now. The Magnum is much shorter and lighter then the Bb2 though.
I also have the 3” magnum. Built and ready for paint. 3 29mms in a 3” cardboard body. I have a optional dual deploy set up ready too. Still need to set up eBay though. I plan to fly it fall of 2020 with an air start as the third motor. If I get around to it. That’s a lot of prep and I’m about 6 months behind already.

That sounds pretty cool! I haven't tried a cluster yet. Rocketarium makes a cool Korean sounding rocket called the KSR 420S that has 3 18mm mounts. I just ordered it for my first go on a cluster. Nice, inexpensive way to try it out.

 

[Theory]

Cool deal. I love me a LOC kit

Are you going to add the tiny front fins? Guess they are more of a canard than a fin

 

[Tyler P]

Cool deal. I love me a LOC kit

Are you going to add the tiny front fins? Guess they are more of a canard than a fin

Yes, I'll be adding them. Trying to sand a little bevel into them before I put them on. It's a pain, lol.

 

[Jozef]

You may want to try this to clean up the Estes retainer. Remove the flutes. You don't need them to tighten the retainer. Nice build, by the way.

 

[Tyler P]

You may want to try this to clean up the Estes retainer. Remove the flutes. You don't need them to tighten the retainer. Nice build, by the way.

View attachment 402493

I like that idea! I'll give that a try!

 

[Funkworks]

You may want to try this to clean up the Estes retainer. Remove the flutes. You don't need them to tighten the retainer. Nice build, by the way.

View attachment 402493

That bevel is so sharp, I just rounded the one I use for my LOC PF Hawk.

 

[Tyler P]

Filets are done. I didn't take pics of the process as I was doing 2 rockets with one batch of 30-minute epoxy mixed with SIG micro-balloons, so I didn't have time to stop and take pictures.

Mixed 30-minute epoxy and then added micro-balloons until it made a nice slurry/paste. Applied with a popsicle stick and smoothed with a finger dipped in rubbing alcohol.

 

[Tyler P]

Now with two coats of EZE-Kote, brushed on by hand this time. I think I may just hand apply it from now on. It went quick and I don't need to clean my airbrush after. Probably gives the same results in the end.

 

[Tyler P]

Got to the finishing work today. Masking...

 

[Tyler P]

...and painting.

 

[Theory]

that is one darn nice paint job my friend!

very well done indeed

 

[Tyler P]

that is one darn nice paint job my friend!

very well done indeed

Thanks so much!

 

[Tyler P]

Here's the first launch of this one. A slight unexpected weather-cock but it flew nice and a perfect recovery.

 

[DMehalko]

Nice! I need to get me one of those park flyer kits haha

 

[berlinetta]

I'm flying mine tomorrow on an E16-7W. I found somewhere it'll be about 635 feet which is fine for where I'm flying it.

 

[berlinetta]

The E16-7W didn't light. I burnt the igniter. Now I'm wondering if the piece of tape that I was told to put over the slot in the instructions, has moved. Motor is currently being stored in my range box til I get another igniter for it.

 

[Tyler P]

The E16-7W didn't light. I burnt the igniter. Now I'm wondering if the piece of tape that I was told to put over the slot in the instructions, has moved. Motor is currently being stored in my range box til I get another igniter for it.

That's the reason I haven't flown my park-flyer IRIS yet. Same thing happened.