LOC PRECISION #780 BLACK PROJECT Build Log

[JoeFilgas]

Just received the brand spankin’ new LOC PRECISION release of the #780! As LOC says, “ While our #780 wasn't developed to defend freedom, it was made for research at an infamous ranch in Utah” and upon watching the Anti Gravity Group podcast recently where they debuted the rocket they indicated it was inspired by the Skinwalker Ranch TV show where they have regulary participated in the filming with their rockets. They said it was meant to fill a niche in the retail sector with their vendors at a reasonable price point. This kit was 78 bucks, but the retainer you’ll use could add another 20-30 depending. As expected from LOC, the components are of the highest quality. Everything pictured is what you get for 78 bucks plus shipping! Even came with a rather satin sheened black nylon parachute with bright green shroud lines reminiscent of some little green men! It also comes with a really nice shock cord and fire blanket along with all hardware. The model also included a payload section. The only thing that isn’t included in the kit is a motor retention device. I ordered an Aero Pack 29mm L retainer set which I have used in the past for LOC MT’s and they are high quality and already come black LOL! The kit also included a large vinyl “#780” decal which I probably won’t use. I’m going to work with my wife to produce our own pseudo Lockheed Martin Skunk Works logos and some general U.S. AIRFORCE markings and stars and bars in a dark grey ala the Stealth F117A. I will also do some dark grey pinstriping like LOC has done on there Face Card. I plan to keep all lines sharp so I will not be doing any rounding to the fins as they look amazing just the way they are. I’ll get going on this tomorrow! For tonight I had to do a dry assembly to see how she looks!

 

[Back_at_it]

Will be watching this one. I almost pulled the trigger on that kit yesterday but I was hoping someone would build one first as the pics on their site don't really show a ton of detail as the rocket is black.

 

[Papa Elf]

Ok. That is a cool looking rocket

 

[JoeFilgas]

Will be watching this one. I almost pulled the trigger on that kit yesterday but I was hoping someone would build one first as the pics on their site don't really show a ton of detail as the rocket is black.

I have to say the lines on this rocket are “out of this world” and reflective of an F-117A Steath. I was going to put airfoils on the fins, but after looking at the dry assembly it begged to be left alone. The two long fins are cut at an aesthetically pleasing and unusual angles from top to bottom. The Aero Pack retainer got shipped out this morning! Thank you for following along!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Ok. That is a cool looking rocket

It sure is! The second I saw the release I had to have it!

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision / Public Missiles Rockets #780 Dark Rocket build log: well quite a bit got done today! I started off by working on the motor mount tube sanding it well. Then both centering rings were dry fit and positioned until they were exactly where I wanted them. I wanted the aft portion of the 4 main fins to be flush with the bottom of the BT so that took some time getting everything just right. I’m in no hurry so some time was spent here removing a small portion of the leading forward edge of the rear tab on the two long fins. Next I permanently installed the two eyebolts into their respective plates and secured with BSI five minute epoxy with some West Systems 406 colloidal filler. When those had set up I installed the two motor mount CR’s to the MMT (first tack glued with BSI thick CA glue and kicker. That was followed by BSI 30 minute epoxy with colloidal filler fillets on each side of both centering rings being careful on the aft end because the motor retainer still needs to be installed) and set aside to dry a bit. Then using BSI 30 minute epoxy with West Systems 406 colloidal filler I glued the payload bulkhead (with previously installed eyebolt) into the the coupler after marking the coupler at its half way point in pencil. After that had set up I added an epoxy filet of the same mixture and set aside to dry. Next it was on to all the plywood fins. I first did a quick clean up sanding with 220 grit followed by a dust vacuum and wipe down with a damp paper towel. I used 3/4oz fiberglass cloth, Elmers spray adhesive and finally BSI thin CA to glass all six fins. After they were all glassed I used 220 grit sandpaper to lightly sand them all and prepare them for installation. I will need to do some slot/fin fitting as this added some width although I did not extend the glass on and internal fin tabs. This is not for structural strength as the plywood fins are all fairly small and stout. Rather, this is for the finish work to come. With the fins done it was back to the payload section. Using the same epoxy mixture as before I added epoxy to the inside of the payload tube and seated the coupler inside twisting it around so as to evenly spread the epoxy around. Once in position I used some blue painter’s tape to secure the two and layed it down on it’s side to set up, but not before using a long stick to spread around the epoxy that oozed out along this internal joint. I then layed out the pencil line for the launch buttons. There are no directions with this kit and they refer you to another similar rocket build how to assemble video. I’m going to bore into the the aft CR with the lower, but the forward button location is a question mark at this point. I sent a HELP email over to LOC support for some assistance. To finish up tonight I installed the motor mount. First, while it was still out, I sanded the very aft portion to prepare it for the Aero Pack aluminum motor retainer I have on the way. It’s easier to prepare for this while the motor mount isn’t installed. Next I attached the shock cord to the upper CR eyebolt, wrapped and inserted it inside the motor mount with a paper towel ball on each side to keep it retained during gluing. I also placed a small amount of blue tape over the exposed cord/eyelet junction. I should be able to retrieve the blue tape later with a sharp stick….hopefully. I mixed up the same epoxy/filler mixture and with an epoxy brush applied the epoxy between fin slots. I aligned the motor mount so that the shock cord eyelet would be opposite of the launch rail button where it might interfere. It may not even be a consideration, but I just don’t know yet and it’s always better to be safe rather than sorry. There’s no going back from here. I set this assembly down on its side to cure. That’s all for today!

 

[JoeFilgas]

More pics from today’s work!

 

[JoeFilgas]

And some more pics from today’s work!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Hey fellow Rocketeers if you want to work with a CUSTOMER SERVICE FORWARD Rocket company LOC PRECISION/PUBLIC MISSLES is one of the BEST! If you read my last post about an hour ago I mentioned I had a question on the launch rail button location with the #780. Well Mike over at LOC has already gotten back to me with the information I needed to proceed with my build of an amazing rocket!

“Hi Joe,

Thanks! It's a fun kit that's just a little bit different. We always like to hit the fore and aft centering rings to give the rail buttons a little extra support. The small separation between them on a kit this light isn't an issue. If you mount one up toward the top of the slotted booster you run the risk of the recovery getting snagged on it internally.

Thanks,

Mike Turicik
[email protected]
www.locprecision.com”

JUST WOW THANK YOU MIKE AND LOC PRECISION!!! This, my friends, is what great customer service is all about! LOC just doesn’t talk about it…THEY ACTUALLY DO IT!

 

[proflaser]

I enjoy watching 'Skinwalker Ranch,' particularly when they use the HP rockets in their experiments. I have to laugh when there's a motor cato and the investigator says, 'the rocket explosion during this test is another unexplained mystery."

 

[JoeFilgas]

I enjoy watching 'Skinwalker Ranch,' particularly when they use the HP rockets in their experiments. I have to laugh when there's a motor cato and the investigator says, 'the rocket explosion during this test is another unexplained mystery."

Aren’t they all?

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 Dark Rocket build log: today, well tonight rather as I didn’t get a chance to do any building until now I started by marking the location for the forward launch rail button. LOC had immediately responded to my inquiry yesterday and they recommended this location for the forward button on this particular model. I love LOC! Next I mixed up some BSI 30 minute epoxy with the West Systems 406 colloidal filler and using a long dowel applied an internal fillet where needed to the forward motor mount CR/BT. While that was setting up I moved on to the final fitting of all the fins. The fore and aft corners of all tabs required a 45 degree angle to be sanded off. There are internal glue fillets now in the MMT installation so this area of the tabs needed to account for the fillets to fit correctly. Since it is highly unlikely every fin to fillet joint would be the same I numbered each fin and corresponding fin slot then sanded each fin to fit its corresponding slot. This only took a little sanding to get these to dry fit very well. The two long fins were done the same way only the forward piece of the tab required sanding because the aft end is floating. Next I applied BSI thin CA glue to the inside 1 - 1/2 inches or so of the top of the payload tube and hit with kicker. I used 220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the area and block sanded the very top of the payload tube. I did the same thing to the top of the main BT as well to strengthen the shoulder area against possible zippering. Finally I mixed up another batch of the epoxy fillet material and applied it to the very aft end of the rocket along the aft plywood CR and BT. Then using my finger dipped in alcohol I formed and smoothed out the fillet and set it aside to dry.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 Dark Rocket build log: today I started off by drilling the holes in the marked locations for the rail buttons. Next I tapped the holes with the mounting screw and then reinforce with some thick BSI CA glue, hit with a kicker and then re-tapped. I thought I was being careful with the amount of CA that went into the hole, but alas some had made it’s way to the other side and leak out the fin slot and yep glued the bugger to my shorts! No worries, though worse things have happened. After removing the booster from my lap and cleaning up a bit I moved on to sanding the BT, but first I marked the numbered fin locations on the bottom of the rocket since the BT pencil version would likely be sanded away next. I decided to take the areas where the fins/fillets would be down through the glassine layer. The rest of the BT was then sanded down with 220 grit sand paper. Now we’re ready for permanent fin installation. I mixed up my standard epoxy resin/filler and placed a good amount on the inside edges of fin #1 and carefully inserted it into the corresponding fin slot. The fin was then adjusted to vertical and any glue that oozed out was just spread along the joint with my finger. The BT was set aside to dry. Next the payload tube was sanded with 220 grit sand paper and then the spirals were filled with Upol Fantastic automotive glazing putty and set aside to dry. Finally I sanded the nose cone down with 120/220/320/400 dry followed by a 600 grit wet sand. It is now ready for primer. After two hours of fin #1 drying it was set enough to glue in the opposite side fin #3.

 

[JoeFilgas]

#708 Dark Rocket build log part deaux: another two hours passed so the next fin was epoxied in and secured to dry. The payload bay tube was also sanded down and is ready for primer. UPDATE: two hours passed and the final main fin has been epoxied into place and secured! UPDATE: two more hours and one of the two long fins has now been epoxied in place.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 Dark Rocket build log: a follow up from last night/early this morning…the second long fin was epoxied in and set to dry. With all the fins now installed it’s ready for fin fillets.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 Dark Rocket build log: today, using JB Weld high temp epoxy, I glued the Aero Pack aluminum motor retainer base to the end of the MMT. Prior to gluing the inside area of the retainer portion (grooved) was cleaned with acetone. The outside of the motor mount tube was roughed up with 60 grit sand paper. It was also dry fitted. Next all the fillet/fin areas were taped off. Then I mixed up my standard West Systems 105 epoxy resin, 206 slow hardener and 406 colloidal filler. One of the reasons I like this combination is that it is thick and won’t set very fast so you have plenty of time to work. I applied the epoxy to all the fin joints before pulling them down with an alcohol wetted metal socket. Then, using my finger I did the same thing. Next the tape was all removed followed by another, final run with my alcohol wetted finger. This now completes the actual construction of the rocket. Everything that follows is all about the finishing.

 

[4regt4]

How heavy is this coming in at? Importing LOC's .rkt file in to OpenRocket, it's showing around 25oz w/o motor. Which seems amazingly light if true.

Hans.

 

[JoeFilgas]

How heavy is this coming in at? Importing LOC's .rkt file in to OpenRocket, it's showing around 25oz w/o motor. Which seems amazingly light if true.

Hans.

Haven’t weighed it yet. I’ll weigh it after I sand the filler off tomorrow and give you a pre-paint weight with the laundry included. The tubes are a medium thickness in between the normal thin wall stuff and thick wall so not as heavy as some other LOC rockets.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: today I pre-sanded down the epoxy fillets then used BSI thin CA glue and a micro applicator to seal down the transition between the white glassine layer and underlying brown layer of the cardboard tubing where I had sanded through for the fin installation. I won’t do it this way again however. A better and cleaner way would have been to cut through just the glassine layer with an Xacto blade and peel just the amount needed away. I wish now that I would have done it that way. Ultimately more work for me, but I really have nothing else to do so in the end it really won’t matter. Tomorrow I’ll sand this down and we’ll see if it needs anymore fill before primering. Crappy weather forecast here tomorrow so I can’t primer it anyway. Maybe I’ll get to that this weekend.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: today was all abound sand, sand and sand. I realized I had forgotten to pre-sand and fill the very bottom so that was done. The rest of the main rocket body was sanded down is now ready for primer.

 

[JoeFilgas]

How heavy is this coming in at? Importing LOC's .rkt file in to OpenRocket, it's showing around 25oz w/o motor. Which seems amazingly light if true.

Hans.

So far, all in and no paint, 30.08 ounces without motor.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: the weather cleared up this afternoon so the first round of filler primer went on.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision 780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: today I sanded down the first round of primer and added more glazing putty to a few spots. When that’s dry I’ll re-sand those spot areas and then put on the final coat of filler primer hopefully tomorrow.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: we had 70 degree weather here today along the Northern California Coast so the 780 got her second and hopefully final run of filler primer. Almost ready to get “Back to Black”! Just in case you’re wondering the X-15 got the bottom wing decals removed, wing sanded and re-painted yesterday and is curing. I have a replacement set of decals at the ready. They were originally reversed to my chagrin (not my fault…directions were wrong). Also today the Boyce Aerospace Falcon Heavy received its matte clear coat today after being painted a month ago. Pretty productive rocketry day I’d say!

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 Black Project rocket build log: today I wet sanded the second round of primer that went on yesterday with 400 grit sand paper. It was then thoroughly wiped down and set to dry in a heated room for a bit just to make sure all the moisture was gone. Then I wiped it down with a paper towel and alcohol to finish prepping for the black paint. Then using RustOleum Stops Rust Gloss Black Enamel, the entire rocket was painted. After what happened to the black paint on the X-15 project I’m trying a slightly different procedure with this one to see if I can avoid the same mistake. With this rocket I did misting coats for coverage and no heavy coats. I’m going to let this dry for 5-7 days then I’ll come back and lay down a gloss coat. We shall see if this works.

 

[JoeFilgas]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: today I did the final black coats of paint and set aside to dry.

 

[Back_at_it]

That looks great. Nice job

 

[4regt4]

My LOC Precision #780 BLACK PROJECT rocket build log: today I did the final black coats of paint and set aside to dry.

Jealous.

That's on my short list.

Hans.

 

[JoeFilgas]

That looks great. Nice job

Thanks!

 

[JoeFilgas]

Jealous.

That's on my short list.

Hans.

It’s a nice kit for sure!