LOC Precision Nostalgia, love the classics

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Theory

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Like many, I cut my teeth in HPR with Loc Precision. Have built, flown, lost, rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt a large number of Loc kits. “Theory” my first custom HPR build was with Loc components, as was “Theory II” and “Theory III.”

When I got back into the hobby in 2018 it was back to Loc. To that end in 2019 it was only right that my first large build was a Loc Caliber ISP. Sadly, a few weeks ago, on its 30th flight it was destroyed. Was heartbroken but as we do in this hobby, we move on. Have another Caliber ISP on the way and a Laser Loc 313 in the build pile. Both will be completed in the next few months with the 313 getting a full carbon fiber treatment.

The Caliber build will follow the exact same plan that I profiled in my build thread back in the spring of 19. Excited to get this classic back in my fleet. Aim to one day round it out with a Magnum (with the classic nose cone) and Brusier.

Now would like to share a few bits of Loc Precision nostalgia that I’ve hung on too

C2F80BF3-0B70-4061-AE5B-A70A671CAD06.jpeg
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hand written reply from Ron. OG Loc!!!9D78E186-1243-4501-84E6-345B2CF682A2.jpeg
 
Thanks for posting this! LOC Precision has always been amazing and they still are. I loved those days and wore out the pages of their printed catalogs when I was a kid. When I was 7 or 8, I badly wanted a Motherload and my dad made me a deal; do the dishes every night for a year and he would buy it. Sure enough I did, and he made good. To my chagrin, the 3 k motors were out of our budget and the kit collected dust for almost 20 years. We gave it away to Al Gloer (H_Rocket) a few years back and he will do it justice :) I am delighted and amazed this hobby has thrived for so long and continues to grow.
 
Very cool story! And you bet. Bet that Mother load was a sight to behold

Still would love an Esoteric. 5 54s or a single 76mm. Only issue is I I’ve no way to get it to / from a launch.

Now the bruiser… that will happen
 
Really like getting back to the cardboard and plywood kits. Bonding is all T88. Really like that stuff. A little 30min was used to reinforce the Kevlar on the bottom of the forward centering rings. A few pictures of the Caliber ISP so far:

motor mount, 54mm adapted to 38mm with the Kevlar harness. The scuffed tubes and epoxy are everything but pretty…
FFA9A274-4982-468E-87BA-9F25D65CADD6.jpeg

You all know what is going on here:

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Great build thread, as always! This has probably been discussed somewhere before, but what is/are the differences between the Laser Loc 3.1 and the Caliber-ISP ? I see on the Loc site the Laser Loc is longer and dual deploy ready...and the C-ISP as stock seems to be single deploy. Are the fins any different? Is the NC the same?
 
The Laser Loc is longer, uses three 1/4” fins with the fin-loc system, comes fully dual deploy ready, and includes that darn awesome tail cone.

Look at the Caliber ISP as the OG altitude rocket from Loc, and the Laser Loc 313 as the next gen…

Incidentally just ordered the carbon and motor retention for my Laser Loc today. Build will start in a week or so.
 
The Laser Loc is longer, uses three 1/4” fins with the fin-loc system, comes fully dual deploy ready, and includes that darn awesome tail cone.

Look at the Caliber ISP as the OG altitude rocket from Loc, and the Laser Loc 313 as the next gen…

Incidentally just ordered the carbon and motor retention for my Laser Loc today. Build will start in a week or so.
Thanks - doh! - I somehow didn't notice the obvious - the LL has 3 fins and the C-ISP has 4! *facepalm*
 
The Laser Loc is longer, uses three 1/4” fins with the fin-loc system, comes fully dual deploy ready, and includes that darn awesome tail cone.

Look at the Caliber ISP as the OG altitude rocket from Loc, and the Laser Loc 313 as the next gen…

Incidentally just ordered the carbon and motor retention for my Laser Loc today. Build will start in a week or so.
So first launch is a 54/1706 K-motor? I would never put you up to it:popcorn: Nice build and looking forward to October.
 
The Caliber is built as a 38mm bird. She will be my EX test bed. The previous version loved big I motors, believe this one will too.

The Laser Loc on the other hand… Stay tuned for the build thread and the motor in the range box they I have queued up for her.
 
I had a Caliber 2011-2014. Flew 19 times and was set up for dual deploy.

Cal01.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 2508 I218 ............. 9-4-10
Cal02.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 2785 H999 ............. 1-9-11 Main shook out at apogee, tree recovery
Cal03.fipa . Caliber ISP .. 2760 I245G ............ 7-4-11
Cal04.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 2630 I250 (38/480) .... 11-13-11
Cal05.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 2756 I204 ............. 12-10-11
Cal06.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 3428 I73 (38/600) ..... 4-15-12
Cal07.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 3930 I85SS ............ 9-3-12
Cal08.pf2 .. Caliber ISP .. 5797 J220 (54/852) .... 11-11-12
Cal09.pf2 .. Caliber Isp .. 7487 J330 (54/1280) ... 12-9-12
Cal10.pfd .. Caliber Isp .. 4227 I284 ............. 3-9-13
Cal11.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 4655 I85 .............. 6-1-13
Cal12.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 3066 I1299 ............ 6-8-13
Cal13.pfd .. Caliber ISP .. 3366 I211 ............. 7-13-13
Cal14.pf2 .. Caliber ISP .. 4113 I366R ............ 9-2-13
Cal15.rff .. Caliber ISP .. 4747 I100 CTI ......... 10-12-13 New Missileworks RRC3
Cal16.pf2 .. Caliber ISP .. 3232 I85 .............. 4-13-14 Pad shifted, a mile downrange
Cal17.pf2 .. Caliber Isp .. 2345 I218 ............. 6-8-14
(none) ..... Caliber ISP ... ? 3g38 ex propellant 7-4-14 No data on RRC3, correct deploy
Cal19.pf2 .. Caliber ISP ... 682 I85 .............. 7-6-14 Burnthrough, booster destroyed
 
Very cool story! And you bet. Bet that Mother load was a sight to behold

Still would love an Esoteric. 5 54s or a single 76mm. Only issue is I I’ve no way to get it to / from a launch.

Now the bruiser… that will happen

I asked LOC to make me an Esoteric. I have it waiting to be built. It has the classic 5 54mm. The only modern touch to this kit will be the altimeter bay, other than that, no fiberglassing of the tubes or anything. That's my plan anyways.
 
I asked LOC to make me an Esoteric. I have it waiting to be built. It has the classic 5 54mm. The only modern touch to this kit will be the altimeter bay, other than that, no fiberglassing of the tubes or anything. That's my plan anyways.
Back when these were designed there were a lot more long burn motors. I would recommend the long burn motors if you fill all the holes. (J90, J135, K185, K250 or the CTI moon and slot burners such as K160.)
 
Looking forward to seeing the end result of that Dupli-Color Shift…

I spotted it at O’Reillys the other day and am thinking about using it on a build as well.

will see what happens. i am not great at finishing rockets by any means, and know that you can only get so far with rattle cans.

that said, i have high hopes for this.

going to be trying something else new on the Laser Loc
 
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