Xyla Foxlin L2 certification kit.

[kuririn]

My buddy Roger notified us of this:

Two parts, $250 total.
If you already have the supplies, $150 just for the rocket.
Seems reasonable.

 

[velocipedecowboy]

My daughter now wants one

 

[rfjustin]

My buddy Roger notified us of this:

Two parts, $250 total.
If you already have the supplies, $150 just for the rocket.
Seems reasonable.

Brilliant marketing actually!

 

[BNev]

I hope this brings a lot more people into rocketry. It's a great idea. The LOC documentation is way better than a lot of other kits.

 

[neil_w]

That is great.

 

[BEC]

That was a lot of fun (but then watching Xyla is generally fun). Thanks for the link, Gary.

She makes some interesting points about tribal knowledge (after all, that's at least part of why we're here, right?) and the dearth of complete, really complete kits out there. NewWay Spacemodels does this to some extent in the LPR world has they include sandpaper and glue applicators and other little details that you don't see in LPR kits generally.

I know that I don't have the supplies and materials around to glass a rocket like that, so this setup, if I were thinking in L2 terms, would be very much of interest.

 

[Art Upton]

Glass a rocket ? Why would you Need to glass an L2 cert rocket?

Notice I said, need, not want

 

[nickt.mrc]

Love XF's videos, really like the product and the concept of comprehensiveness too, but I'm still wary of glassing and ending up with lumpy tubes and fins. Also somewhere for a basic altimeter and GPS locator would be useful too. I didn't see where these could fit. If you fail to spot the rocket.... no certification.
Did you ever see the Spite build video, it's a good way to spend half an hour, specially if you need cheering up!

 

[Pilotx1]

Glass a rocket ? Why would you Need to glass an L2 cert rocket?

Notice I said, need, not want

develop useful skills for later

 

[WizardOfBoz]

I recall her video in which she applied wood veneer to her rocket rather than glass. Looked pretty good.

 

[BNev]

It looked like they were using a Tile for a tracker but it only made a brief appearance.

Things I like. The pink parachute is the easiest one to spot. They went with 1/4" fins which is something I loved about my 3" IRIS and the current one is missing.

I don't think permanently attaching the booster to the payload section, 38mm motor tube, and 3" airframe are flaws for this rocket. I wouldn't routinely fly J motors in this rocket at Bong and would gladly accept that I now have a great beginner rocket and can continue having fun flying it on the H242 or I357. Even if I did get my L2 with this rocket I would be looking for another kit soon anyways.

I know one person I'm sure already saw Xyla's video and ordered the rocket. This will be perfect for their L1 and I won't need to help them build it since they will get a great video tutorial to follow.

I'm really curious how many of these show up at the field next year.

 

[dhurstell]

develop useful skills for later

Precisely the same reason I'm glassing my L1 rocket. For me, and probably lots of others, its our first time dealing with composites

 

[dhurstell]

Glass a rocket ? Why would you Need to glass an L2 cert rocket?

Notice I said, need, not want

Youve never done it before and need experience.

The rocket may not need it, but the rocketeer might.

 

[Art Upton]

Youve never done it before and need experience.

The rocket may not need it, but the rocketeer might.

If you want to hand glass a rocket , yes!

I never wanted to
I bought the fiberglass tubes when I wanted a fiberglass rocket

But yes, everyone is free to chose, but it's not needed for an L2.
So many looking for L2 think they need 'glass, I like to remind they don't really

 

[nickt.mrc]

Good luck to anyone glassing their first rocket. I will need to swallow some brave pills before I eventually try, but then, I am a glass half empty kind of guy.
I've watched loads of tutorials and videos of others doing it and it fills me with apprehension!

 

[stealth6]

Good on Xyla for doing this.
I think it's a great idea.

s6

 

[Neutronium95]

The rocket kit seems fine, I like the 1/4" fins for a bit of extra security on punchier motors. It is noticeably more expensive than other comparable kits, although not to an insane degree. I do really like the composites kit, I'm not aware of any other all in one kits for getting started in rocketry composites.

 

[bad_idea]

Glass a rocket ? Why would you Need to glass an L2 cert rocket?

Notice I said, need, not want

In the need category, durability. Not essential, but helps a lot with landing and hanger rash.

In the want category, what these guys said:

develop useful skills for later

Precisely the same reason I'm glassing my L1 rocket. For me, and probably lots of others, its our first time dealing with composites

This was the main reason why I glassed my L1/L2 rocket, and it was my first time with composites too.

I recall her video in which she applied wood veneer to her rocket rather than glass. Looked pretty good.

She applied the veneer and then glassed over it too.

I do really like the composites kit, I'm not aware of any other all in one kits for getting started in rocketry composites.

Someone could learn a lot of useful skills without having to buy from too many different sources by building an Eggtimer EZ-DD for L1 and this rocket for L2.

 

[dhurstell]

Good on Xyla for doing this.
I think it's a great idea.

s6

I can see this catching on. So many kits, including Estes, are just the parts... many not even including recovery... and it can be daunting.

Every main manufacturer/distributor should have this.

@cerving is onto something with his DD kit too... consider a package that includes all the assembly materials too?

 

[bad_idea]

I can see this catching on. So many kits, including Estes, are just the parts... many not even including recovery... and it can be daunting.

Every main manufacturer/distributor should have this.

Yes, I actually like kits that are only tubes, fins, and a nosecone, but kits that are essentially complete fill a real gap in the market. Worth noting this is absolutely not the cheapest way to go about building an L2 rocket, but it's probably going to be what some people are looking for but have been unable to find.

@cerving is onto something with his DD kit too... consider a package that includes all the assembly materials too?

Cris will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it includes glue, but you can get a bottle of wood glue or 5-minute epoxy at any hardware store. You'll need wood glue and/or epoxy, a soldering iron, a 9v battery, wadding, and ematches/powder, and whatever you'll use to bind up your charges. But all-in-all, it's a very complete kit. I'm hoping it will be available again by the time I get my build pile down to manageable levels.

 

[BEC]

I can see this catching on. So many kits, including Estes, are just the parts... many not even including recovery... and it can be daunting.

Every main manufacturer/distributor should have this.

@cerving is onto something with his DD kit too... consider a package that includes all the assembly materials too?

A long time ago, there were packages of Alpha IIs that included glue and even paints. And before that — mid to late 1960s into the early '70s — there were starter sets that included glue, paints (sanding sealer and colored dope), a brush, brush cleaner, sandpaper and an inexpensive hobby knife. Of course back then there wasn't anyone (at least who wasn't already an aeromodeller) who had that stuff to hand when building a first rocket.

You are probably right that the time for this to come back is now, and Xyla with LOC and Total Boat have provided a great example that it could well make sense for others to follow as an alternative to the no-glue-required beginner kits like the modelrockets.us Nexus and the Estes Cosmic Ray/Cosmic Cargo. I've no idea how big a market that might be, but having such products available again might get a few more beginners to actually build LPR models rather than just assembling them. Or is that just a pipe dream.....?

 

[NateB]

If you want to hand glass a rocket , yes!

I never wanted to
I bought the fiberglass tubes when I wanted a fiberglass rocket

But yes, everyone is free to chose, but it's not needed for an L2.
So many looking for L2 think they need 'glass, I like to remind they don't really

I have a big dog and a small boy (better now that he's older) - even low power rockets benefit from fiberglass to prevent hangar rash.

 

[thzero]

Every main manufacturer/distributor should have this.

Not that there are many .. but LOC, Wildman certainly due and even sell adhesive. Apogee has several.

Never seen many estes kits without everything but glue and motor. But then again, don't really buy kits so may be dated.

 

[thzero]

Guess I have to watch the released rather than pre release but I guess I missed the level 2 call out since it started talking about level 1...

 

[lr64]

Good luck to anyone glassing their first rocket. I will need to swallow some brave pills before I eventually try, but then, I am a glass half empty kind of guy.
I've watched loads of tutorials and videos of others doing it and it fills me with apprehension!

Is there something about rockets that makes them hard to glass? I've glassed a bunch of other things successfully. No big deal. Maybe glass something you don't care about the first time. If I had much trouble learning to use it, I don't remember. Seems to me that the first time I used it was to reinforce a flimsy backpack frame. That worked out ok.

 

[bad_idea]

Guess I have to watch the released rather than pre release but I guess I missed the level 2 call out since it started talking about level 1...

Her friend had gotten her level 1 previously and came out to FAR to do her level 2 on one of Xyla's kits. The kit will work for both levels, like nearly all L2 cert rockets I've seen (someday I hope to see someone cert L2 on a giant L2050 or L2200 behemoth that crawls off the pad and barely breaks 500 feet. I'm not a low and slow guy, but that would be a fun flight to watch).

 

[lr64]

Her friend had gotten her level 1 previously and came out to FAR to do her level 2 on one of Xyla's kits. The kit will work for both levels, like nearly all L2 cert rockets I've seen (someday I hope to see someone cert L2 on a giant L2050 or L2200 behemoth that crawls off the pad and barely breaks 500 feet. I'm not a low and slow guy, but that would be a fun flight to watch).

I'd guess that might be more common in crowded areas where the altitude limits are lower.

 

[neil_w]

In the video I believe she said that glassing the body was for L2 flights that could break Mach 1, and her statement was not to trust paper above about Mach 0.8. Others may not agree with this (I have no clue, personally) but that seemed to be her reasoning. I'm presume the glassing wouldn't be necessary for L1 flights, but if you were building it for both L1 and L2 (or just L2) then maybe. Also Xyla clearly loves glassing things.

I would have liked a bit more attention to safety precautions when working with fiberglass, especially for glass newbies for whom this kit was clearly intended. For reference, see Joe Barnard's absolutely hilarious latest video (seriously, worth a watch for everyone. I LOLed many times). Maybe there will be more of that in the build instructional video.

I was actually more curious about the use of tip-to-tip rather than glassing the body.

 

[Art Upton]

A LOC 38mm Kraft tube I flew to Mach ~1.7 , the tube did not fail, the battery pack did

A person in our club when it took off said 'It's going to fold like a cheap 2 dollar suitcase'

Sue McMurrey in the Binos on the playa said 'Ah.. It's coming down now, about as fast as it went up'... we spotted the landing point by a Wile-E-Coyote mushroom cloud of playa dust where it hit...



It is the fins I have to worry about at Mach, even G10 fiberglass ones have failed me with flutter in some flights I experimented with.

Next is couplers and failing by the coupler if your rocket experiences any moves in the air, like a wind shear or conning; wind shear has got me and 2 others on the same morning in need for speed as well

There is a recent built post here where the 'Glassed 4" rocket failed past Mach, just below the AV-bay and above the most forward centering ring

PPS: I am not that fat anymore

 

[BNev]

A "small" J350 in a 3" rocket is probably going M.85 and 4800 feet. That's a pretty spicy cert flight.