LOC/Precision Forte'

LOC/Precision - Forte' {Kit} (PK-32)

Contributed by Jerry O'Sullivan

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 3.10 inches
Manufacturer: LOC/Precision
Style: Sport

IrishBrief
This is a single stage, baffled, glass reinforced model.

Construction
The kit arrived in a plastic bag containing laser cut 1/8" plywood fins and centering rings, plastic nose cone, elastic shock cord, 24" chute, 29mm motor mount tube, clear concise instructions (on the back of the cardboard label). No decals are included and no paint scheme is suggested, although one can copy the label.

The main BT is not pre-slotted for the 4 fins although the locations are marked in pencil. Fins go only through the BT - NOT to the MM which is curious since the strength of that joint is much greater with TTW to the MM tube fins. C'mon LOC!!!!

On this model you must make provisions for positive motor retention as none is included with the kit. I chose T-nuts and screen door clips. Cheap and strong. There's also no thrust ring so you'll need to make one for your single use motors. I had a LOC baffle lying around so I installed it at the end of the MM tube. It's basically a roll of wire mesh about 3" long that's held in place by a thrust ring. Works well but the small central hole does allow soot through to slightly dirty the parachute. I read somewhere how to correct this but it's too late now! Nomex® now solves that problem.

I reinforced the fin/bt joint with 1 layer of 4oz glass cloth cut so that it follows the leading edge of 1 fin about 3/4" back, down the fin, around the BT, and up the adjacent fin in the same manner. What you wind up with is a strong joint AND fin but with flexibility. On mine the cloth stops just where the leading edge bevel (a la Phoenix) begins its taper.

I mounted a screw eye to the forward centering ring and attached 20' of Pratt Hobbies 1/8" tubular Kevlar®. To solve the weak joint at the nose cone I drilled 2 holes in it's base, threaded some of Pratt Hobbies 1000lb test Kevlar® line to make a loop, knotted and ca'd it and attached the TK to the loop. Very simple, very strong.

Finishing
I had some fun finishing this to look like the flag of Ireland, complete with 4 leaf clovers and leprechauns. I filled the tube grooves with vinyl spackle - they're not as bad as PML tubing and are easy to fill this way.

Construction Rating: 3 out of 5

Flight Flight
I plan to Cert L1 with this soon and have so far flown 3 times on F20-4 Econojets. A word about these - lose the label!!! After the 1st flight I let it sit around a while and it became thoroughly glued into the tube requiring major surgery to remove!!

This is the absolute minimum motor for this however produces a great slow lift-off, nice arcing trajectory, and deployment just at apogee. I'm concerned a little with the zipper potential of the TK but I'm hoping I pick the right delays as I move up in motors.

Recovery
These flights were on fairly windy days so I used an 18" chute. This produces what looks like hard landings but the glass reinforcement works perfectly and so far not a scratch!!

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary
As this was my 1st LOC kit I'd say the instructions are minimal - you'll almost certainly want to modify in ways not mentioned. LOC should make true TTW fins for all it's kits although as recommended motors are in the F & G range perhaps they didn't feel this was necessary. And the elastic shock cord? Again, the above applies.

Compared to Aerotech kits, this was more difficult (but nothing's as easy as AT IMHO).

All in all though I'm pleased with their product and have purchased a LOC EZI-65 as a L2 project.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Reviews
  • LOC/Precision Forte' By Alex Rothchild

    This LOC/ Precision Forte is a simple 3.1 inch kit. It has a 38mm motor mount, and can fly on anything from an F25-4 to a J350 with a lot epoxy and fiberglass. It does not have a payload section, and the fins go all the way to the motor mount (thank you LOC). All the parts that came with this kit fit together perfectly and were very sturdy. The parts included: -One main airframe ...

  • LOC/Precision Forte' By Neil Thompson

    The Forte' is a single staged HPR capable rocket. It can fly on as little as an F up to an H or I, and maybe with a lot of reinforcements, a J350. It is a fairly basic rocket, my second mid-power. I probably could have made it without instructions, it's so easy. It does not have a payload section (Waaaaaaaaahhhhhhh), but I plan on adding one soon. It has a heavy duty cardboard airframe ...

  • LOC/Precision Forte' By Moira Jean Whitlock

    Brief:   Single staged, came with black, 24-inch diameter nylon chute. Has 4 fins. Construction: All parts were there and in good shape.  I didn't get decals, but that's not a problem for me, as I often customize my rockets. The fins (4) are plywood, precut, and are clipped delta shape. The nose cone is hollow plastic, 11 inches long, fitting the standard LOC body tube of 3 ...

Flights

Comments:

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C.B. (May 1, 2001)
I have built two smaller kits by LOC, Aurora and LIL Nuke, and have used their shock cord mounting. However, on this larger kit, I elected to add an extra CR with an eye bolt and mount the shock cord to this. I used window screen clips with t-nuts for motor retention. First flight on F50-6 was good, ejection was just after apogee.Very pleased with this kit as with the smaller ones!I did also use the LOC baffle system with great results. No burned chute. I will build the EZI-65 next for level one certification. This review is fairly accurate. Easy to build, flies straight, and recovers in good shape!
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G.H. (November 7, 2001)
This is the first Kit I have purchased from LOC/Precision. Was not impressed when i noticed that one of the precut slots was off by 1/3 inch.
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G.H. (January 3, 2002)
The body tube had precut slots, one of them was off noticeably. Went together smooth though. Nose cone is a little loose. I added a 9 inch payload section for a wireless camera. Test launches went great carring 2 rolls of pennies in the payload section. (g-80 motor). Now for the camera....

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