LOC/Precision Aura

LOC/Precision - Aura {Kit} (PK-18) [1988-]

Contributed by Nick Esselman

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2010-11-13
Diameter: 1.52 inches
Length: 23.00 inches
Manufacturer: LOC/Precision
Skill Level: 3
Style: Sport

The Aura was my first rocket from LOC/Precision and I would consider it their entry level kit considering the size, ease of build and price. It is a basic three-fin-and-a-nose-cone (3FNC) kit with a 29mm motor mount. 

Although the kit comments indicate that the "kit is recommended for those with previous model rocketry building experience", it is a very easy kit to assemble. The experience is required due to limited illustrations in the instructions and probably due to the 29mm motor option.

The kit includes a plastic nose cone, a section of body tube, 3 pre-cut plywood fins, motor mount materials, a launch lug and the recovery system.

CONSTRUCTION:

The kit comes in a plastic bag with an insert displaying a picture of the Aura and the specifications. On the back of this 4x11" insert are the instructions. There are only two small illustrations. One showing the rear view and another cut-away showing the side view motor mount and fin alignment. The instructions are straight forward and in a logical order allowing the builder to assemble this straight-forward 3FNC rocket.

For ease of assembly and alignment, the fin lines and launch lug lines are pre-drawn on the body tube. A nice touch. touch. This and the simplicity of the rocket make it go together quickly. LOC recommends using epoxy (6 or 20 minute) and I used 15 minute.

The recovery system is assembled from its own set of instructions. It consists of a length of braided nylon cord which is knotted at both ends, and knotted with a 1" loop in the center. The two knotted ends are taped to the inside of the body tube with the knots on the far side of the tape. Then it is coated with epoxy to completely cover the tape and the knots. The top of the nylon with the 1" loop sticks out of the top of the rocket and is used to tie the elastic shock-cord to.

The motor mount consists of a 29mm tube and two centering rings. The kit relies on friction fit for motor retention. retention. I added a piece of spring steel (from an old windshield wiper blade) to make a retention hook just like an Estes kit.

[Rocket Picture]Finishing was also quick, by choice, since it was two days before NARAM-40 and this rocket was going along. I used Plasti-Kote primer for sealing and filling. I then painted the entire rocket with some left-over red paint, then masked and added silver paint.  I lastly hit it with clear coat. Aura does not come with any decals so the finish is entirely up to you.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 points.It is easy to build and therefore similar to many other 3FNC rockets. The instructions were clear and the addition of the shock-cord instructions ensure a successful attachment. It would be nice to see a decal with the name of the rocket and a positive motor retention system.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

The Aura is a bit deceptive. Its size and looks may make observers think it is an Estes-type kit weighing in at 2 - 3 ounces. However, with the motor this kit weighs in around 12 ounces.

The Aura was launched at NARAM-40, as planned, on an EconoJet F20-7. Out of sight flight, with simulation indicating greater than 3800 feet. It came down very fast as the nylon streamer was spinning and wrapping itself up. It landed only 50 feet from the pad it was launch from. Upon inspection, one fin had broken completely off taking all of the epoxy bonded areas with it.

Later I tried using the streamer from the Aura on an Aerotech Mustang, only to find the same type of rolling and tangling on its way down. Maybe it was all the humidity, but the streamer did not seem effective.

The fin coming off may be something to watch out for, because I have read several posts on RMR regarding the Aura indicating the same thing. I think using the technique of pin holes along the alignment line would be recommended. I use a variation to this technique by using a hobby knife to cut 1/4" slits across and perpendicular to the alignment line, spacing them about 1/4" apart. This allows the epoxy to flow into the body tube and gives it better hold. This was done when reattaching the fin.

After replacing the fin, I flew the Aura on an Aerotech RMS E23-5T. Simulation indicates that it should fly to about 1550 feet. It was a beautiful launch and very straight flight. Watching it arc and start to scream toward the earth was not expected though. though. Neither was it slamming into the ground somewhere out of sight and not to be found. Total loss included the $20 rocket, the $35 casing, the $14 parachute (I should have had that streamer in there) and the time to get this rocket ready to fly.

The meaning of Aura is:

                 1.a distinctive and pervasive quality or 
                       character; air; atmosphere: an aura of 
                       respectability.
                  2.a light or radiance claimed to emanate 
                       from the body and to be visible to 
                       certain individuals with psychic or 
                       spiritual powers.
                  3.a sensation, as of a glowing light or an 
                       aroma, preceding an attack of migraine 
                       or epilepsy.

I think the 3rd definition was appropriate considering the migraine that ensued after realizing the "cost" of that flight. Of course it was not a rocket design or kit issue.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this kit 3 points.The streamer seems to be the main issue and because RMR postings indicated experiences of losing a fin and then it happened to me, there is probably reason to consider its recovery system as the reason. Also, motor retention would be a bonus.

Overall, this kit is easy to build and is a nice flyer which can give very high altitudes. Consideration on fin attachment and streamer usage will need to be taken by the modeler. I give the kit an OVERALL rating of 3 point

Other Reviews
  • LOC/Precision Aura By Nick Aberg

    Brief: The LOC/Precision Aura is a tough, quick building, inexpensive, midpower model rocket with streamer recovery. Construction: The kit came in a bag with: 1 heavy duty body tube, 1 thick plastic nose cone, 3 pre-cut 1/8" ply fins, 1 shock cord mount and elastic shock cord, 1 5ft long streamer, 1 29mm MMT tube, 1 1/4" launch lug, and 2 paper centering rings. The ...

Flights

Comments:

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E.S. (February 1, 2000)
The LOC Aura is a very durable kit. I have found that by making the fins through the wall to be the best way of keeping them on during landing. This worked very well under flight. I had launched this rocket in NY during Colboskil on a G125. I did not recover it due putting a large chute in it.
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B.H. (April 1, 2000)
The fiberglassing of the fins is a absolute must. I flew mine at Danville 99 on an AT G-80 SU. Thank goodness for bonus delays. The Aura is not what I would consider a good beginner kit. I think the previous rocket building experience warning is a good call.
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R.J. (September 1, 2000)
The LOC Aura is one of my favorite rockets. Easy to prep and always an impressive flight. However, my first flight was with the included streamer. It hit the playa hard and delaminated the body tube at one fin. Easy to fix with epoxy. But I fly it now with a small nylon parachute (12-15 inches). One change I made to the kit was to add an AeroTech motor retaining clip. I had to cut a small rectangle of airframe to make this work. I wouldn't recommend doing this. It limits the available motors, and the retention doesn't always work. But I would recommend the rocket. It's a great kit.
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M.K. (January 1, 2001)
I enjoyed building the LOC Aura. A nice small rocket, that really soars. I asked a lot of people on the Internet wether to use the stock streamer or not, half said yes, half said no. I went with the streamer, and now I regret it. I broke a fin off, and the soil was a soft as could be. Next time I will be using a small chute, but the streamer would still be good for a F or G launch, if I am ever tempted. Overall a great rocket, quality parts, and should last for a long time, if the fins stay on. Would love to see it fly on a G40 or G33 sometime, but good luck to that crazy person.
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A.C.D. (January 1, 2001)
When somebody launches a big one, heads pop up during climb-out. With Aura on a G40, people can sense that something special is underway; she climbs and climbs, and nobody stops watching. Oh, yeah; this kit is what it's all about.
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D.O. (February 1, 2001)
I have flown my Aura several times from a high altitude launch site 8800' MSL with motors at the upper end of the range (G33s and G64s). I worried about the fins when I built the kit, so I reinforced the joints with 0.5 oz glass on the bias. (0.5 oz cloth was used to keep the weight down my bird tips the scales at 8 oz. with a 24" chute and NO MOTOR) When you use "regular" glass (Not Crowfoot) on a bias (fibers running at 45 degrees to the rocket) you have two advantages. First all the glass fibers are working for you because both the long and cross fibers cross the joint. Second is that the cloth is pliable in that direction so it goes around corners better. The other thing that is really important when glassing LOC paper tubes is to sand the waxy finish off of the tube so the epoxy can penetrate into the tube, and have some "tooth" to bond to for maximum strength.
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T.B. (February 1, 2001)
I love my Aura and have flown it many times using both D and E engines (with homemade motor adapter). It flies great on a E15-7 and the grand-kids love the noise and smoke. Easy to build and nice kit to get one started into mid power rockets. Plan on flying it with and F this season but will switch out the streamer for a small parachute. Great kit, great rocket and I highly recommend it for someone just getting started into the Mid/high power rockets.
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M.G.K. (October 26, 2001)
My 1st mid-power rocket kit. I agree with all of the earlier posts. Gotta' have good fin fillets or you're going lose a fin. I have installed a quick change swivel to change back and forth between streamer or 12" chute. This rocket really climbs out on an E motor, but looks good on a D also. Haven't tried an F or G yet (may not come back!)
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C.V.H. (November 3, 2001)
The Aura is a fun kit to fly. On a G-80 it is a spectacular flight, but almost impossible to track near apogee, and I've nearly lost it a couple of times. I fly mine with a piece of flame proof wadding filled with chalk dust, so at ejection it makes a nice white spot against the clouds and I also have but in a 20 foot streamer. Even at 4200 feet it is easy to track its descent.
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D.S. (July 26, 2002)
Don't fly it on an E9! By the time it was stable, it was flying in a distinctly horizontal fashion. The rocket gods were kind and I found it just across the road from the field.
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J.S.P. (May 5, 2003)
I bought my Aura over ten years ago and it's still flying like a champ! The only modification I made was to scrap the streamer and put in a 10 inch nylon chute. This bird is HEAVY and if you go with a streamer you're begging the rocket gods to take a fin!
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T.B. (November 18, 2003)
I've flown my Aura now at least a dozen times and have had only one fin breakage on the second flight. I found that by attaching the supplied streamer by the very end (so you have a long single streamer) and by folding several times before rolling it works quite well. During times of high humidity I've been known to sprinkle the streamer with some baby powder - which also gives a nice marker at ejection. I've moved on to bigger and better rockets, but still fly my Aura every chance I get. For small field it flies great on D12-3 or E15-4 and grandkids love watching it fly and chasing it (which is a bonus for me ) Great little rocket that I highly recommend.
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G.L.P. (July 20, 2004)
I love the Aura. It's a hot little rocket. I once had it caught in a flag pole. Had to cut the shock cord. I've chipped a fin and broken a few fins but it's okay. I've flown it on an Ellis F37 or something. Straight and true. A little spinning on ascent. I was actually able to track the rocket all the way up! Streamer popped. It was heading toward the danger zone behind the military target range. Luckily the wind caught it and brought it back within 50 ft. I plan to fly it on a G later!

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