I've been building and launching LPR's for nearly a year now so thought it was about time to step it up a notch and build something a little bigger. Two of my favourite LPR's are the Stormcaster on a D15 and the Big Daddy on an E18 - see photo of the B.D. below from the QRS July launch (thanks Brendan!)

Anyway I decided in keeping with the short fat rocket theme that I'd build a LOC Onyx for my first (real) MPR. It had it's first outing also at the July launch on an E23, but not in final trim. Since then I've finished the painting and added a few frilly bits, and I'm pretty happy with the result.

Of course now I'm planning the next rocket, probably either a LOC IV or Fantam, with a view to maybe going for my L1 by Christmas - we'll see

Hope you like the photo's.

bar-man (Mark)

They are both very nice rockets you have built Mark, I wish I could paint my rockets as well as you have.

The closeup shots of the Onyx show you have made excellent fin fillets and MMT/CR construction. That rocket should easily take anything in the MPR class you can throw at it.....Congratulations.

That looks great Mark, well done ! I agree with Lamp, beaut finish indeed.

Hi Mark

Are we going see you fly this little fellow again come the August launch ?

Tarp

Thanks for the comments Lamp & Ari. I've found the most important ingredient for a good finish is patience! The copper nose paint is just a $3 something can of spray from Super-cheap, cured for a couple of weeks and polished using turtle wax car polish! I've never had much luck with clear top coat.

Yes Tarp, I'll be there in August. I picked up an F40 and a G73 at the last launch plus a pack of F39's for the Big Daddy. That with the pile of 24mm BP motors from the fire sale and some left over smaller reloads means I'm really spoiled for choice!

By the way I'll also be bringing a work colleague who been itching to come and see what all the fuss is about.

Mark

looks good! great care on the fillets.

i bought an onyx as my 1st G-capable rocket, too... love a short fat rocket!!!

you could probably get your L1 on that if you really wanted to... not sure where the CG and CP sit but if it was a problem you could always add a bit of weight to the nose.

only drama with the onyx is the fins aren't through-the-wall... i popped a fin on my first flight but I think I should've worked harder to make the fin joints more tough (made epoxy rivets to fix, drilling small holes along the body tube)

great tip with the wax, by the way... i've had no success with clear coat!

Hi Mark,

Great rocket, love the paint scheme - patricularly the gold / bronze.

You've just answered a question of mine regard the Supercheap paints and clear coat - polish instead ! Whilst I like the price and colours, the clear coat seems prone to finger marks no matter how much I put it out in the Sun to cure it.

I tend to pick the rockets up by the rail mount and motor mount, although my 7 year old son picks them up any which way....

I was planning to use these paints and a more expensive clear coat, although have heard you shouldn't mix and match.

They do look good.

Regards,

Hi mr. f, yes there are quite a few examples on the web of people using H's in the Onyx but as you point out the weak point is the surface mount fins. I'm also concerned about whether the launch lug is robust enough plus I've optimised the motor retention for the hobbyline case with the estes hook set up to use the notch in the aft closure. I do have a bolt as a backup I could use for a clip of some sort for a HPR case.



Please forgive the overspray, that's next weekends task!

The Aerotech facebook page has been tracking the bench testing of a baby H for the hobbyline case. That may be just too tempting to pass up!

Rob, thanks for the comments. I've tried a number of paint brands, the white on the body is White Night spray, a little over $7 from Bunnings. It went on much more nicely than the Export and so far looks to be a little superior. Time will tell. The main issue with the Export paint is that pretty much any handling tends to soften it.

Mark.