Also, (and I don't work for PML) PML, in my opinion has some really good
resources for kit specs, motor suggestions, etc.. I haven't been able to
find anything on which motor I should fly the LOC on... And LOC's web site
is no help - or I missed it.
Thanks
Ron
You won't get any argument from me on PML. I own a Cirrus, Stratus, Xcaliber,
Type 'A' Eclipse and a Quantum Leap. Also, I just lost a Bullpup. All of my
kits have been modified for dual deployment, even the 38mm BT's. Also, Andrew
in Tech Support is very friendly and replies almost instantly to emails.
Another company worth bragging about is Transolve. I use a Transolve P5 for
deployment and ST2 for staging. My L2 cert was with the Eclipse on a J350 and
dual deployment. Worked like a charm.
I sent my P5 back for sonic inhibit upgrade and I have never had better
service. John at Transolve is extremely courteous.
Disclamer: I do not work for PML or Transolve but I would like to own stock in
them.
Chris TRA 8010
I have built several kits of both makes. Glass the airframe? LOC tubing will
withstand more thrust than it gets credit for. My Magnum has been up on a J800
with no glass except what was used to repair a fin after I landed it without
the main chute once. And (FWIW, YMMV) it has logged 12 flights on the same
stock piece of bungee. (I am going to change it out before the next flight on
general principles - I have tempted fate enough). The only kit of any size I
use the stock shock cord in.
OTOH I have seen the stock PML chutes withstand some fairly severe high speed
deployments. I got two delays switched once and put a White Lightning 14 second
delay in a I300 Blue Thunder motor in a PML AmRaam3, for an undertified appx.
18 second delay. Only stripped one line off the chute, easily sewn back, 5"
zipper in the airframe with non stock tubular nylon shock cord.
Jack W. Kale, Jr. NAR #70384 Insured, Tripoli #5798 Level 2
Timmy, you can't take it with you, so if you have a sandwich and your blue
jeans, chill. Your old man, Paul. (1st century, paraphrased)
All things considered, customer service, kits, etc... I have to say I'll only
buy from LOC and never PML. I've bought and built from both, as well as having
experience communicating with the personnel.
Scott Jenkins
TRA 7101
Sco...@aol.com
Sounds like you already know your answer. I like both companies but would pick
LOC "if" I had to pick just one. More basic no frills solid kits. Glad I
don't have to pick though. I have 5 LOC rockets and 3 PMLs.
Jim
Buy one of each in the same "class" of kits, and see which one you prefer. I
have built both. I have always had to modify (improvise) LOC kits, built I
built the PML Kits stock. Both performed "nominally". The stock LOC kits are
lighter if impulse is a problem (cert level), but the PML kits have a feel to
them which is second to none.
I had to call PML about wrong fins that I got in an Explorer kit, they sent the
correct out right away, before I returned the wrong ones. I called LOC about
some WARPED fins that I got on a Mini-Mag, They told me how to fix the warp,
but gave me the impression that I was wasting thier time in the phone.
I plan on buying more PML kits.
John
I tend more towards PML as I am not the best craftsman and it seems that
there is a little less to do than with the LOC... No doubt I will continue
to buy both in the future.
Do you (or anyone else remember the larger) motors you could buy back in the
60's. We also started out with Estes and Centuri (A - D) and in about 1967
or so, we found that we could buy rather large motors in the 20 - 40 lbs
thrust range so they must have been E - G motors or something. I flew them
for about 2 years (couldn't afford more than 1 or 2 every few months) but
believe it or not, I never really looked beyond "how many lbs of thrust does
it have?" - We grow and learn.
Thanks,
Ron
JMoore5196 wrote in message
<20000805115959...@ng-md1.aol.com>...
Coaster motors were offered by the company of the same name in the '60's in
Euless, TX which is between Fort Worth and Dallas. Centuri Engineering out ofn
Arizona offered the Mini-Max line of D, E, and F motors. I spent many hours
trying to figure how I might be able to purchase a kit and some motors in the
late '60's. The biggest problem was the cost of shipping the motors "railway
express". Makes today's Hazmat charges look sane. Mini-Maxes were
questionable motors from the ones I observed. I am sure others had better
results.
Irv Wait in Indiana had a company called RDC - Rocket Development Corp. He
developed the first commercial composite motor - the Enerjet-8. References on
this newsgroup about varible delays have refered to this motor. You literally
had a length of fuse lit by the motor exhaust to determine the delay. Still
have the catalog somewhere. Later, Centuri bought Irv's rights to the enerjet
and sold E's and F's. G motors were not allowed under the "model" rocket
definition at the times.
That is a whole 'nother thread.
Sure wish I'd bought the L'l Hustler kit when it was in a local shop back in
Ohio.
Chas Russell
NAR 9790
Carl
NAR # 76928
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Bob Kaplow NAR # 18L TRA # "Ctrl-Alt-Del"
Kaplow Klips: http://members.aol.com/myhprcato/KaplowKlips.html (baffle too!)
NIRA: http://www.nira.chicago.il.us NAR: http://www.nar.org
SPAM: spamr...@ChooseYourmail.com u...@ftc.gov postm...@127.0.0.1
Bert
Ron wrote:
>
> Considering PML and LOC, does anyone have an opinion on which kit(s) one
> should purchase? No doubt there will be both sides of this fence and
> several arguments, but I have had a few PML's and have had really good luck
> with them. I wanted to try something different so I tried a LOC (EZI-65)
> and found several things I didn't much like, such as: needing to glass the
> airframe, really weak shock chord, questionable launch lugs, need for
> recovery wadding, etc.... Don't pound me for writing this, I really just
> want to know why I should buy LOC and would like to hear the positive side.
>
> Also, (and I don't work for PML) PML, in my opinion has some really good
> resources for kit specs, motor suggestions, etc.. I haven't been able to
> find anything on which motor I should fly the LOC on... And LOC's web site
> is no help - or I missed it.
>
> Thanks
>
> Ron
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