The Launch Pad - BOLO {Kit}

The Launch Pad BOLO

The Launch Pad - BOLO {Kit}

Contributed by Moira Jean Whitlock

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2010-11-13
Manufacturer:	The Launch Pad

[Rocket Pic] Brief: A four-finned, single staged simple scale model of a military unguided artillery rocket.

Construction:All the parts are there, with the balsa fins die cut.The nose cone is hollow plastic and the body tube is spiral wound paper as is the 1/8 inch launch lug. The chute is an interesting metallic blue mylar, 18 inches in diameter, and a flat octagonal shape. The shroud lines are thin but strong black threadlike cord, possibly Kevlar and they are attached to the chute using one side adhesive reinforcement paper donuts. The shock cord is 1/4 inch wide white flat elastic, 3 feet long. Three centering rings are supplied and are layered cardboard. Two are meant to center the 6-inch paper 24mm motor tube and the other is meant to hold the shock cord, as will be detailed. An engine hook is supplied to retain the motor.

Finishing:Building was easy, and the instructions were straightforward and easy to follow with pictures. But there were no decals, so I followed the picture of the finished product and made the red striping with Monokote and painted the body cream white and the very tip of the nose cone black. It looks fairly sharp, but I'll admit that my skills at cutting straight lines leaves much to be desired. But it's better than trying to paint a straight line.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

{Rocket Pic] Flight: The model comes with the recommendation to use Estes 24mm D engines and the Aerotech E30. But as the model has balsa fins, I'm not comfortable using the E30. Plywood would seem better to me. Plywood would seem better to me. I may modify the model by glassing the balsa fins for strength and see if that makes it strong enough. With the centering ring that is used to tie the shock cord to, at 6 inches into the tube, it has been suggested that wadding isn't needed, as the chute can rest atop the ring and not be burnt. But I put in 3 sheets of paper wadding anyway, as mylar does burn. The engine hook plus an engine block retains the motor in both directions. Two flights have occurred using a D12-5 by Estes, and both times it flew nice and straight with a pretty inflation of the attractive chute. I caught it once.

Recovery:The recovery was just right. No damage to the rocket occurred and the chute is unscorched.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:Simple to make and fly. Simple to make and fly. Really pretty parachute. But it might be better with thin plywood fins for higher power use. If anyone has flown it successfully as is with an E30, then I'm just neurotic about strength.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Flights

Comments:

T.E. (July 1, 2000)

As my first introduction into mid-powered rocketry, I thought this kit was very easy. Having built expert-level Estes kits (Mars Lander, Orbital Transport) in my younger days, this was a snap. The instructions were well thought out, with enough pictures to make sure I make sure I could see everything. Adding so much nose weight was a surprise, it seemed mostly stable to start with. RockSim'ing later, it made it overly stable with a D engine, but good with larger (F) motors. A welcome (future) option. Instead of CA'ing the fins to strengthen and seal them (as suggested in the instructions), I used the "paper sandwich" trick (white glue 20lb paper to both sides before attaching). They seem more than strong enough.

Joseph Olexa (March 28, 2011)

I was not impressed with this kit. When I received it, the balsa sheet was snapped in half, so I replaced the fins/balsa with basswood. I never liked the mylar parachute. It's been my experience that they don't open up as well, although other people may have had different experiences. It wouldn't have taken more than a sentence to mention where the 3/16 launch lug should be positioned instead of saying it's up to the experience of the builder. I found the launch lug itself to be, well, inadequate. I replaced it with an Estes Launch lug that was more substantial. I thought the motor mount was too far up inside the body tube and would make it more difficult attaching the ignition wire clips when the rocket is on the launch rod. I also think there is a good chance of the motor exhaust causing heat damage to the body tube since the motor mount is so far inside. I modified the rocket in the following ways: Gluing the motor mount tube flush with the end of the body tube to gain access to the motor igniter leads and to avoid exhaust heat problems, installing a baffle to avoid putting 12 to 15 sheets of wadding inside the tube - with the baffle I use about 2 or 3 just in case (the instructions say the ring inside the body tube that keeps the parachute in the top section is not to be counted on as a baffle), Using basswood for the fin material instead of balsa, and using a nylon parachute to replace the mylar one supplied with the kit. I know it's a little heavier with the modifications, but it flies well anyway. After I built it I liked it, and will continue to fly it, but I expected better. I could buy other kits from this manufacturer in the future, but now I know what to expect from the kit right out of the bag.

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