Laser-X.....my first Semroc kit

[EchoVictor]

Holy *@%#!

After reading quite a few threads here at YORF, I've gotten the impression that there's a high regard for the kits that come out of Semroc. So, while making an order a couple of weeks ago, I figured I'd try one out. As I'm a complete sci-fi fan, the design that tickled my fancy the most was the Laser-X.

Upon recieving the kit, I was a bit surprised to discover that the main body transition was not a balsa part, but the old-school method of tube and paper cone. Cool! Then, I took a gander at the fin stock.

WOW! The best words I can choose for the precision and quality of the laser-cut fins are;

"Staggeringly good"

Usually, when you have a set of identical fins cut out, you need to stack them together and sand to take of 0.5mm here or 1mm there to get them symmetrical. Not with these! Although the well-done instructions recommended the stack-and-sand method, I found that all I needed to do was knock down the burrs that held the fins to the sheet. They were that precise.

Once I got going, I couldn't stop. I just had to have her looking complete before I hit the sack. So, 2.5 hours later, I now have a beautiful, almost-built Laser-X (sans 'chute). Something tells me that there will be more Semroc birds in my future fleet....

Thanks, Carl!

Later,
EV

[Bob H]

That is exactly the same thing that happened to me! I was ordering parts for a SST Shuttle clone and decided to get a Laser-X kit. I was planning to make one anyway but the idea of cutting out all those parts kept pushing it back into the "someday" queue. When I saw that the parts were already laser cut, I had to get one.

The quality was great and it's all done except that I left off the toothpicks on the fins.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

The quality was great and it's all done except that I left off the toothpicks on the fins.

Interesting. The toothpicks were also left off of the SLS version that Semroc flew at NARAM. ;)

[dtomko]

I can't wait for the SLS Laser-X, although my wallet certainly can :(
Maybe Carl couldn't find upscale toothpicks! I read that the toothpicks can snag the chute; on mine I cut them in half and took off about 1/2" or so from the middle and then centered them on the fins. The toothpicks on the original Centuri Laser-X were a bit shorter.
Semroc's kits are too good.

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

I can't wait for the SLS Laser-X, although my wallet certainly can :(
Maybe Carl couldn't find upscale toothpicks! I read that the toothpicks can snag the chute; on mine I cut them in half and took off about 1/2" or so from the middle and then centered them on the fins. The toothpicks on the original Centuri Laser-X were a bit shorter.
Semroc's kits are too good.

Carl was telling me something about making them removable for flight using launch lugs. Sounded like a cool idea to me. This one is on my list also. I can't see myself getting into high power at this point, but I really like the size and performance of these clustered upscales. I have two more projects in various stages of planning along these lines. :cool:

[Eagle3]

I finally put the last coat of paint on my Semroc Laser-X tonight. I bought this when Semroc first got going again and it's been sitting nekkid on the work bench for over a year. :( I went with florescent red for three of four bottom fins and florescent red-orange for the upper fins. I think it came out pretty sweet. :) I hope to get the decals on Friday so I can fly it at the JMRC launch on Saturday.

Bill, did Carl give any indication on when we might see the SLS Laser-X hit the web site? Sooner or later?

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Bill, did Carl give any indication on when we might see the SLS Laser-X hit the web site? Sooner or later?

I got the impression that it would be later, if at all. This was a prototype, so they may have some bugs to work out. I didn't press for details. Too busy admiring the finished product, which was sitting with a partially finished SLS Hydra. Speaking of which, the SLS Hydra is REALLY awesome! The regular Hydra impressed me with its size. First one I had ever seen, and for some reason I never gave a thought to the fact that seven motors take a lot of tube space.

[JRThro]

Carl was telling me something about making them removable for flight using launch lugs. Sounded like a cool idea to me. This one is on my list also. I can't see myself getting into high power at this point, but I really like the size and performance of these clustered upscales. I have two more projects in various stages of planning along these lines. :cool:
Scott Branche included an alternative way to make spines/spikes/guns/whatever removable for flight with his Rokitflite Odyssey kit. The really small styrene rods that came with the kit fit snugly into the slightly less small styrene cylinders, so the rods can be left on or removed for flight at the owner's discretion.

Kind of like toothpicks and launch lugs, only smaller and made of plastic. :)

[sandman]

Prototype!??? :rolleyes:

The "prototype" that flew at NARAM was BUILT on the field at NARAM by Bruce Mclawthorn (Carl's son).

My impression was that he just thought of doing it!

[A Fish Named Wallyum]

Prototype!??? :rolleyes:

The "prototype" that flew at NARAM was BUILT on the field at NARAM by Bruce Mclawthorn (Carl's son).

My impression was that he just thought of doing it!

How do you explain the fact that it was fully decaled? :confused: :p

[sandman]

I think he did the decals on Thursday.

[Carl@Semroc]

Interesting. The toothpicks were also left off of the SLS version that Semroc flew at NARAM. ;)They were on there, but they kept hitting things and popping off. We just stopped putting them back on.

[Carl@Semroc]

Carl was telling me something about making them removable for flight using launch lugs. Sounded like a cool idea to me. This one is on my list also. I can't see myself getting into high power at this point, but I really like the size and performance of these clustered upscales. I have two more projects in various stages of planning along these lines. :cool: We are looking at making them removable for flight. If the parachute tangles on a standard Laser-X, it is not so bad, but a 175% upscale does not need that grief.

The four 18mm cluster adapter or the 24mm E9 adapter will keep it out of the high power class. 380' on four B6-4's and 800' on four C6-5's or about 650' on one E9-4. And if you want to let it go, it will take G's.

[Carl@Semroc]

Bill, did Carl give any indication on when we might see the SLS Laser-X hit the web site? Sooner or later?The SLS Laser-X should be close to release. The SLS Hydra VII is the one that is later or not at all. It will require a minimum of a single H180 or a hefty cluster. The prototype is basswood, but the final will probably be ply.

[Carl@Semroc]

Prototype!??? :rolleyes:

The "prototype" that flew at NARAM was BUILT on the field at NARAM by Bruce Mclawthorn (Carl's son).

My impression was that he just thought of doing it!All the parts were laser-cut before the trip and the decals were done as well. We did not have enough room to take it there assembled. Bruce did do a great job putting it together there for its first test flight. The flight went great! Sheryl was nervous. I told her she looked like a soccer-mom watching her child in an important game.

[Vanel]

Just finished my Laser-X... It was a fun build! Carl can really put a kit together!

Here's the before launch beauty shot - sorry for the poor pic quality.

http://www.billcooke.org/images/Fleet/Laser_X.jpg

Now to finish my BSG Viper clone.

[EchoVictor]

Yeah it took me a while to finish, but here's some pics.

Later,
EV

[Green Dragon]

Just finished my Laser-X... It was a fun build! Carl can really put a kit together!


Now to finish my BSG Viper clone.

noting this is a seim-old thread, lol .. just saw the comment regarding the BSG viper clone.

Any details or tips on cloning that ?

ie: the odd sized BT-51 or 52 pod tubes ?

the cone cut / angle ?

are the decals,etc posted online ( I did not go check, so might be a dumb question I could answer myself, lol ) .

Comment caught my eye because I had an original back in the day, and would be a nice addition to my ever growing fleet - of all sizes, lol .

~ AL

[Vanel]

I used Semroc ST-10's for the turbo tubes - worked great, but the Semroc BT-51's are closer in diameter to the originals.

The body tube is a 9.5" BT-50. Length of nose varies from 2.125" (top) to 1.75" (Bottom). - can get angle from this. The turbo tubes are a little less than 4" in length - Mine matched up fine with the wings at at 3.9".

Plans and decals are available at JimZ's site (http://www.dars.org/jimz/est1310.htm).

[Green Dragon]

Thanks for the info.

I was not aware that CArl had the BT51's, so good news as well .

I am now going to have to add this one to the ' future plans' pile..... # 147 or something like that , lol .

~ AL

[Dannycolossus]

I started one of these a while back, the fins were to flimsy in my opinnion. i think i will get another though.

[Blakkzakk]

I had an original Centuri Laser X back in the early '70s.

I scratch built a downsized version for MMX motors. Again, this is before painting.


http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/blakkzakk/Rocketry/My%20Rockets/000h050tSoL.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/blakkzakk/Rocketry/My%20Rockets/000i050tSoL.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/blakkzakk/Rocketry/My%20Rockets/000g050tSoL.jpg

[Blakkzakk]

I just finished (At last! :o ) my Semroc SLS Laser X. I have the 4 x 18mm, the 2 x 24mm, and the 1 x 29mm motor mounts.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g273/blakkzakk/Rocketry/My%20Rockets/004-1.jpg

[Bill]

I just completed the motor mount of the Semroc Launch Missile kit and am quite pleased with the result. It has twelve "cooling vanes" around the motor tube like the Laser-X; but unlike the Laser-X, the vanes are laser-cut cardstock and the aft centering ring has slots cut into it to space and align said vanes. I was concerned when starting the assembly process because the vanes and the slots in the ring were not completely cut through and required some precision knife work to liberate.

Also, the hole in the ring for the motor tube was just a bit too small; if I do this again, I would gently sand it instead of just forcing it onto the tube. Realizing that the ring has to be perfectly square on the tube for the aft ends of the vanes to line up properly, I rescued my badly deformed one by dry fitting four of the vanes at 90 degree intervals to position the ring, then put a small bead of glue where the front side of the ring met the tube. My vanes were not all exactly the same length, though they were close. I applied a small amount of glue to the edge of each vane with a toothpick, then stuck it to the mount aligning the aft end. Any slop would be at the vane/ring junction where it could be hidden with a glue fillet.

With a bit of patience and care, the finished mount is sturdy and looks very good. Now, I wish that Semroc had improved the Laser-X retro-repro kit by using a similar design.


Bill