The Launch Pad Standard AGM-78

The Launch Pad - Standard AGM-78 {Kit} (LP-K032)

Contributed by Greg Burke

Manufacturer: The Launch Pad
Style: Scale

[Picture]This kit is relatively straight forward. The instructions are pretty easy to understand, and are also correct. The manufacturer gives some hints on detailing and that's the hardest part. They suggest using the heads of pins for the rivets in the fins. This took up the bulk of my building time as it took over 150 pin heads to accomplish this. The only problems that I had with the kit is the balsa stock provided with the kit. It's really soft and needs to be reinforced. Unfortunately I didn't do this and I broke a fin and one of the runners on the first flight. Speaking of flights, I flew the model on a D-12-3 for the first flight. Boost was real good and ejection happened right on time. The landing hurt though as that's when it broke it's fins. In conclusion this kit is cool. You need some modeling experience to do the job right though, (not for beginners). When I fix mine, I'm going to reinforce the fins to make them more durable.  This is a must buy, the thing looks great just sitting out being displayed. At about $20 it's a good bargain too. 

 

 

Other Reviews
  • The Launch Pad Standard AGM-78 By Carl Tulanko

    This Launch Pad kit is an accurate 1/5.2 scale version of the U.S. Navy's Standard AGM-78 air or ship launched missile. Additionally, it can be used as the upper stage for the RIM-67A, which is sold separately by The Launch Pad as a Plan Pak kit. The kit arrived in a plastic bag, similar to some Estes or Quest kits and consisted of two BT80 2.6" body tubes with the coupler stored inside one ...

Flights

Comments:

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C.R. (January 1, 2001)
The construction was fairly simple in principle, however after cutting the long balsa sidefins they developed a severe camber. Not wanting to start all over I glued and filleted them one at a time and used several rubber bands to hold them in place. Very time consuming as it took 4 nights to complete the process. The result was a beautiful rocket which we have started moving up in power. After several D12 flights we took to an E15-4. The flight was perfectly straight, and the parachute was discharged at near apogee, though slightly past. We will soon try an F engine, but this rocket has not disappointed yet and all retrievals have been by hand, it has yet to hit the ground. Fortunately it is light enough to be able to be caught, though it is not recommended.

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