Note: For more EZI pictures, visit John's site.

The Loc/Precision EZI-65 kit is the rocket which is supposed to get me my Tripoli level 2 certification. This is a high-performance rocket which is reasonably stable and should give outstanding flights on I and J motors. (Of course, as is typical for me, I've done things backwards and have already built several larger rockets.)

The rec.models.rockets community seemed to favor the Loc/Precision EZI-65 as the ideal level 1 certification rocket. However, I'd already purchased the I-ROC and since it has a 38mm motor mount, it seemed more appropriate for level 1 (H and I motors). The EZI-65 flies on I and J motors (it has a 54mm motor mount), which is just up into the level 2 range.

The color scheme Loc/Precision chose is hideous, so I decided to go wild on this rocket and do it as modern art. I also had just found a new kind of Krylon paint: Brass metallic, which I wanted to try. If it isn't obvious, imagine an abstract painting (such as a Mondrian, a Dutch geometric painter) with the fins and nose as the picture frame. (OK, so it is a bit of a stretch.)

I shredded the original rocket attempting my level 2 certification, but a rebirth was completed as a Rocketry OnlineHow-To Classroom forum series, which has also been turned into a Tech. Series article so I have removed the detailed information from this page. Join us and build a super-strong rocket and certify in style with advanced high-power construction techniques and recovery electronics!

The Pictures

On the left is the original EZI-65, built as per the kit instructions. On the right is the "level 2" version: fiberglassed, with dual-deployment and a better copy of a Mondrian painting.
 

The EZI-65 launches, apparently perfectly, sporting wild modern art colors.

Not much was recovered. A shred doesn't leave much.

On its maiden flight, the EZI-65 shredded spectacularly. It appeared to disintegrate about 100 feet off the ground. We never figured out why it shredded--perhaps a fin came off. The tail of the rocket was never recovered, although we did find the undamaged nose later.

The rebuilt EZI (now the EZI-130) flew for the first time at ROC-stock in Lucerne Valley, CA on November 15th. The spectacular flight on a J800 will not be the last!
 

Now you see it...	Now you don't.

The flight was dramatic, with a total altitude of 6322 feet (as measured by the Missile Works RRC²). The parachute never fully came out of the payload section (as you can see in the picture below), but the strong construction of the rocket saved it as it came down, braked by the three sections of its dual deployment. Next flight will be with a smaller parachute which will fit more easily into the payload section. Too bad there's not enough room for a piston.

The Kit

The instructions for this kit were standard Loc/Precision: just enough information on the back of the kit card.
The color scheme they chose is hideous, so I decided to go wild on this rocket and do it as modern art as you can see. The Krylon Brass metallic paint is pretty neat, but requires ultra careful preparation as it shows defects even more than white. Also, my paint job came out much flatter looking (even with a Crystal Clear coat) than the cap on the can.

The EZI-65 kit isn't really strong enough for level-2 motors if built stock. See my Rocketry Online Tech. Series article for a detailed description of building it for level-2 certification.

Brief:
This rocket is a high power flight capable, being large it is supposed to make a low and slow flight. I am writing this review because John Cocker's review does not seem detailed enough and his article is for Level 2 capable EZI-65 but that would be overkill if one only wants to use this rocket for his Level 1.

Construction:
The kit came in a plastic bag, one long tube with slots for airframe, and one shorter tube as a payload section. The nose cone is quite large. It came with only 2 plywood centering rings, and I recommend getting an additional centering ring of the same size. The motor mount tube is a little short, it is better to get something a little longer, but the stock should be okay. The fins are regular plywood. Unlike the LOC IV which has through-the-wall fins but not to the motor mount, this kit's fins goes to the motor mount which is one of the reasons why I chose it over the LOC IV. The shock cord is standard nylon elastic which is the same kind as in your underpants, only that it should stay where it belongs, in your underpants. Get at least 20 ft of tubular nylon or Kevlar®, if you use nylon somehow protect the first 3 ft of the nylon from ejection charge, or else after a few flights the nylon will burn and break. I don't recommend using the LOC shock cord mount either, instead get an eye bolt and some washers. Drill a hole in one of the centering rings and bolt the eye bolt and put washer between the eye and the centering ring and another between the centering ring and the nut. Make sure the eye is parallel to the airframe as you will not have much space for the eyebolt. Attach a quick link to the eyebolt, and ALWAYS put some epoxy on the thread of the eyebolt (but NOT the quick link!) because you won't have access to the other side of the centering ring in case the eyebolt/nuts loosens. One thing I like about quick links is that it allows you to basically disassemble the rocket and remove all the recovery harness to make it easier to paint.

If one has good experience with building LPR kits, one should not need the instructions. I never read the instructions while putting together the kit, so I can't comment on that, but I do know the instructions comes on the back of the card of the packaging. The rocket is very large when put together, if one has not built rockets weighting over a pound, this rocket will surprise you! I haven't built many rocket weighting over a pound except the NCR Lance Beta and this rocket makes the Lance Beta look like a dwarf!

One thing about the fin attachments, do use internal fillets after gluing the fins in place. I recommend 3 CR's because one centering ring would go on top of the MMT (that's the one with the eyebolt and quick links, make sure the eye faces up!) and a second CR goes on top of the fin tab. (Before doing any of this please try to peel off the glassine layer of the MMT, it allows the glue to soak in making a stronger bond.) After the glue cures glue the whole assembly (MMT) into the tube, making sure the second CR lines up with the top of the slots. Then glue each fin and fillet the inside. After all the joints inside has been filleted and the glue has cured, go ahead and glue in the last CR. I know it's a bit of an overkill to do internal fillets, but it's better safe than sorry (this rocket will be my L1 cert flight so I want to make sure nothing goes wrong...)

Finishing:
Always take the nose cone, wash it with soap and water to remove the release agents. Even after doing this the paint still doesn't like to stick to the nose cone... I used Polyfiber UV fill prime, at 38 dollars a quart it is a bit too expensive but it sands like a dream and it might be a good idea to use anyway since UV lights will damage epoxy and your rocket is held together with epoxy so its better to keep them out. A few coats on the rocket and wait a few hours making sure the primer dried, then sand, sand, sand! This stuff sands as good as Elmer's wood filler. I then took the rocket apart since this is such a large rocket, I painted the nose cone and the payload and the body section separately. I painted the nose cone gold and the payload is painted red with black roll patterns, and the body is white with a red fin can. I used krylon and after everything dried I went over with clear coat then Lacquer and it makes a very shiny and glossy finish.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
My first flight on a G80 is very good, perfect boost and recovery despite the strong wind. I was going to certify on this rocket so I had to make sure everything works the way it is supposed to work. The parachute came out at apogee and it drifted quite a bit (because of the wind). I had to walk a bit to get the rocket back, it landed without damage.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I feel this rocket is good and it is easy to put together. Anyone who puts together a LPR should be able to put this kit together, however the shock cord isn't that good, and they could use a longer motor mount.

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out of 5