Giant Leap Rocketry Liberty 2 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Liberty 2
GIANT LEAP ROCKETRY, LLC
Copyright 2006 - 2018 Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC
2831 SW Cornelius Pass Road
Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

Thank-you and congratulations on pur-
chasing this beautiful high powered
rocket from Giant Leap Rocketry.
-The GLR Team-
1
THE TALON 2 IS A FANTASTIC - LEVEL 1 ROCKET BUILD!!!
We at Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC hope you enjoy building the best looking and best flying rocket on the flying field.
The Talon 2 is stylish and commands attention wherever you fly. It flies with 29mm motors as small as the Aerotech
F50, or as large as the I200. The center of pressure (cp) is 34” from the tip of the GLR Pinnacle nosecone. Be certain
your center of gravity (cg) is one to two diameters (2”to 4”) in front of the center of pressure with 1.5 diameters being
ideal. All measurements need to be done with a “full-up” rocket (including motor, recovery components and any elec-
tronics).
TALON 2
We provide more details to help with your rocketry education

The Liberty 2™ comes with a 29mm motor mount
so that it can be flown on motors as small as the Ae-
rotech F50 to as larges as an I200. These will pro-
pel the Liberty 2™ to extremely high altitudes.
Specifications:
Dry Wt. Mass (no motor load) 2.1 . (Please allow
for slight variation in weight due to difference in
epoxies and paint thickness).
Length: 47”
Outside Diameter O.D. 54mm (2.1”)
CP= 38” aft from the GLR Pinnacle Nosecone tip
CG should be less than 35” aft of GLR Pinnacle
Nosecone tip
Motor Mount: 29mm
Recommended 29mm motors: Aerotech:
[Single use: F50-4; G80-4]
[RMS: F40-4, F52-5T, G64-4, H128, H238, H165,
H210, H180, H220, H268, I200]
WARNING!!
Flying rockets is potentially dangerous, and you or
others can be injured and/or killed by the usage of
this product. Property damage can also occur by
the usage of this product. In using this product,
you agree to comply strictly with all safety codes
of the Tripoli Rocketry Association and the Na-
tional Association of Rocketry, as well as all local,
State and Federal laws. By using the product, you
2
THE Liberty 2 ™ is wonderful, simple-
build, level 1 rocket. This build will
give you the confidence to build larger
and more powerful rockets. That said,
this is no sissy rocket because you can
get it in a couple of variations 29mm or
38mm motor tube mount, thus throwing
this rocket thousands of feet in the sky .
The original Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC
Liberty 2™ series can be designed with
the option of 3 fiberglass fins or the in-
credibly strong, always true, GLR Acme Fincan (best in the business),
your preference. This rocket is fun to build and even more fun to fly.
You have chosen a sleek and beautiful rocket to walk proudly down the
flight line with!!! You will definitely enjoy this build. Have FUN!!!
Thanks from the GLR Team!

agree that Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC, (also in
this document noted as GLR) it’s owners or em-
ployees will not be held legally or financially
responsible for the correct or incorrect usage of
this product. If you do not agree with these
statements, return the kit in resalable condition
to Giant Leap Rocketry for a refund. By using
this kit, you agree that you have read, under-
stand and accept these conditions.
PLEASE READ THE SAFETY CODE AND
LIABILITY STATEMENTS AT THE END
OF THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
NOTE: THIS ROCKET IS NOT A TOY
BECAUSE OF THE ROCKETS SIZE AND
WEIGHT IT IS A SERIOUS VIOLATION
OF FEDERAL LAW TO FLY THIS
ROCKET ANYWHERE EXCEPT AT
LAUNCHES SANCTIONED BY THE TRIP-
OLI ROCKETRY ASSOCIATION OR THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ROCK-
ETRY WHOSE ORGANIZERS HAVE SE-
CURED AN APPROPRIATE WAIVER
FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMIN-
ISTRATION. FAILURE TO DO SO CAN
RESULT IN SUBSTANTIAL FINES AND/
OR IMPRISONMENT. DO NOT EVEN
THINK OF FLYING THIS ROCKET ANY-
W H E R E E X C E P T AT C E RT I F I E D
LAUNCHES.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR ARE
UNCLEAR REGARDING THE ASSEM-
BLY OR USE OF THIS PRODUCT,
PLEASE CALL GIANT LEAP ROCK-
ETRY, LLC. YOU ARE TOTALLY RE-
SPONSIBLE FOR THE SAFE USAGE OF
THIS ROCKET. FOLLOW ALL PERTI-
NENT SAFETY CODES AND DIREC-
TIONS AT THE LAUNCH SITE. ALWAYS
WEAR EYE PROTECTION WHENEVER
LOADING EJECTION CHARGES OF
ANY TYPE AND KEEP SPECTATORS
AWAY. MAKE A CHECK LIST TO HELP
YOU PREPARE YOUR ROCKET PROP-
ERLY SO AS NOT TO OVERLOOK AN IM-
PORTANT STEP DURING THE EXCITE-
MENT AND STRESS OF PRE-FLIGHT
PREPARATION. IF YOU DO NOT FEEL
READY TO FLY THIS OR ANY OTHER
ROCKET DON’T. Take your time and do it
safely and correctly. REMEMBER, THE
FUTURE OF THIS HOBBY ALONG WITH
THE SAFETY OF THOSE AROUND YOU
IS IN YOUR HANDS.
PARTS LIST:
TALON 4 BODY PARTS
1- 54mm Original Pinnacle Nose Cone
1- 1 ¼” Short Eye Bolt
3

1- 54mm 36” Phenolic Air-
frame Slotted
1- 29 mm 12” Phenolic Motor
Mount Tube
2- 54mm/29mm Centering
Rings
3- Small 0.063” Fiberglass
Pre-cut Fins
1- 29mm Original GLR Slim-
line Retainer Set
1- 54mm Original GLR Rail Guide Pair
Recovery Mount:
1- 54mm Original GLR Hardpoint Recovery
System Anchor Which Includes:
1- 54mm GLR Hardpoint Anchor
1- 1 ½” x ¼” Long Eye Bolt
2- Washers
1- Locknut
Recovery Components:
1- 30” Parachute
1- 600 lb. Swivel
1- 12’ ⅛” GLR Kevlar® Shockcord
1- 2” x ½” GLR Kevlar® Tube Cord
Miscellaneous Components:
1- 24” Wooden Dowel
Online Assembly Instruction Booklet
Disposable Supplies
Needed by the Builder
to Assemble This Kit:
15 or 30 Minute Epoxy or GLR Aeropoxy!
!(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR)
Mixing Cups and Mixing Sticks!
!(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR)
J.B. Weld
!(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR)
GLR Glass-Mirco-Spheres
Masking Tape
Tape Measure
Sharp Pencil
4

#120, # 180 #250 Sandpaper
Paper Towels
Gloves ! ! !
!(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR)
Rubbing Alcohol
Drill with a 1/32” drill bit
NOTE: you MUST use high-quality epoxy and
JB Weld with this kit. Other types of adhesives
are not suitable and will make the rocket unsafe
for flight.
Optional Supplies
GLR FireBall Zipper Stopper.
(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR.
Please read Section D about Recovery, in this
instruction to determine if you would like to
order the GLR FireBall.)
GLR Acme Fincan.
Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR
ASSEMBLY
A. Building the Motor tube Assembly
Note: “forward” means the front of the rocket,
toward the nosecone, and “aft” is the rear of
the rocket.
1. Test fit the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer
on the Aft end of the 29mm motor tube. Be
sure that the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer
goes onto the motor tube and seats completely.
If the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer is seated
completely, you will not have any of the epoxy
bonding rings of the GLR Slimline Motor Re-
tainer exposed and the motor tube will rest on
the the built-in shoulder stop of the GLR Slim-
line Motor Retainer. Sand the motor tube
slightly, if necessary, but just enough for a
snug-tight fit. If you have a 29mm casing (Ae-
rotech or Pro29), test fit it by placing the casing
in the motor tube and inserting the retaining
ring. Be sure the spacing of all components is
correct before proceeding to the next step that
involves epoxy.
2 Place the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer
on the motor tube and draw with a pencil, a line
at the forward end of the GLR Slimline Motor
Retainer and then remove the retainer from the
motor tube.
3. M i x
some
J.B.Weld (and
only J.B Weld
- do not use
5

epoxy!) and ap-
ply it to the aft
end of the motor
tube, to the pen-
cil mark of the
m o t o r t u b e .
Then, install the
GLR Slimline
Motor Retainer
onto the motor
tube. Turn the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer
while you are installing it in order to spread the
J.B. Weld. Be sure that you only apply the
J.B. Weld to the motor tube and NOT to the
inside of the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer.
This is important because if you apply J.B.
Weld to the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer and
then try and slip it onto the motor tube, excess
J.B. Weld will seep into the snap ring area of
the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer, making it im-
possible to insert a motor correctly. It is also a
good idea to place the snap ring into the slot
and tape off the exposed slot of the GLR Slim-
line Motor Retainer while seating the GLR
Slimline Motor Retainer onto the motor tube as
this will prevent excess J.B. Weld from seeping
into the snap ring area. MAKE SURE THE
GLR SLIMLINE MOTOR RETAINER IS
SEATED ALL THE WAY ONTO THE MO-
TOR TUBE. Remove the snap ring, clean up
any excess epoxy and let it set up completely.
4. Place a mark for
the Aft Centering Ring
onto the motor tube ½”
Forward of the GLR
Slimline Motor Re-
tainer. Using a piece of
paper wrapped around
the motor tube, centered
on the mark that you
made at the ½” mark, draw a line around the
motor tube.
5. Place a generous amount of JB Weld
around the motor tube the thickness of the Aft
Centering Ring . Do not use epoxy for this un-
ion. This centering rings will take a tremen-
dous amount of force when the recovery system
deploys and JB Weld is significantly stronger.
Slide the Aft Centering Ring onto the motor
tube, twisting as you seat it. Make sure that the
Aft Centering Ring is level and parallel to the
forward opening of the motor tube. Allow the
JB weld to cure completely.
6. Now that the
A f t C e n t e r i n g
R i n g i s f u l l y
cured it is time to
6

place the Forward Centering Ring. Place the
Forward Centering Ring onto the motor tube.
Measure from the Forward end of the motor
tube (the end that is OPPOSITE the GLR Slim-
line Retainer attached) ½” and place a mark.
Using a piece of paper wrapped around the mo-
tor tube, centered on the mark that you made at
the ½” mark, draw a line around the motor
tube.
Place a generous amount of JB Weld around the
motor tube the thickness of the Forward Center-
ing Ring . Again, do not use epoxy for this un-
ion. Slide the Forward Centering Ring onto the
motor tube, twisting as you seat it. Make sure
that the Forward Centering Ring is level and
parallel to the forward opening of the motor
tube. Allow the JB weld to cure completely.
7. It is now very important to place a thick fil-
let on the Forward and Aft ends of both of the
Centering Rings to secure the Centering Rings
to the Airframe. Fillets can be created using a
variety of materials, Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC
recommends using GLR Aeropoxy and GLR
Glass-Micro-Spheres. Mix a generous amount
of GLR Aeropoxy. Add to this mixture GLR
Glass-Micro-Spheres until you obtain a thick
peanut buttery consistency. The ratio is typi-
cally 2 parts GLR Glass-Micro-Spheres to 1
part GLR Aeropoxy. More important that the
ratio however, is the thick peanut buttery consis-
tency. Create a large fillet between the motor
tube and the Centering Rings by placing a lib-
eral amount of material on both the Forward
and Aft surfaces of the Centering Rings and al-
low them to completely set up.
2. Dry fit the motor tube several times into the
Aft opening of the airframe. It should slide
smoothly but snugly in and out. Sand the outer
edge of the Centering Rings as needed to create
a snug but smooth insertion fit. When you have
this working smoothly and you feel that it is cor-
rect, you are ready to insert the motor tube for
real.
3. Lay the airframe next to the motor tube as-
sembly and line it up correctly. The Aft Center-
ing Ring will be at roughly Aft edge of the fin
slot of the airframe (or approximately ½” from
the end of the airframe). The Forward Center-
7

ing Ring will be Forward of
the fin slots. On the outside
of the airframe make a mark
with a pencil where the For-
ward Centering Ring is and
where the Aft Centering
Ring is.
4. You will now use the in-
cluded wooden dowel as a
glue stick. Place a piece of
tape on the dowel so that the
tip of your stick corresponds
to the line drawn on the air-
frame indicating where the
centering rings are located.
You will have two measure-
ments on this one dowel be-
cause you will be placing JB Weld inside the air-
frame in two locations: the luting position of
the Forward and Aft Centering Rings. Mix a
very generous portion of JB Weld. Place the
JB Weld on the inside of the airframe at the
level that you marked for the Forward Center-
ing Ring. Once you have a good thick coating
of GLR Aeropoxy circumferentially at this loca-
tion, insert the motor tube about half way into
the airframe. When it is inserted thus, place JB
Weld on the inside of the airframe at the level
where you marked the Aft Centering Ring.
Once you have a good thick coating of JB Weld
circumferentially at this location insert the mo-
tor tube the rest of the way until the motor tube
is inserted correctly and the Centering Rings
line up with the lines that you drew on the out-
side of the airframe. Let the JB Weld cure com-
pletely.
C. Attaching the Fins
OPTION: If you
p u r c h a s e d t h e
GLR Fincan, all
you need to do is
place a generous
a m o u n t o f J B
Weld on the Aft
6” of th e Ai r-
frame and slide
the GLR Acme
Fincan onto the
airframe, twisting
8

as you go, until the Aft edge of the GLR Acme
Fincan lines up exactly with the Aft edge of the
Airframe. Note: the tapered edge of the GLR
Acme Fincan is Forward for aerodynamics.
GLR Acme Fincan equals perfect alignment
and ease every time!
You will you need to use a “fin mounting tem-
plates” to place your fins. GLR has provided a
downloadable template on our website here
https://giantleaprocketry.com/instructions.aspx
1. Transfer the fin mounting template to a
piece of cardboard or art foam board and cut
out the marks for the 54mm airframe and 3 fin
flight arrangement.
2. Place the fins into the slots in the air-
frame. All fins are inserted with the rounded or
curved portion of the fin forward. Insure that
the fin is all the way forward in the slot. Once
you have successfully preformed your dry fit,
remove the fins. Mix some GLR Aeropoxy and
place it on the edge of the fin. Insert the fin
into the slot until the fin makes contact with the
motor tube and trans-
f e r s t h e G L R
Aeropoxy to the mo-
tor tube. You will
want to repeat the
process 3-5 times to
insure that you have
good amount of GLR
Aeropoxy contacting
the fin / motor tube interface. In addition you
can drip some GLR Aeropoxy through the slot.
Once you have your fins in place, slide the card-
board fin guid down the airframe onto the fins
to insure their correct position. Allow to com-
pletely set. Verify that your fins are all at 90 de-
grees from the airframe and are lined up with
each other.
4. You now will need to create a fillet to transi-
tion your fin to the airframe. As you can see
there is a gap around and behind the fin. As de-
scribed earlier, fillets can be created using a va-
riety of materials, Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC
recommends using GLR Aeropoxy and GLR
Glass-Micro-Spheres. Mix a generous amount
of GLR Aeropoxy. Add to this mixture GLR
Glass-MicroMicro-Spheres until you obtain a
thick peanut buttery consistency. The ratio is
typically 2 parts GLR Glass-Micro-Spheres to 1
part GLR Aeropoxy. More important that the
ratio however, is the thick peanut buttery consis-
tency. Create a fillet between the airframe and
the fin, completely, forward to aft. Using a
gloved finger or the rounded end of the wooden
9