Giant Leap Rocketry Talon 2 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
Talon 2
GIANT LEAP ROCKETRY, LLC
Copyright 2006 - 2017 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 TALON 2™ comes with a 29mm motor
mount so that it can be flown on motors as
small as the Aerotech F50 to as larges as an
I200. These will propel the TALON 2™ to ex-
tremely high altitudes.
Specifications:
Dry Wt. Mass (no motor load) 30oz. (Please
allow for slight variation in weight due to differ-
ence in epoxies and paint thickness).
Length: 48”
Outside Diameter O.D. 54mm (2.1”
CP= 34” aft from the GLR Pinnacle Nosecone
tip
CG should be less than 32” aft of GLR Pinna-
cle 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 us-
ing this product, you agree to comply strictly
with all safety codes of the Tripoli Rocketry As-
sociation and the National Association of Rock-
etry, as well as all local, State and Federal laws.
By using the product, you agree that Giant
Leap Rocketry, LLC, (also in this document
noted as GLR) it’s owners or employees will
not be held legally or financially responsible
for the correct or incorrect usage of this prod-
uct. If you do not agree with these statements,
return the kit in resalable condition to Giant
2
THE TALON 2 ™ is the no compro-
mise little brother to the phenomenal
TALON 4™. The original Giant Leap
Rocketry, LLC TALAN™ series has
been copied by other high power rocket
kit manufactures but none give you the
quality and performance that the origi-
nal Giant Leap Rocketry, LLC
TALON™ provides. This rocket is fun
to build and even more fun to fly. You
have chosen the best and most beautiful 54mm rocket on the flight line!!!
You will definitely enjoy this build. Have FUN!!! Thanks from the
GLR Team!

Leap Rocketry for a refund. By using this kit,
you agree that you have read, understand 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
1- 54mm Original GLR Pinnacle Tailcone -Slot-
ted
1- 54mm 36” Phenolic Airframe Slotted and
Tagged to Match the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone
1- 29 mm 18” Phenolic Motor Mount Tube
3

2- 54mm/29mm Centering Rings
3- Small 0.063” Fiberglass Pre-cut Fins
3- Large 0.063” Fiberglass Pre-cut Fins
1- 29mm Original GLR Slimline 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
#120, # 180 #250 Sandpaper
Paper Towels
Gloves ! ! !
!(Can Be Ordered Separately From GLR)
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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.)
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. Mix some J.B.Weld (and only J.B Weld -
do not use epoxy!) and apply it to the aft end of
the motor tube, to the pencil mark of the motor
tube. Then, install the GLR Slimline Motor Re-
tainer onto the
motor tube.
Turn the GLR
Slimline Mo-
tor Retainer
while you are
5

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 Slim-
line Motor Retainer. This is important be-
cause if you apply J.B. Weld to the GLR Slim-
line 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 impossible 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 Slimline 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 SLIM-
L I N E M O T O R R E-
TAINER IS SEATED
ALL THE WAY ONTO
THE MOTOR TUBE.
Remove the snap ring,
clean up any excess ep-
oxy and let it set up com-
pletely.
4. Place the Middle Cen-
tering Ring onto the mo-
tor tube. Measure from
the Aft end of the motor
tube (the end with the
GLR Slimline Retainer
attached) 9” and place a
mark. Using a piece of
paper wrapped around the
motor tube, centered on
the mark that you made at
the 9” mark, draw a line around the motor tube.
5. Place a generous amount GLR Aeropoxy
around the motor tube the thickness of the Mid-
dle Centering Ring. Make sure that the Middle
Centering Ring is level and parallel to the open-
ing of the motor tube and allow to set com-
pletly.
6. Now that the
Middle Centering
Ring is fully cured
it is time to place
the Forward Center-
ing 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 Slimline Retainer at-
tached) ½” and place a mark. Using a piece of
paper wrapped around the motor tube, centered
6

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 Centering
Ring . Do not use epoxy for this union. This
centering ring will take a tremendous amount
of force when the recovery system deploys and
JB Weld is significantly stronger. Slide the For-
ward Centering Ring onto the motor tube, twist-
ing as you seat it. Make sure that the Forward
Centering Ring is level and parallel to the for-
ward 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.
B. Securing the Motor Tube to the Airframe
and GLR Pinnacle Tailcone WARNING:
Once everything is set up and cured your mo-
tor tube is ready to be inserted and epoxied
to the airframe and GLR Pinnacle Tailcone.
This is the most difficult step in the entire
build and it is important that you take great
care in following the directions
exactly.
1. Line up the airframe and the
GLR Pinnacle Tailcone. Each air-
frame and GLR Pinnacle Tail-
cone are paired and cut together.
You will notice as you put the
GLR Pinnacle Tailcone and air-
frame together there is a mark on
each piece. The mark should
cross at the interface of the two
pieces. This is the position in
7

which each set of fin slots were prepared and
you must maintain this position if your fins are
to line up true to one another.
2. Separate the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone from
the airframe at this time and dry fit the motor
tube several times into 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, leave the mo-
tor tube inserted and place the GLR Pinnacle
Tailcone and make sure the GLR Slimline Re-
tainer lines up at the Aft edge of the GLR Pinna-
cle Tailcone. You may need to carefully re-
move a small amount of the internal diameter
of the end of the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone if
need. Please be careful, the motor tube is
meant to be snug-fit. Once you feel that it is
correct, (assembled motor tube is seated cor-
rectly in the airframe and the GLR Pinnacle
Tailcone) and you can line up the
indicating marks on the airframe
and GLR Pinnacle Tailcone you
are ready to insert the motor tube
for real.
3. Separate the GLR Pinnacle
Tailcone from the airframe and
remove the motor tube. Replace
the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone on
the airframe. Again lay the air-
frame and GLR Pinnacle Tail-
cone piece next to the motor tube
assembly and line it up correctly. The Middle
Centering Ring will be Forward of the small fin
slots and the Forward Centering Ring will be
Forward of the large fin slots. On the outside
of the airframe make a mark with a pencil
where the Forward Centering Ring is and
where the Middle Centering Ring is. Disassem-
ble the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone and airframe.
4. You will now use the included wooden
dowel as a glue stick. Place a piece of tape on
the dowel so that the tip of your stick corre-
sponds to the line drawn on the airframe indicat-
ing where the centering rings are located. You
will have two measurements on this one dowel
because you will be placing JB Weld inside the
airframe in two locations: the luting position of
the Forward and Middle 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 Middle Centering Ring.
8

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. Place the GLR Pinnacle
Tailcone onto the motor tube to make sure that
the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer lines up per-
fectly with the Aft opening of the GLR Pinna-
cle Tailcone. Adjust the motor tube in or out as
needed to insure that the GLR Slimline Motor
Retainer lines up perfectly with the Aft opening
of the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone. DO NOT EP-
OXY THE GLR PINNACLE TAILCONE TO
THE AIRFRAME AT THIS TIME. Let the JB
Weld cure completely.
2. Sand the outside of the slotted airframe and
the corresponding external area of the GLR Pin-
nacle Tailcone. Place some masking tape on
the inside of the GLR Slimline Motor Retainer
or stuff it full with paper towel - this will pre-
vent epoxy from entering this critical area. Ap-
ply a generous amount of JB Weld to the GLR
Pinnacle Tailcone. DO NOT INSERT THE
GLR PINNACLE TAILCONE INTO THE AIR-
FRAME JUST YET. Mix a generous portion
of JB Weld and place it on the outside of the
GLR Slimline Motor Retainer. Carefully guide
the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone over the motor tube
and into the airframe. MAKE SURE THAT
THE INDICATING LINES LINE UP ON THE
GLR PINNACLE TAILCONE AND THE AIR-
FRAME. Take care to remove the paper towel
or masking tape from the GLR Slimline Motor
Retainer and clean the GLR Slimline Motor Re-
tainer with a solvent to insure that no JB Weld
has contaminated the internal surface of the
GLR Slimline Motor Retainer. Set the rocket
upright resting on the GLR Pinnacle Tailcone.
C. Attaching the Fins
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 Aft (small) fins into the Aft slots
in the airframe. 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 success-
fully preformed
your dry fit, re-
move the fins.
Mix some GLR
Aeropoxy and
place it on the
9