NORTH COAST ROCKETRY Vektra User manual

North Coast Rocketry
Copyright © 2020 North Coast Rocketry®. All rights reserved
• This kit is recommended for adults(18 and older) only. Launch systems, model rocket motors, launch supplies, tools, and
building materials are not included.
• Do not modify the design of the rocket! Changes to the design may affect the stability, and hence, the safety of the
rocket.
• North Coast Rocketry certifies that it has exercised reasonable care in the design and manufacture of its products.
However, as we cannot control the use of our products once sold, we cannot assume any responsibility or liability for
product usage.
• North Coast rocketry shall not be held responsible for personal injury or property damage resulting from the use of our
product. The buyer assumes all risks and liabilities arising from the use of our product and uses our product on these
conditions.
• North Coast Rocketry makes no warranty regarding our products, except for defects in materials or workmanship for a
period of one year after purchase.
• If any of these terms are unacceptable, please return the item to the point of purchase.
NCR 9208 (07/20)
Vektra™
Flying Model Rocket Instructions
Designed by Matt Steele
VEHICLE DATA SHEET
Physical Data
Predicted Altitudes
Parameter Dimension
Length 37” (94 cm)
Diameter 2.64” (6.7 cm)
Weight 19.5 oz (555 g)
Motor Predicted Altitude
Estes E16-4 407 ft (124 m)
Estes F15-4 686 ft (209 m)
Aerotech F25-6W 1,164 ft (355 m)
Aerotech F50-6/9T 1.245 ft (380 m)
Aerotech G40-7W 1,812 ft (552 m)
Aerotech G80-10T 2,386 ft (727 m)
• A 36” nylon parachute is not included in this kit. The NCR
36" Ripstop Nylon High Visibility Parachute (Part #822) is
recommended for this kit.

North Coast Rocketry
Copyright © 2020 North Coast Rocketry®. All rights reserved
2
Parts List
ID Part # Description
A3004 Nose Cone
B1123 Main Body Tube (18”)
C1110 Fin Can Tube (10”)
D1115 Motor Tube (17”)
E7212 Forward Fins (4 )
F7211 Aft Fins (4)
G2104 Ring Alignment Key (2)
H2102 Forward Centering Ring
J2101 Aft/Mid Centering Ring (2)
K9501 Launch Lugs (2)
L9577 Cable (15”)
M9503 Loop Sleeve Connectors (2)
N9530 Kevlar Line (2 yards)
O9531 Elastic Line (1 yard)
P1108 Coupler (Brown or White)
Q9523 Shrink Tube
R9526 Quick Link
S8222 Vektra Decal
T8200 NCR Decal
Before You Start:
Thank you for purchasing this North Coast Rocketry® model kit. We
hope you have an enjoyable time constructing and flying this model
rocket. Please read all of these instructions to become familiar with
them before starting construction. The sequence is important. Check
off each step as it is completed.
The following materials are necessary for construction:
5 minute epoxy; 15 or 30 minute epoxy; gap filling (thick) cyanoacrylate
adhesive (CA); balsa filler coat; ¾” wide masking tape, a sanding block
with #220, #320 and #400 sandpaper; spray primer; and spray paint in
the color(s) of your choice.
The following tools are required for construction:
Modeling knife or single edge razor blade; pliers or crimping tool; safety
glasses; and an 18” long ruler.
Check the kit for completeness, using the parts list and reference
photograph. If parts are missing or damaged, or if or any reason you
are dissatisfied with this product, please let us know at
www.NorthCoastRocketry.com. We will gladly replace any item found
to be defective. Our goal is for you to be satisfied with your purchase,
and to have fun!
Please be extremely careful using CA and epoxy. Avoid getting either
in your eyes or on your skin. Use safety glasses when using adhesives
and when cutting. Be sure to use adhesives and paints only in areas
with adequate ventilation, and do not breathe in fumes.
In each step, test fit parts together before bonding. It is sometimes
necessary to sand lightly or build up some parts to obtain a precision
fit.
Plywood parts, being natural wood products, have a tendency to warp.
Reverse any warps by lightly misting the part’s concave side, then
placing it between two heavy, flat objects to dry. Seal the part with
balsa fillercoat or spray primer as soon as possible afterwards..
A 36” nylon parachute is not included in this kit. The NCR 36" Ripstop
Nylon High Visibility Parachute (Part #822) is recommended for this kit.
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North Coast Rocketry
Copyright © 2020 North Coast Rocketry®. All rights reserved 3
Assembly Instructions
□Mark the motor tube with two marks 180˚ apart,
using the marking guide below. Extend both lines
the length of the tube.
□Mark the motor tube 1” from each end. Extend
those lines around the circumference of the tube.
□Test fit each centering ring on the motor tube
and body tube to ensure they fit properly. Sand
the rings if the fit is too tight; add tape to the motor
tube if that joint is too loose.
□Locate two centering ring alignment keys.
These pieces will keep the aft and mid centering
rings aligned properly to fit the fin tabs. Using CA,
glue the key on one of the lengthwise lines, 1”
from one end. Repeat with the other key.
□Locate the one of the aft/mid centering rings
(one with the four slots in it) and slide it onto the
motor tube to mate with the key. Using epoxy,
bond the ring in place. Repeat with the other ring
in the mid location. Fillet both rings to the tube
with epoxy.
□Test fit the motor mount assembly into the slotted
airframe “fin can” tube. Check to see that the motor
mount fits snugly. Remove the motor mount. Using
15 or 30 minute epoxy, apply a band of epoxy inside
the slotted tube about 3” from one end. Insert the
motor mount assembly into the tube about 2”. Apply
additional epoxy band about ½” inside the tube.
Then, insert the assembly all the way in until the aft
centering ring is at least even with the aft slot. Make
sure that the fin slots and the notches in the
centering rings are aligned with the fin can tube
by test fitting each fin into each slot. Remove the
fins, and set aside to cure.
□Locate the tube coupler; mark it at half it’s length.
Test fit it in the slotted tube assembly. Using epoxy,
bond the coupler in place.
□Slide the forward centering ring (the one with the
two holes in it) onto the exposed end of motor tube at
the 1” mark. Using epoxy, bond the ring in place.

North Coast Rocketry
Copyright © 2020 North Coast Rocketry®. All rights reserved 4
□Locate the steel cable and one of the
loop/sleeve connectors. Thread one of the
loop/sleeve connectors on to the cable. Then,
thread the cable down through the top of one hole
in the centering ring. Pull it back through the other
hole and thread the end of the cable back through
the loop/sleeve connector, making a 1-2” loop.
Crimp the loop/sleeve connector with a crimping
tool or a pair of pliers. Apply a drop of CA to the
connector.
□Slide both of the heat shrink sections onto the
cable. Place the other loop/sleeve connector on
the free end of the cable. Make a 1-2” diameter
loop and thread the free end back through the
loop/sleeve connector. Measure to make sure the
cable assembly is no longer than 11” long from
the forward centering ring to the top of the loop.
Make the top loop bigger to keep the overall
length correct. Crimp the loop/sleeve connector
with a crimping tool or a pair of pliers. Apply a
drop of CA to the connector.
□Slide the heat shrink tubing over each loop
sleeve connector, and, using a heat gun or hair
dryer, shrink the tubing over the connector to
prevent the parachute from snagging on it.
□Tie one end of the Kevlar shock line onto the
top cable loop and triple knot it. Secure the knot
with a drop of CA. Trim the excess off.
□Tie one end of the elastic shock line onto the
top cable loop and triple knot it. Trim the excess
off.
□Coil up both the Kevlar and elastic shock lines and
stuff them into the forward end of the motor tube.
This will keep them out of the way when the motor
mount is bonded in place.
□Locate the fins. Round the leading and trailing
edges of the fins with coarse #100 grit sandpaper.
Leave the root edge of the fins flat. Fine sand the
parts with #180, #220, #320, and #400 sandpaper.
Plywood is a natural wood product; as such, we can
not control factors such as warping after it leaves our
facility. If your plywood parts are warped, place them
under a stack of books for 24-48 hours to flatten
them.
□It is a good idea to sand and seal the fins prior to
bonding them on the airframe. Cover the fin tab area
with a strip of ½” wide masking tape. The fins can
best be sealed with finishing epoxy, balsa filler coat,
or primer paint. Apply a coat of filler, sand smooth,
and repeat the process until the wood grain is filled
and the surfaces are smooth.
□Insert the main body tube onto the coupler, and
line up the slots in both of the tubes. Mark a line that
extends from the outside edge of the aft slot on the
short tube to the aft slot tube on the long tube. This
will ensure the fins are aligned.

North Coast Rocketry
Copyright © 2020 North Coast Rocketry®. All rights reserved 5
□Using epoxy, apply a band of epoxy inside the
main airframe tube about 1-3” from the aft end.
Insert the tube into the lower tube assembly all the
way in until two tubes meet. Make sure the
alignment lines match.
□Using epoxy, glue the lower fins in place on the
lower body tube. Fillet each fin/body joint.
□Using epoxy, glue the upper fins in place on
the upper body tube. Fillet each fin/body joint.
□Using a pencil and a straight edge, mark a line
in between two of the fins the length of the tube.
Epoxy one lunch lug even with the aft end of the
tube. Make a mark 2” from the forward end of the
tube on the same line. Epoxy the other launch lug
aft of the 2” mark. Fillet the lugs for added
strength.
□Coil up both the Kevlar and elastic shock lines and
stuff them into the forward end of the motor tube.
This will keep them out of the way when then motor
mount is bonded in place.
□Locate the nose cone. Because of the recovery
system approach NCR uses, the molded attachment
point is not used. Using a ¼” drill, drill a hole in the aft
end of the nose cone.
□Insert one end of the kelvar line into the center
hole, and then route it back out the drilled hole. Tie
the line to itself. Secure the knot with CA. Locate and
tie the free end of the elastic to the Quick Link, then
attach the Quick Link. See the next page for a photo.