Old OOP MPC Launcher & Controller Part 4

Now, onto the launcher itself.
This is an amazing piece of work!

It's quite a bit larger than the Estes or Quest equivalent.
I figured out why the white wires were cut, stripped and bare.
These connect up to the gantry!
Simply bend the springs until the coils open up, then insert the bare wire.

Years back, launcher cable was like lamp wire. thicker and heavier.
When you connected up an igniter, you had much more cable weight trying to pull the igniter out of the engine. This gantry took the wire weight off the igniter.

Notice how the wires sit, almost suspended. Like this, they would pull away from the engine at ignition!

Check out the ceramic blast deflector.

I based my Odd'l Rockets BLAST product on this MPC launcher feature. No shorted clips!
This also deflects the flame away and prevents any flashback that could scorch a balsa fin.

I don't think the round metal deflector is original. It looks like it was hand cut from a thin metal coffee can!

Here's another great feature of the launcher. When I opened the range box, I almost threw away the purple dowel. As it turns out, it was part of the wind direction and launch angle feature.
The plastic arrow sits on the end of the sharpened, purple dowel. I set the launcher up for pictures on my patio. The arrow was easily turning and reacting to the wind direction.

Here's the other, lower side of the angle adjustment.
Turn the wing nut loosening the dowel hold. Slide the dowel and raise the leg. Tighten the wing nut and you are ready to launch into the wind.