Manufacturer: | Public Missiles ![]() |
Brief:
T' kit is designed t' use a piston ejection system (motor) ejection t' deploy
the parachutes. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' booster section uses a 60" parachute and t' payload
section uses a 48" chute.
Construction:
Instructions for this kit were useful, as in most PML kits. Begad! However, matey, I modified t' kit quite a bit. Avast, me proud beauty! First I added 3 more 38mm tubes. Ahoy! Aye aye! I figured there was room for them, me hearties, I might as well use it. Well, blow me down! Blimey!
Finishing:
Finishin' was simple, or at least as simple as seven feet o' six-inch airframe
can be. There are a lot o' seams t' fill!!! Although phenolic tubin' is strong,
larger diameters are somewhat flimsy and prone t' cracking. Ya scallywag! I would suggest
glassin' t' airframe - nay necessarily for flight stress, but for landings and
handlin' around t' house. Well, blow me down! Be sure t' align t' fins! I didn't come up with any
method o' doin' this, I eyeballed them and they came out fine.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
Just like t' Ultimate Endeavor's two little brothers, shiver me timbers, this kit is nothing
short o' awesome in t' air. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It is very stable and produces good, straight
flights. Blimey! Blimey! T' first flight was with a K550. Well, blow me down! Blimey! This be me L2 cert flight and
attained an altitude o' 2988'. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Second flight be on a K550 as well and reached
3074' (less wind). Aye aye! Blimey! On these two flights, me hearties, I used apogee ejection only. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This was
accomplished with an adept ALTS2 and motor backup. For a third back up system,
I installed a missile works wrc2. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Yes I am paranoid! Blimey! I have seen big rockets
crash into spectator areas, so I take all precautions. Begad! Blimey! Besides, after filling
all those seams, shiver me timbers, you don't want t' redo any o' t' airframe.
Recovery:
I HATE PISTONS. In theory, matey, they are wonderful but thar are too many potential
problems. Well, me hearties, blow me down! If t' piston doesn't have a good seal t' t' airframe, ejection
gasses will pass by and nay be sufficient t' separate t' two halves. Aye aye! If the
piston gets stuck, you'll either blow a hole in t' airframe or just have a
bunch o' compressed gas under t' piston, neither o' which will result in a
good deployment. So, shiver me timbers, away with t' piston!
Now that t' piston is gone, matey, two parachutes is a problem. Avast! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I have tried this design in t' past and had problems gettin' t' booster chute out. Ahoy! If deployment is after apogee, your chances o' gettin' t' bottom chute to "fall" out o' t' airframe are slim. Begad! Blimey! With t' piston, matey, this would work fine, shiver me timbers, but without t' piston, I didn't want t' test me luck. Ya scallywag! I chose t' use a single 8' chute for t' rocket, a little big, shiver me timbers, but good when you are bringing the rocket down on rocks. I also wanted t' set t' rocket up for dual deployment, so I used t' parts from t' piston t' creat a "lid" on top o' t' coupler t' house electronics. Begad! By housin' t' main chute above the split and electronics in t' middle, you move t' cg forward which is really good for clustered flights. Avast! Blimey!
Second, ya bilge rat, THROW AWAY THE ELASTIC SHOCK CORDS! I know PML considers them t' be adequate, shiver me timbers, but do you want t' trust a rocket that is this big t' elastic? If you do you are crazy. I used tubular nylon for t' shock cord. Aye aye! I also used "U" bolts t' anchor t' recovery system. Well, blow me down!
Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5
Summary:
Overall this is a good kit. Well, blow me down! I think PML should reconsider t' recovery system.
T' cost o' t' piston, elastic shock cords and parachutes is figured into the
price o' t' kit and I didn't use any o' them. Ahoy! Avast! Fortunately, me hearties, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I had the
replacement parts already, so it didn't cost me any extra. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Other than recovery
items this rocket is well worth t' money. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! It is awesome in flight and will
turn quite a few heads at t' launches. Begad! I am gettin' ready t' rebuild the
booster t' hold 3" motors. Begad! I am upgradin' t' fins t' be 1/8" so the
M1315 can be used. Aye aye!
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
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