Photo courtesy o' PML

Brief:
Single-staged HPR usin' PML's Quantum Tubing. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Used for me Level 1 certification

Construction:
I purchased t' kit from Al's Hobbies, in Elmhurst, IL, for about $85. Everythin' was in good condition: 4 fins, shiver me timbers, body tube, payload section, me bucko, ya bilge rat, bulkhead, 2 3/8" brass lugs, plastic nose cone, 47" chute, tubular nylon shock cord, me bucko, piston ejection system, me hearties, motor mount assembly, me bucko, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Very clear instructions -- more descriptive than some Estes kits I've built. T' only real problem I had be with t' tube coupler and t' piston system. T' coupler be too loose (had t' coat it with some CA) and t' piston was too tight (needed some sanding). Begad! If you're addin' a motor retention system (PML kits don't include them) do it before you install t' motor mount, otherwise you'll never be able t' get t' aft centerin' rin' off t' add fillets t' the inside o' t' tube. Well, me bucko, blow me down! PML has some jackass method for removin' t' rin' using scotch tape, ya bilge rat, but it's a total joke. Ahoy! Besides those two issues, t' kit was a joy to build. Aye aye! Everythin' fit together perfectly. Well, blow me down! Begad! There are two things I hate in the world: fillin' spiral grooves and fillin' t' wood grain on fins. Arrr! Well, the Quantum Tube has no groove and t' fins are G10 fiberglass. Avast! T' fins don't really need t' be shaped either since their so thin, plus G10 is a pain t' sand anyway. What you end up with is a really solid rocket. Ya scallywag! PML kits end up bein' a little heavier than offerings from other companies, shiver me timbers, but their ruggedness is well worth t' extra weight. Begad!

Finishing:
I wasn't interested so much in creatin' an accurate scale replica, ya bilge rat, so I used my own idea for finishing. I sanded t' whole rocket with 320 grit sandpaper and hit it with a coat o' Krylon sandable grey primer, sanded out any flaws I missed, arrr, and hit it with primer again. Ahoy! I then gave t' entire rocket two coats of Krylon gloss red, ya bilge rat, let it dry, me hearties, and painted t' nose cone and one fin with two coats o' gloss black. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' kit didn't include any decals so I made me own using some glossy adhesive transparency paper I purchased from an art supply store. I printed out some o' me band's logos and applied them t' t' fins. Blimey! Arrr! Looks pretty swank.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I brought t' rocket Tripoli Wisconsin's club launch on August 28th, 2000 -- hopin' t' go for me Level 1 cert. After findin' a NARRRRR prefect, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I filled out the paperwork and loaded her up with an Aerotech H73 Blackjack reload. Avast, me proud beauty! PML's Web site says t' H73 will take it up t' about 980 ft. Ahoy! -- perfect -- I didn't want this thin' t' go too high bein' that it be me first HP launch. I jammed in an ignitor, set it up on t' pad, and waited for t' countdown. Begad! Avast! This thin' took off sloooowwwwly, but straight as an arrow even in 10mph winds. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' chute opened right after apogee and it came down pretty fast into a shrub... Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! no damage though.. these kits are tough.

Recovery:
T' parachute is great. Aye aye! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Perfect size for this rocket. PML chutes have spill holes which really reduce drift (and walkin' distance). Ya scallywag! Begad! T' piston system is fantastic as well; very reliable. Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Great first HPR. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! I'm convinced that t' minor issues I had with t' kit were just flukes. I didn't have a doubt in me mind that I would certify on t' first try with this rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Blimey! Don't know if I'll ever be able t' go back t' plywood and cardboard. Begad! Arrr! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5