Public Missiles Phobos

Public Missiles - Phobos

Contributed by Brian Kain

Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Rating
(Contributed - by Brian Kain - 10/15/00)

Brief:
I shortened t' span o' t' fins t' 2.25". Begad! Blimey! Used 1/4" graphite tubing for launch lugs. Begad!

Picture

Modifications:
I took t' three (3) fins and put them in me flat jaw vice, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, makin' sure t' keep them all straight and lined up. Avast! Then with me dremel tool and a carbon cutting wheel, I cut all 3 fins at once. Arrr! Then kept them in t' vice and sanded them flat with a sandin' block and some 120 grit. Ahoy! I use t' dremel extension for cuttin' all me fins and I'll tell you why. 1.) T' dremel tool itself will get in t' way o' t' fins when you lay t' tool flat on it's side t' cut. Ya scallywag! 2.) You have way better control, and can get right above your work t' see t' line you are cuttin' on. Ahoy! If you use a dremel t' cut your fins, I recommend buyin' an extension for it. Begad! You can also get deep inside airframes with it.

PictureWhy reduce t' span o' t' fins? I generally scratch build everythin' and no kit goes by me without alteration. Avast! Avast! My general rule is make t' span o' each fin t' same as t' DIA of t' rocket. Blimey! Aye aye! 2.1" airframe..... Avast! Begad! 2" span on t' fins. Blimey! My rockets are usually stable-marginally stable. Begad! I like t' wind t' push me rocket instead of them flyin' into t' wind. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Phobos is a little over stable with the fins stock. Begad! I just couldn't resist addin' me personal touch.

Construction:
Kits contains: two (2) body tubes and a payload section. Ya scallywag! Quantum Tubing airframe. Blimey! Three (3) fins, ya bilge rat, 1/16" G-10. Begad! Blimey! Two (2) 1/8" centerin' rings to a 38mm phenolic MMT. Ahoy! 20' 3/8" Keelhaul®©™® shock cord. Begad! Arrr! Attached nose cone with 3 small #10 machine screws

Packagin' was great. But t' parachute was missin' and PML is currently helpin' me fix t' problem. Avast! T' quantum tubin' is awesome, ya bilge rat, besides nay being able t' fiberglass it. Instructions were easy t' follow even without usin' the illustrations. Ya scallywag! Fins went on straight, and t' rocket had nice fitting components, me hearties, and feels very sturdy. Aye aye! Ahoy! Right now it is just primered black, ya bilge rat, arrr, but will have a custom paint job soon.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
H123-10 worked like a charm. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I friction fitted it with some maskin' tape. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! The rocket flew very straight. T' 3/8" Keelhaul®©™® worked good, me bucko, and t' recovery was flawless. Blimey! Blimey! I didn't use any wadding, arrr, just a Nomex® heat shield.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I really don't have any CON's about this rocket or any PML rockets, besides the elastic shock cord. Begad! But I am partial t' Keelhaul®©™® and mil spec tubular nylon. PRO's....Ease o' building. Arrr! Nice fittin' components. Avast! Arrr! PML really sands those phenolic couplers nice for you, me hearties, and that saves a lot o' work. Good design. Simple t' follow directions. A good rocket for someone lookin' for a level 1 and level 2 rocket in one kit.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

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