Brief:
T' kit is designed t' use a piston ejection system (motor) ejection t' deploy the parachutes. Ahoy! T' booster section uses a 60" parachute and t' payload section uses a 48" chute.

Construction:

• 1 6"x4' Airframe Tube (booster)
• 1 6"x3' Airframe Tube
• 6" Nose cone (fiberglass)
• 6 G10 fins
• 1 54mm Motor tube
• 3 38mm Motor tube
• 3 centerin' rings
• piston assembly
• 2 elastic shock cords
• bulkhead assembly
• 1 60" parachute
• 1 48" parachute
• 2 3/4" launch lugs

Instructions for this kit were useful, as in most PML kits. However, I modified t' kit quite a bit. Ahoy! First I added 3 more 38mm tubes. Arrr! I figured there was room for them, matey, shiver me timbers, I might as well use it. Ahoy!

Finishing:
Finishin' was simple, or at least as simple as seven feet o' six-inch airframe can be. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! There are a lot o' seams t' fill!!! Blimey! Although phenolic tubin' is strong, larger diameters are somewhat flimsy and prone t' cracking. Begad! Blimey! I would suggest glassin' t' airframe - nay necessarily for flight stress, but for landings and handlin' around t' house. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Be sure t' align t' fins! Blimey! 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. Blimey! It is very stable and produces good, straight flights. Ahoy! T' first flight be with a K550. Blimey! This be me L2 cert flight and attained an altitude o' 2988'. Second flight was on a K550 as well and reached 3074' (less wind). On these two flights, me hearties, matey, I used apogee ejection only. This was accomplished with an adept ALTS2 and motor backup. Well, blow me down! For a third back up system, I installed a missile works wrc2. Yes I am paranoid! I have seen big rockets crash into spectator areas, so I take all precautions. Begad! Besides, me bucko, after filling all those seams, arrr, arrr, you don't want t' redo any o' t' airframe.

Recovery:
I HATE PISTONS. Ahoy! In theory, arrr, ya bilge rat, they are wonderful but thar are too many potential problems. Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag! 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, me hearties, neither o' which will result in a good deployment. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! So, away with t' piston!

Now that t' piston is gone, two parachutes is a problem. Aye aye! I have tried this design in t' past and had problems gettin' t' booster chute out. If deployment is after apogee, me bucko, your chances o' gettin' t' bottom chute to "fall" out o' t' airframe are slim. Arrr! Avast! With t' piston, matey, this would work fine, me bucko, but without t' piston, I didn't want t' test me luck. Begad! I chose t' use a single 8' chute for t' rocket, me bucko, a little big, but good when you are bringing the rocket down on rocks. Avast! I also wanted t' set t' rocket up for dual deployment, me bucko, me bucko, so I used t' parts from t' piston t' creat a "lid" on top o' t' coupler t' house electronics. Blimey! By housin' t' main chute above the split and electronics in t' middle, shiver me timbers, you move t' cg forward which is really good for clustered flights.

Second, 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. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I used tubular nylon for t' shock cord. I also used "U" bolts t' anchor t' recovery system. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a good kit. 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. Arrr! Blimey! Fortunately, me bucko, matey, shiver me timbers, I had the replacement parts already, so it didn't cost me any extra. Other than recovery items this rocket is well worth t' money. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! It is awesome in flight and will turn quite a few heads at t' launches. Blimey! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I am gettin' ready t' rebuild the booster t' hold 3" motors. Begad! Blimey! I am upgradin' t' fins t' be 1/8" so the M1315 can be used. Aye aye! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5