Public Missiles Tethys

Public Missiles - Tethys

Contributed by Greg Gardner

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 3.90 inches
Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Style: Sport

PML TethysBrief:
Mostly stock rocket for me Level One certification. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This is me first rocket higher than an Estes kit. First Flight on this rocket was me L1 attempt as built weight was too heavy for a "G" test flight.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

  • 1 36" x 4" PML Quantum body tube
  • Piston ejection system
  • 3 G-10 .093" fins
  • 2 1/4" plywood centerin' rings
  • 54mm Kwik-Switch motor mount with 38mm & 29mm adapters
  • Plastic 4" nose cone
  • Welded closed metal D-rin' for shock attachment at piston
  • 12' 9/16" tubular nylon shock
  • 48" PML chute
  • Two 3/8" brass launch lugs
  • Very easy t' follow instructions

T' kit has a logical assembly order and excellent fit o' all components although some minor sandin' o' t' centerin' rings and bulkhead. Avast! It is very important t' follow t' instructions regardin' sandin' t' Quantum tubin' for fin and launch lug attachment! Sandin' t' G10 fins is also a good idea.

And don't forget t' add two .093" vent holes. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! One through t' body tube right above upper MM centerin' rin' is and another right below t' installed nosecone shoulder.

I added a PML Quick Switch motor retainer durin' construction before paintin' it.

Finishing:
You want t' lightly sand all Quantum tubing, nose cone, shiver me timbers, and G10 fins before paintin' so that t' paint has somethin' t' "bite" into. Must fill imperfections along mold split lines and associated flow lines in plastic and also fill ejector pin marks for a good finish. Begad! Blimey! Finally wash nosecone with isopropyl alcohol just before primer application t' remove any last amounts o' mold release.

I primed t' entire rocket with 6 t' 8 coats o' Krylon White Primer sandin' betwixt coats, matey, then sprayed with Krylon color coats, and another 6 t' 8 thin coats o' Krylon Clear t' finish it. Ya scallywag! Only one PML decal be supplied but I did nay use it.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
My cert flight (and t' rockets first flight) was with a Pro38 2-grain Smokey Sam 247H143SS. Avast! This was me first motor larger than an Estes "D". Avast! Ya scallywag! Perfect and straight flight. Ya scallywag! I choose a six second delay but maybe eight would have been better. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! There is no seven second option which would probably be optimum. Avast! Approximate altitude was 1,000 feet.

Second flight be on an Aerotech H238T 29/180 with an another six second delay. Begad! Perfect again. Blimey! 800 foot estimate.

Recovery:
Make sure piston fit is loose and free. Begad! Begad! I added a 36" Top Flight Nomex heat shield post construction t' t' piston strap and replaced t' 12' supplied shock cord with a 24' 9/16" tubular nylon shock. Loops were sewn in at both ends and 1/3 along t' length for parachute attachment and I used 5/32" Stainless Delta Quicklinks for all attachments and a 1,000lb swivel t' t' parachute.

One recommendation: Do nay use t' plastic attachment points on t' nose cone! Blimey! Instead, matey, use a 1/4-20 expandin' metal lag or a 1/4-20 toggle bolt epoxied inside t' nose for attachment.

Even with me heavy rocket weight - t' supplied 48" chute be adequate. Piston protected t' chute perfectly!!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Excellent kit that is very sturdy and durable.

I would highly recommend t' PML kits t' beginners. Blimey! T' Quantum tubin' is great. It finishes very nicely. I liked it so much I just got me PML Eclipse in t' mail for me second HPR.

With all t' changes, extra sturdy attach points, extra shock length, swivel, heavy fillets at all six areas and nearly 24 (thin/light) coats o' paint, me Tethys weighed in at 75 ounces where kit specifications is 53 oz. I feel t' overbuildin' is worth every penny and ounce it added even though I could nay test fly me rocket on a "G" motor due t' bein' too heavy which be me original plan. After two flights and landin' both times on hard-packed plowed fields, ya bilge rat, thar be hardly a mark or scratch t' be found anywhere on t' rocket. Begad! One must look hard t' tell she has two flights on her.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Public Missiles Tethys By Scott Weihe (July 3, 2007)

    This is a big beautiful stock PML kit with 3 fins, parachute recovery, and would be perfect for level 1 attempts. The kit came with a 36" x 4" PML Quantum body tube, G10 fins, plywood centering rings, PML's 54/38/29 Kwik-Switch motor mounts, a tough plastic nose cone, PML's piston ejection system, 12 feet tubular nylon shock cord, a 48 inch chute, 2 brass lugs, and some very good ins ...

  • Public Missiles Tethys By Kevin Drayson

    Photo Courtesy of PML The Tethys is a basic 3FNC kit, capable of flying on G motors or bigger. The Tethys came with a single length of airframe tubing (phenolic, per my request), 3 pre-cut G10 fins (the thickest fiberglass fins I've used to date), a 4:1 ogive plastic nose cone, a thick nylon strap, a length of tubular nylon, piston kit, a 48" parachute, two brass launch lugs, and the 54mm ...

Flights

Comments:

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D.J. (November 1, 2000)
I built and flew the PML Tethys for a level 2 certification. I really liked the kit and would recommend it to anyone seeking a rocket for level 1 or 2 certification. I built it stock except for an eyebolt in the back of the nose cone and replaced the elastic shock cord with 12 feet of 1 inch tubular nylon. My level 2 cert was flown on a J350 with a 14 second delay. It didn't waste anytime getting off the pad for an out of sight flight. I like the PML phenolic airframe, except for the groove which took a fair amount of time to fill. I also Would recommend glassing the airframe for added strength and I think it would take less time than filling the groove and sanding it smooth. I give this kit a thumbs up. I found this review to be accurate.
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A.D.W. of PML (January 1, 2001)
The reviewer mentions that they ordered the Tethys with phenolic. All Tethys kits come in our Quantum Tube unless specified otherwise (as he did). Also, the kit must have been ordered quite some time ago, as we have been packaging tubular nylon in all our kits since about 5/00.
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(January 3, 2001)
Kevin has come back and said: "Just thought I should add a quick clarification about my review... the extra length of shock-cord I added was from an older PML kit, which was no longer in service. The Tethys itself did come with tubular nylon instead of elastic.
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G.S. (April 1, 2001)
If you build this kit again and decide to go with the phenolic, might I suggest instead of using 'glass cloth, try maybe a 5 oz/sq.yd. Kevlar cloth and a high grade epoxy (AeroPoxy works great for me)? I've found Kevlar to be extremely tough and durable. Don't sand the laminate though, use a high-build primer to fill the weave. Sanding into a laminate destroys the structure you just created.
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D.B.M. (August 17, 2005)
My Tethys has the Quantum tubing. A fast and simple build, gotta love those G-10 fins and plastic tbing for easy and quick finishing! I upgraded my chute to 54" for flying on out desert playas, but in retrospect I wish I had kept the stock 48" chute as I've had to take some long walks using J's. My Tethys, with a two-part, three color automotive finish, came out at 52 ounces without motor casing (but with 54mm QS adapter installed). I had to add 8 ounces of nose weight to balance out at 1 caliber using the 38mm J285's and J350's. I'd suggest going to 1.5 calibers as I've had some wiggle off the pad. Suggest anyone building these use an eyebolt in the nose cone rather than the stock shock cord mounting. I've bought now some 3.9" main and coupler tubing and will be building a payload bay to add some length (and move the CG forward). Overall, a great kit and rocket!

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