Photo courtesty o' PML

Brief:
Scale-like rocket o' t' big brother PML Bulldog. Begad! Excellent military styling, good experience here with boat-tails.

Construction:
T' new Bull Puppy comes with t' nice Quantum Tubin' (pre slotted for TTW fin attachment), a PML nosecone, ya bilge rat, me hearties, G-10 fiberglass main and canard fins, and piston ejection system. Ahoy! It comes with 2 centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, one that goes in t' main 3" tube and one at t' aft end o' t' motor mount in t' boat-tail. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' piston strap is about 30" long, t' nylon shock cord is about 3 feet long, t' parachute is 36". Ahoy! T' chute is a nice purple and yellow, me hearties, ya bilge rat, matey, easily visible with 8 shroud lines.

This was me first PML kit and was extremely easy t' build. Arrr! Arrr! I had just completed upscalin' an Estes Strikefighter (3x) and I be lookin' for a solid rocket t' level 1 on and still be able t' use for 38mm motors. Ya scallywag! This kit be perfect. Ya scallywag! As with most PML kits, if you are an experienced builder, t' instructions are very straight forward and easy t' follow. Begad! They tell you t' yes and no's o' what t' do, plus have nice drawings t' illustrate t' point.

T' only real problem that I had with t' kit was puttin' t' fillets on t' wings on t' boat-tail, and puttin' a positive retention system on t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I ended up puttin' a small hole next t' t' pre-cut spots for t' wings, me hearties, t' make little "epoxy rivets". Avast! I had t' sand t' area around t' wings extensively t' get a good seal with t' epoxy. Avast! I used both Pacer Corporation epoxy and Devcon epoxy (30 minute) t' see if it was an epoxy problem, matey, matey, matey, but it was not. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is just difficult t' glue things t' what essentially is a cut off nose cone.

I solved t' motor retention after a suggestion from a friend, I ran 2 pieces o' coat hanger wire from t' aft centerin' rin' along t' motor mount t' t' end and bent them down a little. Avast! I bent t' other end o' them up and epoxied them t' t' forward portion o' t' aft centerin' ring. I had t' use a small dowel with a piece o' 220 grit sandpaper t' sand a tract on t' inside o' t' boat-tail, me bucko, matey, so thar be room when you slide it on for assembly. Begad! I also sundered them together. Arrr! Aye aye! T' result is a upgraded Estes clip system.

I cut up a ironin' board cover and made that into t' protective cover for t' piston strap. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I also glued a piece o' fiberglass cloth from WalMart t' t' inside o' t' piston, thus further protectin' and strengthenin' t' unit. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I also glassed t' motor mount t' strengthen it. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Check PML's website FAQ'S for strengthenin' if you want t' build an extremely strong rocket, or one that will be takin' large engines. DO it strong t' first time right? Practice glassin' on t' inside, so if you mess up no one sees it. You can also put minimally expandin' foam in t' boat-tail before you glue it t' t' main tube for increased strengthening. MAKE SURE YOU LET THE FOAM CURE PER INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CAN OR IT COULD DESTROY YOUR ROCKET!!! After curing, matey, epoxy t' t' main tube.

Finishing:
I use a 220 grit t' sand t' whole model, and then prime it with Duplicolor primer. Begad! You can get this at most WalMart's or auto store. They have it in a few different colors, be sure and get t' filler/sealer, arrr, nay just sealin' primer, it has more solid in it. Do nay be afraid t' sand/prime, sand/prime. You should have a nice glass like finish on t' model. I like t' use Krylon White for t' kit, but your favorite white will do. Let a few light coats dry first before you go for t' gusto. This way you will see what needs more sandin' or where t' problem areas are. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' rest o' t' directions are very clear, shiver me timbers, and you can be like me, take it t' an auto body shop, buy t' paint, shiver me timbers, and have them paint, arrr, matey, ya bilge rat, clear coat it. Begad! It will shine!!!! Good Luck!!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Aerotech's G40-4 goes great in this kit for a first flight with an 29mm adapter, shiver me timbers, or in small fields. I will be flyin' it on 29mm H220's mostly, me bucko, but plan on usin' I357's and I300's in it at our high power launches. I used a standard LOC 29-38 motor mount adapter, but added a longer 29mm tube and also another set o' rings and this is very strong. Aye aye! I have flown mine twice now out o' me yard on a G40 and G80. It went just as t' motor predictor on PML's site said it would.

Recovery:
This is a strong kit, me hearties, it deploys with a nice POP and landin' on t' road in 10+ MPH winds caused some paint damage, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, but none t' t' integrity o' t' kit. Ahoy! Beautiful straight boosts!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PRO- excellent kit t' level 1 on (I used me Cosmodrome Nike Apache instead) and t' explore t' range o' 38mm motors on, shiver me timbers, arrr, me bucko, strong enough t' take them all. Aye aye! It is a classic example o' PML quality. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Main CON- figurin' out positive motor retention, makin' sure you sand t' piston enough so it slides freely!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5