Brief:
This scale model uses a 29mm motor mount for midpower t' high power motors, and uses a parachute and PML's piston for recovery.

Construction:
T' construction o' t' AMRAAM was much easier than I had predicted. Ya scallywag! T' packagin' was neat and informative. All o' t' parts were in t' kit and in perfect shape.

T' kit is made o' a PML 54mm phenolic tube, 8 G10 fins, me hearties, a 29mm phenolic tube for t' motor mount, matey, 2 thick plywood centerin' rings, me hearties, piston retainin' strap, shiver me timbers, piston, shiver me timbers, matey, shock cord, 24" parachute, thick plastic nose cone, and a copper launch lug (which I cut in half for better support).

T' instructions were nay anywhere near what they could have been. Arrr! Ahoy! They took up t' equivalent o' one piece o' paper, me hearties, and assumed a lot. Blimey! I was lucky t' have built mid-power rockets before so knew how t' make good bonds with epoxy, etc. T' instructions did have several useful diagrams.

One problem I had was that on t' lower set o' fins I could nay tell which end went through t' rocket and which end stuck out. Avast! They were very similar, but different enough t' make a difference. Blimey! Ahoy! I looked as closely as possible at t' diagram provided and then tried what looked more like it. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! I'm still nay sure if I did t' right one! But t' only time I think it looks odd is when it is held up t' me Estes AMRAAM (of which I have know nothin' o' scale accuracy).

One thin' I did like about t' construction was materials. Well, blow me down! This be me first experience with Phenolic and G10. Avast! T' materials weigh a lot more, arrr, but they are stronger than plywood and paper. Ya scallywag! T' copper launch lugs were also very nice. Aye aye! I used 60 minute epoxy throughout construction and ended up with a very strong-seemin' rocket.

T' AMRAAM, with t' exception o' t' fin problem mentioned above, me hearties, shiver me timbers, was very easy t' use. T' upper fins fit perfectly in their notches, but t' lower fins left a small bit o' fin slot gap showing. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! I epoxied a small square o' paper over this hole and spread epoxy over it. I sanded it once and now you can't see it, ya bilge rat, me hearties, so no big problem. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' AMRAAM didn't require any difficult construction techniques or special tools. Begad! Because it is promoted as a good mid-power/low-highpower rocket, arrr, and therefore a logical first high power rocket, I think t' instructions could be made clearer. Ahoy! Overall a very nice kit.

Finishing:
Finishin' this model was nay overly-difficult. Avast! T' G10 fins are already nice and smooth, but t' tubes have those nasty spirals which require a lot o' fillin' for a decent finish. Begad! I used several coats o' grey primer t' smooth out imperfections (usin' white for t' nose). In t' instructions it tells you t' look for decal strips for t' colored strips, me hearties, but I just painted mine on. Begad! T' decals also proved t' be very nice. Ahoy! I have no complaints about t' finishin' o' this rocket.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' AMRAAM kit recommends F-H motors. Begad! Because o' its high weight I would recommend flyin' it on high thrust F motors (F62, F80), or just stickin' with G's and H's.

T' first flight was on a G35-7, which worked great. Blimey! I think that any G or H motor should work fine, except for t' really long burn G's (G25, G33) which might nay have enough kick for this model.

T' AMRAAM be t' easiest t' prep mid-power rocket I have. Because t' piston eliminates t' need for recovery wadding, me hearties, me bucko, all that is required is t' pack and insert t' chute. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Motor retention on me model consists o' an Estes engine hook epoxied on (just like on Estes models). Although this systems sounds and looks simple and actually weak, me bucko, it works fine. Aye aye! Blimey! First I get a good solid friction fit with maskin' tape and make maskin' tape thrust rin' on t' aft o' t' motor, arrr, then I insert t' motor and wrap t' aft o' it and t' motor mount with maskin' tape. Begad! Blimey! T' maskin' tape acts as t' primary system, with t' engine hook as a great backup. Begad! Blimey! On t' first launch t' AMRAAM's G35 ignited first try. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket leaped off t' launch pad and went straight up. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! T' 7 second delay was just right with this motor.

Recovery:
T' shock cord on t' AMRAAM is black flat elastic nylon strap, which attaches t' t' piston, shiver me timbers, which in turn attaches t' a heavy duty piston-retainin' strap. T' chute has a large spill hole, ya bilge rat, arrr, but even with this it is near perfect for t' AMRAAM. Arrr! Recovery was a little slow, but overall it was great. Ya scallywag! T' only damage t' t' rocket was some slight scorchin' at t' base. This was me first mid-power rocket nay painted black at t' rear, so this was t' first time I experienced this. Avast! It does give t' rocket a sort o' battle-worn look which I think is cool.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' AMRAAM overall is a great kit. It flies great, is a very strong and durable rocket, and t' piston system eliminates recovery wadding. Blimey! Blimey! However, matey, t' kit doesn't come with motor retention and t' fins didn't quite fit right in their slots. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Blimey! None o' these were major problems.

T' PML AMRAAM be me first PML kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I normally am against almost all high power kits because most o' them require so many replacement parts that they aren't worthwhile. Begad! While t' AMRAAM has flaws, me hearties, I still recommend it for those who don't enjoy designin' their own rockets.

My only advice for someone buildin' this kit is t' add positive motor retention and use a good quick-cure epoxy. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Other than that, me bucko, have fun flying!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5