Public Missiles Ultimate Endeavor

Public Missiles - Ultimate Endeavor

Contributed by Brett Noake

Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Rating
(Contributed - by Brett Noake)

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

Rocket Pic

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, me bucko, arrr, as in most PML kits. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! However, me bucko, I modified t' kit quite a bit. Ya scallywag! First I added 3 more 38mm tubes. Arrr! I figured there was room for them, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I might as well use it. Aye aye! Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
Finishin' was simple, or at least as simple as seven feet o' six-inch airframe can be. Arrr! There are a lot o' seams t' fill!!! Although phenolic tubin' is strong, larger diameters are somewhat flimsy and prone t' cracking. Aye aye! I would suggest glassin' t' airframe - nay necessarily for flight stress, me bucko, but for landings and handlin' around t' house. Avast! Be sure t' align t' fins! 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

Rocket PicFlight:
Just like t' Ultimate Endeavor's two little brothers, shiver me timbers, me bucko, this kit is nothing short o' awesome in t' air. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! It is very stable and produces good, matey, straight flights. T' first flight be with a K550. This was me L2 cert flight and attained an altitude o' 2988'. Well, blow me down! Second flight was on a K550 as well and reached 3074' (less wind). Well, blow me down! Blimey! On these two flights, I used apogee ejection only. This was accomplished with an adept ALTS2 and motor backup. Aye aye! For a third back up system, I installed a missile works wrc2. Begad! Yes I am paranoid! I have seen big rockets crash into spectator areas, matey, so I take all precautions. Blimey! Besides, shiver me timbers, after filling all those seams, ya bilge rat, you don't want t' redo any o' t' airframe.

Recovery:
I HATE PISTONS. Ahoy! In theory, they are wonderful but thar are too many potential problems. Ya scallywag! If t' piston doesn't have a good seal t' t' airframe, ya bilge rat, ejection gasses will pass by and nay be sufficient t' separate t' two halves. Well, blow me down! If the piston gets stuck, arrr, you'll either blow a hole in t' airframe or just have a bunch o' compressed gas under t' piston, neither o' which will result in a good deployment. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! So, arrr, away with t' piston!

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

Second, THROW AWAY THE ELASTIC SHOCK CORDS! I know PML considers them t' be adequate, but do you want t' trust a rocket that is this big t' elastic? If you do you are crazy. Aye aye! I used tubular nylon for t' shock cord. Arrr! I also used "U" bolts t' anchor t' recovery system. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a good kit. Avast, me proud beauty! I think PML should reconsider t' recovery system. T' cost o' t' piston, matey, me bucko, me bucko, elastic shock cords and parachutes is figured into the price o' t' kit and I didn't use any o' them. Blimey! Fortunately, matey, I had the replacement parts already, me hearties, me bucko, so it didn't cost me any extra. Avast! Other than recovery items this rocket is well worth t' money. Avast! It is awesome in flight and will turn quite a few heads at t' launches. Well, blow me down! I am gettin' ready t' rebuild the booster t' hold 3" motors. Aye aye! Arrr! I am upgradin' t' fins t' be 1/8" so the M1315 can be used. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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