Public Missiles MR-1

Public Missiles - MR-1

Contributed by Al Gloer

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Public Missiles

Brief:
A real short mid t' high power sport flier styled after an anti-tank weapon. It's basically a big nose cone with just enough body t' hold t' fins. Available in both 29mm and 38mm, arrr, this review reflects a 38mm build.

Public Missiles, Ltd. MR-1

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1 Nose cone with pre-attached shock cord
  • 1 Urethane nosecone transition with launch lug mount
  • 1 Body tube (available only in Quantum Tubing)
  • 1 Parts for 2.1" piston (tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, bulkhead, strap, D-ring
  • 3 G-10 fins
  • 2 Centerin' rings
  • 1 Launch lug
  • 1 Motor mount

This is a basic PML build. You need t' make sure you sand all t' epoxy points as t' bond t' QT can be difficult t' attain. In t' case o' this review, me hearties, I be buildin' with t' 38mm mount so t' internal fillets were a challenge at best (not a lot o' room t' work). Begad! Avast! I mixed up a slurry o' 6 minute epoxy and milled fiberglass and then injected it into place holdin' t' rocket level. I repeated this three times and got a fairly good set o' internal fillets. Well, blow me down! In t' case o' this rocket, larger fillets on t' outside are called for strengthenin' purposes.

Because t' base o' t' nose is almost twice as wide as t' body tube, the transition has a molded riser for t' launch lug. Begad! Blimey! This is nay a bad case of flashin' so read t' directions and don't grind it off! Blimey! I found that basic hobby epoxy did a lousy job o' holdin' t' brass lug t' t' urethane transition. Avast, me proud beauty! JB-Weld is strongly recommended. Aye aye! Blimey! If you are a hardcore rail junkie, this one will put you t' t' test o' your creativity. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! Also, ya bilge rat, note that when finished, me hearties, t' nose cone does nay seem t' fit right and thar be a 1" band exposed. This is thar by design. Ahoy! Blimey!

Retention is difficult as t' gap betwixt t' MMT and BT is about 1/2". Avast! Begad! I epoxied a SHCS in and use a single nut t' hold t' motor in. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! If ever a rocket called for an Aero Pack or Slimline retainer, matey, arrr, this be t' one.

Finishing:
I painted t' body gloss black, t' nose red, matey, t' transition blue and covered the funny step in t' nose with chrome trim Monokote. Avast, me proud beauty! Other than that it's a basic paint your rocket if you like job. Begad! O' course with t' airframe bein' QT, you need t' give a light sandin' for best paint adhesion.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Public Missiles, Ltd. MR-1

Flight:
Stuffin' in t' recovery system is a bit o' a challenge as thar just is nay a whole lot o' room. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! You push t' piston as far back as possible, me hearties, fold t' chute real tight, and poke it in t' t' body as best as possible. Avast, me proud beauty! Then invert t' NC, stuff everythin' else in there, and slip it all together. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' first flight be at METRA on Aug 6th, 2006. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! T' load was a G67R in the 38-120 casing. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! T' rocket took off almost sideways off t' pad and never got more than 150' off t' ground. Aye aye! Blimey! I heard t' deployment charge, however, since it was basically a ballistic trajectory, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' forces involved got in t' way o' the deployment. Aye aye! Blimey! One o' t' fins had broken away intact. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' cause o' t' wild flight was obvious. On launch, t' lug had torn away and t' rocket lifted off unguided.

T' post repair second flight was at CATO on August 19th, arrr, 2006. Arrr! Avast! T' load this time was a G61 in t' 38-120. A near perfect flight!

Recovery:
This is a standard PML piston design system. Some will choose t' leave out the piston, however, me hearties, that is a matter o' personal choice. Aye aye! This is a perfect rocket on a small field for t' 1 grain 38mm reload and on a larger field for the 2-grain. Avast, me proud beauty! It is rather short and usin' electronics might me iffy. Blimey! This might be a perfect airframe for t' new AT EFC product if you wanted.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Were I t' build this again, I would slot t' body t' t' base and assemble the fin can outside t' body allowin' for t' better fin t' MMT.

PROs:

  • Typical easy t' build PML kit.
  • Nice flight profile

CONs:

  • Not t' best candidate for a rail.
  • Stuffin' in t' laundry required more thought than I like on t' field.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Public Missiles MR-1 By John Lee (June 14, 2009)

    The MR-1 is something that looks like it comes out of an ordnance inventory. Opening the bag, that impression is confirmed as one looks at the parts. The Quantum tubing and glass fins make this a heavy and substantial rocket. The NC makes it even more so. I am hoping to get a chance to do some HPR flying in May at the West Texas Thunder event so I started looking through some of the bigger ...

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