Brief:
T' PML Miranda is probably intended t' be a second HPR kit, me hearties, but this be me first HPR kit. Begad! (Picture is courtesy o' Public Missiles)

Construction:
T' PML Miranda is a single stage 3" rocket with a 12" payload section. This kit comes with PML's Kwik Switch system allowin' you t' use up t' 54mm motors and spend more loot than you really should. Aye aye! Blimey! Nay that this will stop you.

T' instructions were easy enough t' follow for me, arrr, but I enjoy buildin' things and have "engineer tendencies" - I like t' over-build things. Therefore - I fiber-glassed t' nylon strap t' t' motor tube and added a third centerin' rin' t' t' motor tube as well, formin' a fin can. Arrr! Begad! Before I even really knew what that was... Avast! I suppose I did TOO much research on t' web and read too many horror stories about epoxy nay stickin' t' Quantum tubing. Begad! Arrr! Well, me bucko, as long as you follow t' directions, me hearties, thar will be no trouble at all. Begad! I roughed up t' Quantum tubin' with 80 grit sandpaper and used 30 minute epoxy everywhere. Avast! I suppose a K motor might tear things up, but I feel good about everythin' up t' that. Aye aye! One thin' t' instructions left out, ya bilge rat, arrr, is t' drill 1/8" vent holes t' help t' function o' t' piston system.

Finishing:
I'm nay sure what t' say about finishin' except that I hate t' do it. Aye aye! This rocket flew primer-only for it's first flight, arrr, and has been painted 1 1/2 times since then: I changed me mind about t' payload section and repainted it. Avast! I used t' Rustoleum product line for this rocket. Well, blow me down! I used Krylon on me second and it's goin' t' be Krylon from here on out! That said - I'm glad this was PML's Quantum tubin' and that I didn't have t' fill any grooves!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, I'll have t' extrapolate from a data set o' one (flight) here, but I used an Aerotech H124J SU motor and I have a TRA level 1 t' show for it. My conservative paranoia led me t' purchase PML's retention system and so I had no trouble at all with keepin' t' motor firmly in t' rocket at ejection. Avast, me proud beauty! Other than some mild weather-cockin' as it left t' rod, me hearties, matey, t' rocket flew extremely straight t' (accordin' t' t' deadlights o' our TRA prefect) somewhere around 1500 feet. Since I can't find RockSim data for this motor, ya bilge rat, I can't even try t' confirm it. Ya scallywag! It DID take quite a while t' come down, though.

Recovery:
All t' recovery items used were exactly what PML provided in t' kit. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' piston system in place o' wadding, tubular nylon shock cord, arrr, shiver me timbers, and a 36" rip-stop nylon parachute. Avast! Everythin' about t' recovery system went together very easily and worked very well. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' rocket recovered with almost no damage. T' phenolic piston tubin' had a crack in it upon post flight inspection. It was easily repairable, but it has me wonderin' how t' prevent it as it happened t' a friend's PML Io as well. Ya scallywag! Begad! I'm nay sure if t' paint would have scratched because it flew almost naked. (I was told that pretty rockets crash) On first inspection, me hearties, I thought that t' nylon strap for t' piston had been burned slightly by t' ejection charge, arrr, but I now think that what I am noticin' is black powder residue. Still, me next kit got a Nomex protector for t' cord and so will everythin' else I build.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5