Public Missiles Miranda

Public Missiles - Miranda

Contributed by Mark Weitemeyer

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2011-01-01
Manufacturer: Public Missiles

Courtesty of PMLBrief:
T' PML Miranda is probably intended t' be a second HPR kit, arrr, ya bilge rat, but this be me first HPR kit. (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. Ahoy! Nay that this will stop you.

T' instructions were easy enough t' follow for me, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, formin' a fin can. Before I even really knew what that was... I suppose I did TOO much research on t' web and read too many horror stories about epoxy nay stickin' t' Quantum tubing. Well, blow me down! Well, as long as you follow t' directions, ya bilge rat, thar will be no trouble at all. I roughed up t' Quantum tubin' with 80 grit sandpaper and used 30 minute epoxy everywhere. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I suppose a K motor might tear things up, but I feel good about everythin' up t' that. Ahoy! One thin' t' instructions left out, ya bilge rat, 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. This rocket flew primer-only for it's first flight, and has been painted 1 1/2 times since then: I changed me mind about t' payload section and repainted it. I used t' Rustoleum product line for this rocket. I used Krylon on me second and it's goin' t' be Krylon from here on out! That said - I'm glad this be PML's Quantum tubin' and that I didn't have t' fill any grooves!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, arrr, matey, me bucko, 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. Other than some mild weather-cockin' as it left t' rod, t' rocket flew extremely straight t' (accordin' t' t' deadlights o' our TRA prefect) somewhere around 1500 feet. Begad! Since I can't find RockSim data for this motor, shiver me timbers, I can't even try t' confirm it. Aye aye! It DID take quite a while t' come down, though.

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

Flights

Comments:

avatar
G.S. (May 1, 2001)
I have an idea for strengthening your piston (and any other coupler as well. Currently, I am building a PML Tethys. After I installed the bulkhead and used a generous amount of epoxy on both sides (mixed liberally with Kevlar pulp and milled fiberglass), I took .7 oz Kevlar matting and laminated to the INSIDE of the piston. In theory, it should strengthen the piston and keep it from cracking. I'll see when it flies in a couple of weeks how effective it is. As for the piston strap, if you replace that nylon strap with tubular Kevlar, you have no worries about heat damage. Kevlar just does not burn!

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