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

Brief:
T' PML Miranda is probably intended t' be a second HPR kit, 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. Ahoy! 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. Arrr! Aye aye! Nay that this will stop you.

T' instructions were easy enough t' follow for me, me hearties, me hearties, 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, matey, formin' a fin can. Ahoy! Before I even really knew what that was... Begad! I suppose I did TOO much research on t' web and read too many horror stories about epoxy nay stickin' t' Quantum tubing. Blimey! Well, arrr, as long as you follow t' directions, ya bilge rat, me hearties, thar will be no trouble at all. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I roughed up t' Quantum tubin' with 80 grit sandpaper and used 30 minute epoxy everywhere. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I suppose a K motor might tear things up, but I feel good about everythin' up t' that. Avast! One thin' t' instructions left out, matey, 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! I used t' Rustoleum product line for this rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! I used Krylon on me second and it's goin' t' be Krylon from here on out! Blimey! 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, I'll have t' extrapolate from a data set o' one (flight) here, me bucko, 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. Begad! Blimey! 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. Arrr! Begad! Since I can't find RockSim data for this motor, ya bilge rat, I can't even try t' confirm it. Begad! It DID take quite a while t' come down, ya bilge rat, arrr, though.

Recovery:
All t' recovery items used were exactly what PML provided in t' kit. Aye aye! T' piston system in place o' wadding, tubular nylon shock cord, and a 36" rip-stop nylon parachute. Ya scallywag! Everythin' about t' recovery system went together very easily and worked very well. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' rocket recovered with almost no damage. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' phenolic piston tubin' had a crack in it upon post flight inspection. Arrr! Arrr! It was 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. Aye aye! (I was told that pretty rockets crash) On first inspection, ya bilge rat, I thought that t' nylon strap for t' piston had been burned slightly by t' ejection charge, me bucko, but I now think that what I am noticin' is black powder residue. Still, me hearties, matey, 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

ID
Date
Flyer
Rocket
Kit
Motors
Altitude
Action
50829
2008-11-08 photo
Robert Koenn
Public Missiles Miranda
Public Missiles - Miranda
I110-13
-
list
26820
2008-02-09
Jason Haralambous
Public Missiles Miranda
Public Missiles - Miranda
H123-10
1,200 Feet
list
50830
2007-11-10
Robert Koenn
Public Missiles Miranda
Public Missiles - Miranda
I405-13
-
list
26822
2007-04-08
Ralph Hart
Public Missiles Miranda
Public Missiles - Miranda
H143-0
1,457 Feet
list
50831
2006-11-11
Robert Koenn
Public Missiles Miranda
Public Missiles - Miranda
I405-ALTIM
-
list
Page
of
2
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5
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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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