(06/30/08) I have t' admit that I have some sort of "connection" with PML kits. Avast! Begad! It be 10 years ago when I opened me first PML kit, the Callisto, and I still remember t' "Wow" affect that I received back then as this was me first mid/high power rocket.

The Callisto is a simple 3-fin and a nose cone design, me hearties, but it just had a classic look for me. Arrr! At NARAM-40, I was successful in gettin' me NARRRRR Level 1 certification on that Callisto.

So fast forward 10 years. Blimey! I had a desire t' build a new high power rocket for t' up-n-comin' NERRF4. Wanted somethin' straight-forward, easy t' finish, me hearties, and that could fly on 38mm motors without goin' out o' sight. Enter t' PML Ariel.

T' Ariel sports t' same 3-fin and a nose cone classic design o' the Callisto but on a 3.1" airframe. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! It stands over 58" tall.

T' kit comes with two pieces o' Quantum Tubing, a PML plastic nose cone, G10 Fins, a piston recovery system with a 36" parachute, me bucko, arrr, a Kwik-Switch motor mount system, a single decal, and launch lugs.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed in multiple formats. Ahoy! There is a base assembly instruction booklet with detailed illustrated steps. Then thar are several leaflets on Tyin' Tubular Nylon, Choosin' a Motor Retainer, Quantum Tube, Piston Ejection System Assembly, matey, and Kwik-Switch Motor Mount.

T' Kwik-Switch Motor system is built first. It consists o' t' main 54mm motor tube that has a threaded (inside) retainer/end-piece glued in place first. T' remainin' 38mm and 29mm motor tubes have a threaded (outside) retainer/end-pice glued in place that, ya bilge rat, me bucko, when used, shiver me timbers, would screw into t' 54mm motor tube. Then a 38mm t' 54mm and a 29mm t' 54mm centerin' rin' is glued on t' 38mm and 29mm motor tubes, respectively opposite the threaded piece. Blimey! Well, blow me down! This completes this simple but effective system. Begad! Well, blow me down!

T' upper (slotted for t' strap) centerin' rin' is glued in place next. Aye aye! Then the nylon piston strap is glued in place on t' outside o' t' 54mm motor tube with epoxy. Begad!

T' lower centerin' rin' is nay glued in place yet. PML recommends placin' tape around t' lower centerin' rin' and placin' it on t' motor tube. Arrr! Blimey! This is t' allow t' ring to be in place while gluin' t' motor mount and through-the-wall fins in place, but then allowin' it t' be removed to apply internal fillets (or foam). It would then be glued in place after t' interior work is complete. Begad! I like this method and have used it on other builds. Avast! Aye aye! This time, arrr, I used Keelhaul®©™® thread instead o' scotch tape (see picture).

T' G10 fins are glued in place next. T' Quantum is pre-slotted so naturally this is an easy step as well. Once t' fins are glued in place I made me external fin fillets using epoxy.

After removin' t' aft centerin' rin' I used Gorilla Glue to form me internal fillets. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! I did this by squeezin' an ample amount o' glue down t' two joints (fin t' motor tube and fin t' interior body tube) and allowed it t' run down t' length o' t' fin. Aye aye! Then I set t' rocket so t' fin joints were horizontal and allowed t' glue t' dry.

Since Gorilla Glue expands, I found this "growth" t' be interesting. Obviously t' glue found a small hole in me external fin fillets right at t' top o' one o' t' fins! (I trimmed it off).

I drilled two holes and epoxied two screws (facin' out) t' be used for motor retention. Ahoy! (Shown here with t' spent I211 in place)

For finishin' I used 400 grit sand paper t' sand t' entire outside fo t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I then used Plasti-Kote Primer. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! This be followed by Dupli-Color automotive paint and then finished with Dupli-Color's Clear Effex™ which adds "... Ya scallywag! tiny metallic particles that change color at various angles o' light."

Once t' rocket was finished I add two rail buttons. Aye aye! Blimey! Be careful doin' this, because the upper button has t' be lower than t' piston inside t' body tube.

Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Well, blow me down! Begad! In many ways buildin' this kit is easier than many Estes kits. Begad! Instructions are good and the materials are top notch. Begad! T' stay consistent with me previous ratings o' kits, I would say a bit more pizzazz could be put into t' decals (but I'm nay so sure many high power fliers would use them). Aye aye! Quantum tube and G10 fins finish like a dream!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

My finished rocket weighed in at 3.1 lbs (49.75 ounces) and me CG be at 36".

As I stated, I wanted t' get this built and ready t' fly at NERRF4. Ahoy! Begad! I had an Aerotech I211 and I161, shiver me timbers, both with Medium delays lookin' for a rocket t' fly in... Begad! no really, they were callin' out to me, me hearties, me hearties, "fly me, me hearties, burn me, launch me". Ya scallywag! (Okay, shiver me timbers, a little scary, ya bilge rat, right?)

RockSIM indicates that I should get about 4000 feet on t' I211 and that I needed about 11 seconds for delay and so I loaded it up.

I then re-checked me piston for easy movement inside t' body tube. Ahoy! Sometimes in the heat o' t' day, me bucko, matey, matey, things can tighten up with this type o' recovery system, so always check it. Begad! Blimey! (Likewise, after flights, clean your piston and t' inside o' t' Quantum tube.)

After RSO check-in and loadin' up on t' pads, ya bilge rat, I waited for t' final count down and lift-off. Aye aye! T' I211 came up t' speed and t' rocket ripped off t' pad. Begad! T' flame looked t' be 3 feet long coming out o' t' back o' this rocket, matey, even though I only had a second t' see it. Aye aye! T' launch earned a "down town" exclamation from t' LSO (listen t' t' video). It generated a "Wow" feelin' in me again.

T' rocket came under 'chute and landed several fields over. Ahoy! Overall, outstanding and thrillin' flight for me.

T' 10 second delay must have nay been enough, because upon inspection I had a small crack at t' top o' t' body tube and clearly t' nose cone (gold) whapped t' body tube hard (red) based on the red scuff on one side o' t' cone. Begad! I choose nay t' fly it again until I can do some repair work.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, arrr, me bucko, I would rate this rocket 5 points. I realize I have only flown this rocket once, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but it is perfectly stable and has a great variety of flyin' options from 29mm t' 54mm motors. Avast!

NOTE: I paid for t' picture on t' right that someone (Brian?) took o' me rocket takin' off. Blimey! A bit washed-out (because o' t' angle o' t' sun), me bucko, but look at t' length o' that flame!

I look forward t' flyin' it again at a large launch and I hope t' try it on a G, arrr, H, and another I. Arrr! Nay ready t' go t' Level 2 though, me hearties, but if/when I am, it will probably be on this PML Ariel.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Avast! As I stated in t' intro, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me "connection" t' PML kits is because o' t' ease o' gettin' into mid/high power rocketry with them. Begad! T' Ariel is no exception and it would be a great Level 1 and Level 2 rocket. Blimey! Ya scallywag! The simple classic lines and ease o' build and finishin' are all very satisfying.