Public Missiles Black Brant Vb

Public Missiles - Black Brant Vb

Contributed by Stephen Corban

Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Rating
(by Stephen Corban - 02/01/03)

Black Brant PartsBrief:
This is a sport scale rocket that features PML's new Quantum tube. Arrr! This rocket makes a good choice for t' mid power t' high power transition.

Construction:
This rocket has one section o' PML Quantum Tube, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, with no payload section. Avast! There are 2 centerin' rings made o' sturdy plywood, and 3 G10 fins. Begad! There is a plastic nosecone, arrr, but t' only hardware included be t' D rin' used in the piston. Ahoy! When both straps are tied together, t' shockcord is about 12 feet long.

T' instructions on this kit are TOP NOTCH, me hearties, as are all o' PML's. Begad! The instructions guide t' builder step by step with pictures and detailed descriptions. No templates were included, me bucko, shiver me timbers, or needed with this kit because of the pre-slotted tube. Well, blow me down! This rocket goes together just like any other high power kit.

All o' t' parts fit together perfectly, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, which made it very sturdy. Avast! Ahoy! I added 2 part foam t' t' fincan along with t' internal fillets t' make this more sturdy. Begad! Two part foam can be bought at most hobby stores. Stick with t' PML or Northeast Hobby Products foam.

Black Brant Finst Finishing:
Finishin' this bird was an ease. T' QT eliminates all need for fillin' tube spirals, me bucko, so a quick sand with 400 grit sand paper and it was ready t' paint. Avast! Avast! A couple coats o' primer, then went over that with red automotive paint. Masked off t' fin and t' top and painted red again. Ya scallywag! Begad! T' reason I painted t' red again after I masked off t' areas is if any paint runs through it will not mess up t' paint job, me hearties, and t' red coat seals t' tape down. Begad! i then went ahead with t' brown and white and paintin' was complete. T' only decal nay included for this was t' white stripes that go up and down t' sides. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Call an automotive or sign shop t' get in touch with some o' this. Well, blow me down! After that, matey, a clear coat be put on and t' bird looked awesome. Blimey!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5


Black Brant Launch Flight:
Well, PML reccomends every motor from about a F50 up t' t' J570. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I have currently flown this bird twice, both on G64-7's. These flights were both atraight as an arrow t' about 1200', shiver me timbers, and t' 7 delay is perfect. Aye aye! T' piston ejection system eliminated t' need for wadding, therefore preperation went much quicker. Aye aye! For motor retention I used 4-40 blind nuts in t' aft centering ring, shiver me timbers, arrr, and a pair o' screen clips t' hold in t' casing.

Recovery:
This rocket has t' piston system, which consists o' a bottom piston strap, the piston, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' top piston strap. Well, blow me down! I replaced me bottom piston strap with Kevalr for strength. This rocket comes down FAST. I have never seen a rocket fall faster, but as long as you are droppin' it on turf or a field you'll be alright. Ya scallywag! If near cement, me bucko, get a bigger chute. Avast, me proud beauty! T' first flight suffered no damage, me hearties, but t' second flight inflicted minor paint crackin' and chippin' in the fin area. Begad! Well, blow me down! This was because t' rocket was spinnin' on it's axis during descent. Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This be a great rocket t' build and fly. Ahoy! It is easy t' assemble, and is a great performer in t' sky. Begad! Avast!

Black Brant Piston Pros-

  • Easy Construction - T' wonderful step by step instructions that PML provides makes construction a snap for all skill levels
  • Quality Materials - T' new Quantum Tube and G10 fins make this rocket a nearly indestructible craft that will survive longer than any paper/wood rocket. Begad!
  • Piston - This wonderful idea eliminates wadding, shiver me timbers, while nay havin' t' sorry about cloggin' up a baffle
  • High Quality Parachute - T' PML parachute is a 6-panel parachute with a spill hole in t' middle. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! These parachutes were ranked #1 in a recent survey. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Cons -

  • Quantum Tube - This is tough stuff, don't get me wrong, but the disadvantages o' QT outweigh t' advantages. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' first and foremost reason I dislike this material is because epoxy does nay like t' stick t' it. Arrr! Begad! I have popped more fillets with QT that any other material. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! This tube also expands and shrinks in different temperatures causin' t' paint t' crack, and pistons to stick
  • Piston - This is a con because if your body tube isn't properly cleaned, or if t' body tube shrinks t' piston will stick or jam. Begad! This will result in a lawn dart at t' least, but probably a destroyed fin can and ejected motor. Ya scallywag!
  • Shock Cord - T' bottom piston strap on this rocket should be protected in some way whether it is with a Keelhaul®©™® sheath, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, or be totally replaced with a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Public Missiles Black Brant Vb By Kevin Drayson

    ( Contributed - by Kevin Drayson - 10/15/00) Brief: This is a semi-scale model of the Canadian sounding rocket, manufactured by Bristol Aerospace. According to PML, it is designed to fly on G-I motors. Construction: The kit comes with three (3) pre-cut G10 fins, a pre-slotted QT airframe (or an optional phenolic one), a 4:1 ogive plastic nose cone, plywood centering rings, a 30 inch ...

Flights

Comments:

avatar
T.E. (May 13, 2002)
This was my first High Power kit that I had built and was impressed with the quality of the components and I really like the quantum tubeing. I added a Kevlar® shock cord protecter on the piston strap and have flown the rocket three times and have had no wear on the strap as of yet. The piston assembly took quite a bit of sanding to get it to slide smoothly in the tube. If you fly in cold weather put your rocket in the freezer, I did it and the piston was still tight. More sanding on the piston was in order. Also you need to clean the inside of the tube after each flight. The only problem I have with the kit is that I need to re-fillet the fins as the epoxy cracks at the base of the fins. G-10 fins are really strong and finish really nice. I would recommend the PML kits highly.

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