Public Missiles AGM256 Pit Bull

Public Missiles - AGM256 Pit Bull {Kit}

Contributed by Dan Bihary

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 2.60 inches
Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Skill Level: 3

pml_pitbullBrief:
"True Air Force-like stylin' is sure t' command attention on t' flight line! T' Pit Bull is 35" tall and 2.6" in diameter. T' Pit Bull weighs in at 29 ozs., shiver me timbers, and comes with a 30" chute. Blimey! This kit is designed t' fly on high impulse F and G motors for Pre-Cert flights and most H and I motors for Cert 1 flights. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Comes standard with a 38mm motor mount."

Construction:
This kit employs PML qauntum tubing. Ahoy! This product has a coupleof advantages. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! First, ya bilge rat, no spirals t' fill & sand! Second, t' tubin' is able t' be dadoed. This enables t' manufacture t' plow a groove halfway through t' material. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! This allows for easier placement o' t' fins and much higher strength.

T' fin are precut from .0625 G10. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! They were accurate and flat. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! A couple o' minutes with sandpaper resulted in some good lookin' fins.

T' nosecone is plastic and required some work t' hide t' seam. Ya scallywag! T' boattail is also plastic.

Kits tend t' almst always say "Read t' instuction before starting...". Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well on this kit, that would be a good idea. T' decisions required regardin' motor retention may stop you dead in your construction tracks if you don't properly prepare.

pml_pitbull_webbingMany option exist rangin' from expensive machined retainers t' simple but risky friction fit methods. Begad! I chose t' extend t' motor mount tube behind t' boattail and tap t' plastic end o' t' tail for screws that will hold clips.

I questioned t' ability for t' plastic t' hold screws. Begad! I decided t' give it a quick test by clampin' t' cone in a vise and yankin' on t' screw with some vise grips. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I'm confident I would have done severe damage t' t' tailcone before t' screw would come out.

I apreciate t' "cool factor" that aluminum retainers provide, ya bilge rat, but this isn't a cheap kit! Preped for flight, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' flyer could have better than $150 sittin' on t' pad!

Finishing:
I hate t' stickers. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! OK, matey, ya bilge rat, that may be too harsh. I do like t' glossy black stripes. Avast! Blimey! No, ya bilge rat, wait. Blimey! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I don't like those either. Maybe it's just me. Avast! Blimey! I had a heck o' a time gettin' t' black stripes down without liftin' and bucklin' due t' very slight errors in placement..

pml_pitbull_gloss-finishNow t' worst part. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' text has a glossy frame around them caused by t' finish o' t' decal. Avast! Unless you have a very glossy finish on t' rocket, matey, your gonna see t' difference.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a generally easy t' construct kit that looks great when done. Aye aye! I wanted t' build this one stock, ya bilge rat, but I'm workin' on a project that will require two o' these boys. Blimey! On t' second one, matey, me bucko, ya bilge rat, I'm goin' t' produce custom decals with more details closer t' prototypes. Ya scallywag! It would be very easy t' add details showin' screw, shiver me timbers, me hearties, hatche and other components o' a real missile.

I'm disappointed in two things. Arrr! First t' decals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Second, me bucko, shiver me timbers, this isn't a real missle. Begad! Begad! Surely a little research could have at least driven this design closer t' some real rocket.

pml_pitbull_bt-tailmatingOverall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Pay attention t' decal placement prior t' finishing. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I spent much time tryin' t' hide t' joint betwixt t' body tube and t' tailcone. Begad! T' black stripe decal covered all this hard work! T' fillin' really wasn't needed.

 

 

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