Public Missiles - Cirrus {Kit}

Public Missiles Cirrus

Public Missiles - Cirrus {Kit}

Contributed by Greg Briden

Manufacturer:

Public Missiles

(Contributed - by Greg Briden - 11/01/02)

Rocket Pic Brief:
Minimum diameter, high altitude rocket.

Construction:
Two main phenolic body tubes, arrr, piston ejection, solid resin nose cone.

This be me first HP rocket, which I used for me L1 cert. Begad! Blimey! I do nay recommend this rocket for any first time HP builders, and it is a less favorable cert. Let me explain; For one, its hard t' find motor retainin' rings for a minimum diameter rocket, but I did. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' site is now disabled when I try t' return to it. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Anyway, 4100' expected altitude for a L1 cert is nay desirable- t' cert team didn't much like it. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' instructions were pretty clear, matey, though I freaked out a bit when I saw t' 'shock' cord wasn't rubber, but a nylon strap. I called up PML, ya bilge rat, and they said t' kit was changed t' add this, me hearties, (well I'm glad someone told me). Arrr! Blimey! T' solid resin nose cone is NOT as indestructible as it looks, me bucko, and doesn't hold paint well. Blimey! Blimey! T' tip broke off when it fell over and managed t' hit a rock. I had t' whittle it round with me Swiss army cutlass. Also, thar be no explicit way t' attach t' nose cone! Blimey! I didn't want t' glue it, for then I wouldn't be able t' access t' payload section.! Blimey! In t' end I put three screws in. Begad! Blimey! Fiberglass: Oh boy, ya bilge rat, was this fun. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I didn't have much trouble with t' actual fins as I did with t' cloth. T' instructions said try not t' get any air bubbles... Aye aye! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! easier said than done. I launched it on a RMS H73J, shiver me timbers, and put some sand in t' payload section t' keep it within our 4000' window. Aye aye! Blimey! All in all, me bucko, this was an enjoyable rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! However, arrr, shiver me timbers, unless, shiver me timbers, your main goal is t' achieve a very high altitude, matey, then steer away from this skybuster. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey!

Finishing:
It came with one decal, matey, shiver me timbers, sportin' t' rocket name, but no painting recommendations. I painted t' bottom 2/3 blue, and t' top 1/3 gold. Blimey! Sanding plays a BIG part in this type o' rocket. Avast! Well, arrr, blow me down!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Launch Pic Flight:
T' motor mounts I used installed as follows: You drilled three hole into the tubing, me hearties, then epoxied a grommet that had a hollow threaded center. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! You then positioned a latch- type hook over t' edge o' t' motor, an put a screw through t' other end, into t' grommet. Begad! One grommet, screw, and hook per hole.

These work out very well if you can find t' somewhere, ya bilge rat, they're also cheap.

You don't need a big motor, matey, unless recordin' t' highest altitude is your goal. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

My launch went very well, me hearties, arrr, arrr, it came down in t' same condition it went up. Although t' heavy nose cone spike itself into t' ground. Aye aye!

Recovery:
T' heavy nose cone spike itself into t' ground upon landing. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' recovery was took some time, but still, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 4000' is a long way. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! A larger delay would be more preferable. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Unless achievin' t' highest altitude is your goal, steer clear o' this well- made skybuster.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews

Public Missiles Cirrus By David Fergus
( Contributed - by David W. Fergus) Brief: This is a rocket designed to fly to extreme altitude if desired. It has a 1.6" diameter and is 44" tall with a payload bay and solid resin nose cone. It can be flown with 38mm motors; or 29mm motors with an adapter. Everything that normally comes with a PML phenolic kit is provided including a piston ejection system, parachute, and ...

Flights

Comments:

B.Q.B. (September 25, 2001)

Nice review. I certified Level 1 with a Cirrus Dart this last weekend at the ROC club launch at Lucerne Valley, California. I used an Aerotech H128 and the performance of this kit is really spectacular. I recommend it highly. As far as construction goes, I modified the kit to incorporate secure motor retention. I did this by first notching the aft, root edges of the G10 fins. After the fins were affixed to the airframe using think Cya, I epoxied drywall anchors in the space created between the airframe and fin at the aft, root edge. These drywall anchors are plastic with a metal screw and are roughly triangular in shape. Next, I epoxied some 1/4" basswood triangle stock to the base of the fins to provide some more structure for the fin attachment joint. Lastly, I glassed the fins from tip to tip over the basswood and drywall anchor. Because the drywall anchor in at the base of the fin and inline with the fin, there is no aerodynamic drag with this type of motor retention. Also, I have three metal screws holding the motor in place. After I retrieved my Cirrus Dart from its certification flight, it was obvious that the nose cone/payload assembly slammed back into the main airframe on ejection causing a large crack in the payload airframe. As a result, the nose cone was almost lost on descent. The crack was surprising in that I had glassed the entire airframe including the payload section with 6 Oz. cloth, so it must have taken a helluva knock. Next time, I will replace the stock black elastic shock cord with 10 to 15 feet of 9/16" tubular nylon. I'm fairly certain the relatively short elastic cord caused the midair collision. I was lucky I got all the parts back and the rocket was still flyable! As stated previously, this is a great kit to get started in HPR and incorporates many of the building materials and techniques needed to go on to larger rockets. A 38mm to 29mm motor adapter would be a welcome addition to this kit.

A.D.W. of PML (October 4, 2001)

The reason we provide no motor retention for this kit and recommend friction fitting is that the Cirrus Dart is intended to be a super-high-performance 38mm altitude bird, and any positive motor retention method would add drag to the rocket, reducing altitude. We also mention in the instructions that some people may not wish to mount the launch lugs. Again, this is a drag-producer, and most people with this kit are going for ultimate altitude and use a tower launcher. So, no positive motor retention is by design, not an omission. Friction fitting with masking tape works great, and adds no drag. Regarding no 29/38mm motor adapter, that is available separately as it is for any of our kits that come with a 38mm MMT. To include a 29/38mm adapter with every Cirrus would add cost to the kit for the parts, and many users would not need/want the adapter. So, we keep the kit cost to the minimum and offer the adapter separately. (No offense intended to the reviewer, just wanted to point out why we do what we do with this kit).

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