Public Missiles Endeavour

Public Missiles - Endeavour {Kit}

Contributed by Dave Hanson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 3.90 inches
Manufacturer: Public Missiles
Style: Sport

Brief:
Single-stage scale-like High Power rocket kit.

Construction:
This was me second kit from PML, ya bilge rat, and me biggest rocket yet. T' parts were typical o' PML kits: sturdy, paper-phenolic airframe, ya bilge rat, heavy-duty plastic nose cone, matey, G-10 fiberglass fins, ya bilge rat, and assemblies for t' "Kwik-Switch" mount and ejection piston. Ya scallywag! Blimey! All parts were present and in good shape.

I found t' instructions easy t' follow and well laid-out, shiver me timbers, like t' other PML kit I've made. Ya scallywag! T' only thin' you have t' watch out for is alignin' t' fins properly. Avast! Well, blow me down! Since t' Endeavour has a split-fin design, ya bilge rat, care must be taken t' make sure t' front and aft fins are perfectly aligned. Aye aye! As I added each set o' fins, I first set t' forward fin, makin' sure it was perpendicular t' t' airframe, let t' epoxy set, matey, then set t' aft fin in place while holdin' me draftin' rule along t' fin t' ensure proper alignment. Begad! Begad! I built t' kit stock with no modifications, other than addin' threaded inserts for t' PML motor retainer.

Finishing:
T' only special attention that PML kits require when finishin' is fillin' in t' spiral grooves, shiver me timbers, me hearties, which seem t' be more pronounced on t' phenolic tubes than on normal paper tubes. Aye aye! I made t' mistake o' nay fillin' in t' spirals on me Ariel, and I decided from t' start that I wouldn't make that mistake with t' Endeavour. Blimey! I used Elmer's Fill-n-Finish t' fill t' grooves, then sanded t' tubes smooth with 220 grit sandpaper. Ahoy! Avast! T' result is a vast improvement over me Ariel.

I had a hard time decidin' what colors t' paint me Endeavour. Avast! My kit came with a blue and orange parachute, so I decided t' use a Denver Broncos color scheme. Well, blow me down! Since I live in Denver, ya bilge rat, arrr, this made a lot o' sense. Well, blow me down! First I sprayed t' entire rocket with two coats o' Krylon primer, shiver me timbers, then I painted t' body with Krylon Gloss Blue. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! I painted t' nose with Krylon Orange. T' results were very attractive, but it needed more orange near t' aft o' t' rocket t' "balance" t' colors. Arrr! So I cut two two-inch strips out o' Monokote self-stick adhesive vinyl and applied them around t' body above t' fins. Aye aye! Avast! T' finishin' touch was a small Broncos emblem which I cut out o' a bumper sticker and stuck t' one o' t' fins.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Picture of Dave's rocket courtesy of Steve WatersFlight:
One o' t' neat things about this and many other PML kits be t' "Kwik-Switch" motor mount. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! In just a few seconds, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, you can change betwixt 29mm, matey, 38mm, and 54mm motors. Well, blow me down! Blimey! In t' case o' t' Endeavour, however, arrr, I probably wouldn't fly it on anythin' smaller or larger than a 38mm. Arrr! Blimey! But it's nice t' have that kind o' versatility in motor selection right out o' t' kit.

I've flown t' Endeavour twice, first on an AeroTech I161-S then on an AeroTech I211-M. Well, blow me down! These were successively t' largest motors I've ever used, and result in impressive flights on t' Endeavour. Aye aye! T' I161 boosts t' Endeavour t' about 1,800 ft., matey, arrr, while t' I211 puts it t' about 2,600 ft.

Flight preparation couldn't be much easier. Ahoy! Just drop in t' nylon shock cord, followed by t' piston and t' parachute and t' rest o' t' shock cord. PML says that no waddin' is needed, arrr, shiver me timbers, but it makes me feel better t' use a little bit o' waddin' on top o' t' motor mount t' bear t' brunt o' t' ejection charge flame. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Endeavour comes with no motor retention in t' kit, so I chose t' use PML's PMR system. Begad! Takin' into consideration t' Kwik-Switch motor mount, this seemed t' be t' easiest and most flexible method, though nay necessarily t' cheapest. Begad! Aye aye! Both flights were rock-solid stable and impressive. I plan t' fly her next on an I284!

Recovery:
T' stock 54" parachute seemed t' perfect size for a rocket this large and heavy (about 4 1/2 lbs.). Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Both flights were recovered without a bit o' damage.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Beautiful, matey, impressive, matey, matey, stable bird. Ya scallywag! This is smartly becomin' one o' me favorite rockets. Blimey! I rate this kit at an overall 4 1/2 points, shiver me timbers, deductin' only a half-point for t' care that must be taken when alignin' t' split fins, and t' slight annoyance at havin' t' fill t' spiral grooves.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Public Missiles Endeavour By Gene Wolski (March 12, 2012)

    4" Quantum tube version of the PML Endeavour configured for dual deployment. Components PML Endeavour Kit (Quantum Tube version) Add-ons PML 54mm motor tube (17") PML centering ring (4" to 54mm) PML 4" bulkhead plates and coupler bulkhead plates (2 each) LOC stiffy tube coupler Rail buttons 1/4" All-thread (two 12" pieces) G-10 altimeter sled Misc ...

Flights

Comments:

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K.W. (December 1, 1999)
I recently built an Endeavour using the new Quantum tube along with modifying it for dual deployment. The residue from the ejection charges clean up quickly and easily. I have flown it twice on I284's for two perfect flights. It turned out to be the best looking and flying rocket of the 32 rockets in my collection. I would recommend it very highly.
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B.C. (September 1, 2000)
This was my first experience with a PML kit and the Quantum Tubing. Building and finishing this rocket was much easier than tubes requiring filler for spirals. I chose not to use the piston system, and instead converted it into a baffle, which works great. I also added Kaplow-style motor retention. Mine flew great on its maiden flight on a J350 for my NAR L2. Great rocket!
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F.F. (October 1, 2000)
I launched my Endeavor at one of Tripoli Wisconsin's monthly club launches. Sent it up in 20mph winds on an H242-T. This thing flew straight up and went FAST. The split-fin design creates some cool, audible effects; after motor burn-out you could hear this bad boy whistling all the way to apogee. Perfect flight, perfect ejection and perfect recovery. This is one sturdy bird and could probably survive without a parachute... trust me, I've seen it happen (not on purpose, of course).
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P.J.B. (June 1, 2001)
I ordered a custom PML Endeavour directly from PML. I made the following changes: deleted Kwik Switch and used a plain 20" 54 MMT, went from 36" QT to 48", added the 3.9/2.1 tailcone, ordered Aeropack retainer and 54/38 adapter, ordered Acme rail lugs. This version comes in at 6.5 lbs without motor and 7 feet tall. I will be doing my CAR cert flights on an I170 & J300 Pro38 motors for L2&L3.
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S.G. (February 7, 2002)
I've also built a QT version of this great rocket. I converted to dual deployment with an additional 4" section holding the electronics. I flew it for my L2 last year on a J350 for 2600ft. Second flight was on a J415 which was a roaring flight to 5433ft. Third and latest was again on a J350 for 2800ft. This is my pride and joy at the moment and I'd recommend it to anyone. I'd suggest that you go ahead and convert to dual deployment from the start as it's a shame to miss flying it on bigger motors because of the risk of drift deploying at apogee. If you don't mind cutting the strap (assuming you've used the piston) and stitching a d-ring in the loose end, you could retrofit.

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