Brief:
T' PML Miranda is probably intended t' be a second HPR kit, arrr, but this was me first HPR kit. Avast, me proud beauty! (Picture is courtesy o' Public Missiles)

Construction:
T' PML Miranda is a single stage 3" rocket with a 12" payload section. Begad! This kit comes with PML's Kwik Switch system allowin' you t' use up t' 54mm motors and spend more loot than you really should. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay that this will stop you.

T' instructions were easy enough t' follow for me, matey, but I enjoy buildin' things and have "engineer tendencies" - I like t' over-build things. Arrr! Therefore - I fiber-glassed t' nylon strap t' t' motor tube and added a third centerin' rin' t' t' motor tube as well, ya bilge rat, formin' a fin can. Aye aye! Before I even really knew what that was... Well, blow me down! I suppose I did TOO much research on t' web and read too many horror stories about epoxy nay stickin' t' Quantum tubing. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, as long as you follow t' directions, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, thar will be no trouble at all. Aye aye! I roughed up t' Quantum tubin' with 80 grit sandpaper and used 30 minute epoxy everywhere. I suppose a K motor might tear things up, but I feel good about everythin' up t' that. Blimey! One thin' t' instructions left out, me hearties, is t' drill 1/8" vent holes t' help t' function o' t' piston system.

Finishing:
I'm nay sure what t' say about finishin' except that I hate t' do it. Blimey! This rocket flew primer-only for it's first flight, ya bilge rat, and has been painted 1 1/2 times since then: I changed me mind about t' payload section and repainted it. I used t' Rustoleum product line for this rocket. Arrr! I used Krylon on me second and it's goin' t' be Krylon from here on out! That said - I'm glad this was PML's Quantum tubin' and that I didn't have t' fill any grooves!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, arrr, I'll have t' extrapolate from a data set o' one (flight) here, but I used an Aerotech H124J SU motor and I have a TRA level 1 t' show for it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! My conservative paranoia led me t' purchase PML's retention system and so I had no trouble at all with keepin' t' motor firmly in t' rocket at ejection. Avast! Blimey! Other than some mild weather-cockin' as it left t' rod, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' rocket flew extremely straight t' (accordin' t' t' deadlights o' our TRA prefect) somewhere around 1500 feet. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Since I can't find RockSim data for this motor, matey, ya bilge rat, I can't even try t' confirm it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It DID take quite a while t' come down, shiver me timbers, matey, though.

Recovery:
All t' recovery items used were exactly what PML provided in t' kit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' piston system in place o' wadding, tubular nylon shock cord, ya bilge rat, and a 36" rip-stop nylon parachute. Aye aye! Everythin' about t' recovery system went together very easily and worked very well. T' rocket recovered with almost no damage. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! T' phenolic piston tubin' had a crack in it upon post flight inspection. Begad! Begad! It was easily repairable, but it has me wonderin' how t' prevent it as it happened t' a friend's PML Io as well. Begad! I'm nay sure if t' paint would have scratched because it flew almost naked. Begad! Arrr! (I be told that pretty rockets crash) On first inspection, ya bilge rat, matey, I thought that t' nylon strap for t' piston had been burned slightly by t' ejection charge, but I now think that what I am noticin' is black powder residue. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Still, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me next kit got a Nomex protector for t' cord and so will everythin' else I build.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5