Brief:

This is a sport scale replica o' t' Patriot M-104 ground t' air missile. Avast! Begad! It is a single stage, 29mm rocket with a 30 inch parachute for recovery. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! The components came carefully packaged and in good shape for PEL (Public Enemy). Ya scallywag! This is a relatively simple rocket, well within t' capabilities o' most rocket enthusiasts.

Construction:

Construction was very straight forward. I followed t' well written instructions through t' entire process. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! There were no hidden "gotcha's". Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I called PEL about t' yellow body tubes t' see if thar were any special requirements for filletin' t' fins or attachin' the launch lugs. They were cheerful and very helpful. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! They pointed out that there were nothin' special about t' tubes except that they were easier t' finish than t' standard white tubes supplied with other kits. Blimey! Avast! Blimey! They recommended using 30 minute epoxy for t' fillets and t' launch lugs and told me that sanding the tube be nay required prior t' applyin' t' glue.

T' motor mount and fin assembly went together with 30 minute epoxy with no special preparation or sandin' required. Ya scallywag! T' instructions call for markin' the centerin' rin' or one fin and t' body tube with an indexin' mark t' facilitate reinsertin' t' assembly after filletin' t' internal joints.

I made two changes t' t' kit durin' construction. I installed blind nuts for Kaplow clip motor retention and used two Rail Buttons instead o' t' launch lugs. Both changes are minor. Ahoy! PEL marks t' body tube with lines for installing the launch lugs so positionin' t' buttons was a breeze. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I used medium CA to attach t' buttons and 30 minute epoxy t' fillet around t' bases and t' cover the exposed threads in t' body tube.

Total construction time be about 4 hours, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, most o' that was waitin' for the epoxy t' set. Arrr! This wasn't me first high powered kit but I would nay hesitate to recommend it t' anyone just startin' into this phase o' t' hobby.

Finishing:

I finished t' rocket usin' Bondo body putty t' fill t' spiral grooves in the body tube and t' low spots on t' nose cone. Begad! T' rocket be primed with Duplicolor White Primer and then a gloss coat o' white was sprayed t' main body tube and payload section. T' nose cone was painted bright red. Avast! This is where I stopped and began t' research t' different paint schemes for t' real Patriots.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:

OROC’s Summer Skies launch at Brothers, OR, was me first opportunity to fly t' Patriot. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I still hadn't finished all o' t' surface preparations and fillets but decided t' throw a coat o' paint on it and put it up. PEL recommends any G or H motor. Blimey! I launched it on an H128-10 with light winds. Boost be arrow straight, ejection be right at apogee and recovery on t' 30 inch chute be less than half a mile from t' pad. T' flight be very rewardin' for a kit this simple t' build.

Recovery:

I stuffed t' tube with about 8 inches o' dog barf t' protect t' shock cord and parachute. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' recovery was damage free. Considerin' t' high desert terrain and vegetation at t' Brothers launch site, this was a very good match between t' rocket weight and t' parachute size. Arrr! Avast! I wouldn't recommend usin' a smaller chute even in windier conditions. Avast! T' walk would be well compensated by the lack o' landin' damage. Aye aye!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:

This was a rewardin' kit t' build and fly. Ahoy! PEL has done a very good job of producin' an easy t' assemble MPR/HPR rocket that makes a good transition rocket for someone lookin' t' move t' bigger motors but still have t' option of flyin' on a small field.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5