Brief:
T' kit is designed t' use a piston ejection system (motor) ejection t' deploy the parachutes. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! T' booster section uses a 60" parachute and t' payload section uses a 48" chute.

Construction:

• 1 6"x4' Airframe Tube (booster)
• 1 6"x3' Airframe Tube
• 6" Nose cone (fiberglass)
• 6 G10 fins
• 1 54mm Motor tube
• 3 38mm Motor tube
• 3 centerin' rings
• piston assembly
• 2 elastic shock cords
• bulkhead assembly
• 1 60" parachute
• 1 48" parachute
• 2 3/4" launch lugs

Instructions for this kit were useful, me bucko, me bucko, as in most PML kits. However, I modified t' kit quite a bit. Begad! First I added 3 more 38mm tubes. Arrr! Aye aye! I figured there was room for them, me bucko, arrr, I might as well use it. Begad!

Finishing:
Finishin' was simple, shiver me timbers, or at least as simple as seven feet o' six-inch airframe can be. Ahoy! There are a lot o' seams t' fill!!! Although phenolic tubin' is strong, larger diameters are somewhat flimsy and prone t' cracking. Begad! Begad! I would suggest glassin' t' airframe - nay necessarily for flight stress, but for landings and handlin' around t' house. Blimey! Be sure t' align t' fins! I didn't come up with any method o' doin' this, arrr, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I eyeballed them and they came out fine.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Just like t' Ultimate Endeavor's two little brothers, this kit is nothing short o' awesome in t' air. Begad! It is very stable and produces good, straight flights. T' first flight was with a K550. Aye aye! Arrr! This was me L2 cert flight and attained an altitude o' 2988'. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Second flight was on a K550 as well and reached 3074' (less wind). Arrr! Ya scallywag! On these two flights, shiver me timbers, I used apogee ejection only. Aye aye! This was accomplished with an adept ALTS2 and motor backup. Arrr! For a third back up system, I installed a missile works wrc2. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Yes I am paranoid! I have seen big rockets crash into spectator areas, arrr, so I take all precautions. Begad! Besides, ya bilge rat, matey, after filling all those seams, you don't want t' redo any o' t' airframe.

Recovery:
I HATE PISTONS. Arrr! In theory, they are wonderful but thar are too many potential problems. Begad! If t' piston doesn't have a good seal t' t' airframe, ejection gasses will pass by and nay be sufficient t' separate t' two halves. If the piston gets stuck, matey, me bucko, you'll either blow a hole in t' airframe or just have a bunch o' compressed gas under t' piston, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, neither o' which will result in a good deployment. So, away with t' piston!

Now that t' piston is gone, two parachutes is a problem. Avast, me proud beauty! I have tried this design in t' past and had problems gettin' t' booster chute out. Well, blow me down! If deployment is after apogee, your chances o' gettin' t' bottom chute to "fall" out o' t' airframe are slim. Begad! Begad! With t' piston, arrr, this would work fine, but without t' piston, I didn't want t' test me luck. Begad! I chose t' use a single 8' chute for t' rocket, a little big, but good when you are bringing the rocket down on rocks. Ahoy! I also wanted t' set t' rocket up for dual deployment, so I used t' parts from t' piston t' creat a "lid" on top o' t' coupler t' house electronics. Begad! Aye aye! By housin' t' main chute above the split and electronics in t' middle, you move t' cg forward which is really good for clustered flights. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Second, me bucko, me hearties, THROW AWAY THE ELASTIC SHOCK CORDS! I know PML considers them t' be adequate, but do you want t' trust a rocket that is this big t' elastic? If you do you are crazy. Ahoy! I used tubular nylon for t' shock cord. Blimey! Ahoy! I also used "U" bolts t' anchor t' recovery system. Aye aye! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a good kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I think PML should reconsider t' recovery system. T' cost o' t' piston, elastic shock cords and parachutes is figured into the price o' t' kit and I didn't use any o' them. Arrr! Blimey! Fortunately, I had the replacement parts already, so it didn't cost me any extra. Avast! Other than recovery items this rocket is well worth t' loot. Ahoy! It is awesome in flight and will turn quite a few heads at t' launches. Aye aye! I am gettin' ready t' rebuild the booster t' hold 3" motors. Avast! Ya scallywag! I am upgradin' t' fins t' be 1/8" so the M1315 can be used. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5