Brief:
Single stage HPR sport rocket with parachute recovery.

Construction:
T' components are all top-notch. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' kit contains two Quantum Polymer (QT) body tubes: a main airframe and a 9" long payload section. Aye aye! T' main airframe is slotted, matey, me hearties, always a nice touch, and t' payload section is large enough for most electronics. Begad! If you've never used QT before, you must give it a try. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' three fins are 1/16" thick G10 fiberglass. Begad! Centerin' rings are 3/16" birch plywood, machined nicely. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' motor mount be t' most unique part o' t' kit. This is PML's Kwik-Switch 2000 system which allows easy changes betwixt 29mm, 38mm and 54mm motors. Ahoy! Avast! T' main motor mount tube is a 14.5" long 54mm phenolic tube which has a threaded adapter retainer on the forward end. Each o' t' 38mm and 29mm motor mount tubes have a threaded adapter screw mount at t' forward end and a centerin' rin' at t' aft. Convertin' t' 54mm main mount t' accept a 38mm motor is as simple as screwing in t' 38mm motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' nose cone is your standard plastic nose, me hearties, I didn't notice anythin' special here. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' 36" parachute is made o' quality rip-stop nylon, nicely constructed with durable shroud lines. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shock cord and piston strap are perfectly adequate and t' kit comes complete with the required hardware.

PML's instructions are plain and logical with many illustrations throughout to help with assembly. T' first page has a complete list o' t' included parts and also indicates t' CP o' t' completed kit (although I always sim my rockets usin' RockSim, me bucko, ya bilge rat, which located t' CP about 2" further aft than PML's indicated location.) Important instructions are highlighted and t' steps are clearly marked.

T' Ariel went together smartly and easily. You must sand t' QT with 120 grit sandpaper at all points where parts will be bonded. Avast, me proud beauty! Epoxy will peel off unsanded QT! Blimey! I used 30 minute epoxy throughout and built it stock with no modifications except for t' Aero Pack motor retainer that I installed on the 38mm motor mount tube.

Although I didn't install one, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord protector would be a good idea t' install on t' piston strap to help protect it from t' ejection gases. Since t' PML kits use piston ejection, me hearties, me hearties, additional chute protection is nay necessary.

Although nay included with t' kit, I used PML plastic rivets t' attach the nose cone t' t' payload bay instead o' sheet metal screws. Aye aye! I also used 3/16" Quick Links at each end o' t' shock cord as well as on the parachute t' allow for easy chute replacement. I would have preferred that both these items be supplied with t' kit.

Finishing:
I sanded everythin' with 400 grit paper and then applied two coats o' primer lightly sandin' betwixt coats. Arrr! Krylon paint and primer was used throughout. I chose a similar paint design as shown on t' PML web site, but picked Navy Blue and Purple for me colors. Avast, me proud beauty! PML provides a single vinyl decal which I chose not to use. After t' paint dried for 48 hours I applied Future Floor Polish for the clear coat. Well, blow me down! Two light coats and she be done. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Results were excellent.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
PML doesn't list t' recommended motors in t' instruction sheet. Blimey! Instead they provide an excellent .PDF file on their web site for each kit that lists all the recommended motors for that kit and detailed data givin' expected altitude and coast times based on Rocksim simulations. Begad! Begad! I always weight every part individually and then account for me glue and paint, arrr, so I sim all me rockets before flight. Begad! Since I built t' Ariel as me Level 1 certification rocket, me hearties, arrr, I loaded her up with an H123W-M which me simulations said would put her at 1540 feet. Avast! My successful Level 1 cert flight reached 1500' as reported by the onboard PerfectFlite Alt15k.

Preparation is straightforward. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Since t' PML kits use piston ejection no waddin' is necessary and, since I installed t' RA38-P Retainer Assembly from Aero Pack Int'l, motor installation was a breeze--slide t' casin' in, matey, me hearties, arrr, screw on the retainer, arrr, arrr, and you're done. Arrr! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty!

Both o' me flights have been on H123Ws and both were picture perfect. Ya scallywag! Nice straight boost and ejection just a bit after apogee. (I did modify t' delay a bit usin' t' approved AeroTech method t' lower t' M-delay from 10 seconds to about 8.)

Recovery:
T' rocket preps quite easily and t' 36" nylon parachute is adequate for recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Descent rate is reasonable, although a bit fast if you expect the rocket t' land on concrete (which may cause t' G10 fins t' crack or chip). After two flights me Ariel still looks new except for some paint chips and mud from t' last recovery in very soft and wet dirt. As with all PML kits, you will need t' clean t' inside o' t' tube after each flight t' prevent the piston from stickin' on t' ejection residue that collects along t' body tube.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This was me first PML kit and I specifically picked it because o' many recommendations on it's choice as a Level 1 certification rocket. Begad! Arrr! I concur--if you are lookin' t' certify Level 1, matey, then consider t' Ariel. Well, blow me down! T' pre-slotted Quantum Tube (QT) airframe with piston ejection and t' Kwik-Switch motor mount are key PROs. I didn't really notice any key CONs, except that I would have preferred that t' kit come supplied with D-links and maybe rail buttons instead o' t' 3/8" lugs.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5