Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Diameter: | 3.90 inches |
Manufacturer: | Public Missiles |
Style: | Sport |
Brief:
Mostly stock rocket for me Level One certification. This is me first rocket higher than an Estes kit. Well, blow me down! First Flight on this rocket was me L1 attempt as built weight be too heavy for a "G" test flight.
Construction:
T' kit includes:
T' kit has a logical assembly order and excellent fit o' all components although some minor sandin' o' t' centerin' rings and bulkhead. Avast! Aye aye! It is very important t' follow t' instructions regardin' sandin' t' Quantum tubin' for fin and launch lug attachment! Sandin' t' G10 fins is also a good idea.
And don't forget t' add two .093" vent holes. Well, blow me down! One through t' body tube right above upper MM centerin' rin' is and another right below t' installed nosecone shoulder.
I added a PML Quick Switch motor retainer durin' construction before paintin' it.
Finishing:
You want t' lightly sand all Quantum tubing, matey, ya bilge rat, matey, nose cone, me bucko, and G10 fins before paintin' so that t' paint has somethin' t' "bite" into. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Must fill imperfections along mold split lines and associated flow lines in plastic and also fill ejector pin marks for a good finish. Begad! Finally wash nosecone with isopropyl alcohol just before primer application t' remove any last amounts o' mold release.
I primed t' entire rocket with 6 t' 8 coats o' Krylon White Primer sandin' betwixt coats, then sprayed with Krylon color coats, arrr, matey, and another 6 t' 8 thin coats o' Krylon Clear t' finish it. Avast! Only one PML decal be supplied but I did nay use it.
Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5
Flight:
My cert flight (and t' rockets first flight) was with a Pro38 2-grain Smokey Sam 247H143SS. Aye aye! This was me first motor larger than an Estes "D". Avast! Perfect and straight flight. Avast! I choose a six second delay but maybe eight would have been better. Ya scallywag! There is no seven second option which would probably be optimum. Begad! Ya scallywag! Approximate altitude be 1,000 feet.
Second flight was on an Aerotech H238T 29/180 with an another six second delay. Begad! Perfect again. Avast, me proud beauty! 800 foot estimate.
Recovery:
Make sure piston fit is loose and free. I added a 36" Top Flight Nomex heat shield post construction t' t' piston strap and replaced t' 12' supplied shock cord with a 24' 9/16" tubular nylon shock. Avast, me proud beauty! Loops were sewn in at both ends and 1/3 along t' length for parachute attachment and I used 5/32" Stainless Delta Quicklinks for all attachments and a 1,000lb swivel t' t' parachute.
One recommendation: Do nay use t' plastic attachment points on t' nose cone! Instead, use a 1/4-20 expandin' metal lag or a 1/4-20 toggle bolt epoxied inside t' nose for attachment.
Even with me heavy rocket weight - t' supplied 48" chute be adequate. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Piston protected t' chute perfectly!!
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
Excellent kit that is very sturdy and durable.
I would highly recommend t' PML kits t' beginners. T' Quantum tubin' is great. Avast! It finishes very nicely. Begad! I liked it so much I just got me PML Eclipse in t' mail for me second HPR.
With all t' changes, me bucko, extra sturdy attach points, shiver me timbers, extra shock length, shiver me timbers, swivel, heavy fillets at all six areas and nearly 24 (thin/light) coats o' paint, shiver me timbers, me Tethys weighed in at 75 ounces where kit specifications is 53 oz. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I feel t' overbuildin' is worth every penny and ounce it added even though I could nay test fly me rocket on a "G" motor due t' bein' too heavy which be me original plan. Blimey! After two flights and landin' both times on hard-packed plowed fields, thar be hardly a mark or scratch t' be found anywhere on t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! One must look hard t' tell she has two flights on her.
Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
This is a big beautiful stock PML kit with 3 fins, parachute recovery, and would be perfect for level 1 attempts. The kit came with a 36" x 4" PML Quantum body tube, G10 fins, plywood centering rings, PML's 54/38/29 Kwik-Switch motor mounts, a tough plastic nose cone, PML's piston ejection system, 12 feet tubular nylon shock cord, a 48 inch chute, 2 brass lugs, and some very good ins ...
Photo Courtesy of PML The Tethys is a basic 3FNC kit, capable of flying on G motors or bigger. The Tethys came with a single length of airframe tubing (phenolic, per my request), 3 pre-cut G10 fins (the thickest fiberglass fins I've used to date), a 4:1 ogive plastic nose cone, a thick nylon strap, a length of tubular nylon, piston kit, a 48" parachute, two brass launch lugs, and the 54mm ...
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D.J. (November 1, 2000)