Photo courtesy o' PML

Brief:
Single-staged HPR usin' PML's Quantum Tubing. Blimey! Used for me Level 1 certification

Construction:
I purchased t' kit from Al's Hobbies, in Elmhurst, arrr, matey, IL, shiver me timbers, for about $85. Everythin' was in good condition: 4 fins, me hearties, arrr, body tube, me hearties, matey, payload section, bulkhead, 2 3/8" brass lugs, plastic nose cone, arrr, 47" chute, tubular nylon shock cord, ya bilge rat, piston ejection system, motor mount assembly, me hearties, me bucko, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Very clear instructions -- more descriptive than some Estes kits I've built. T' only real problem I had be with t' tube coupler and t' piston system. T' coupler be too loose (had t' coat it with some CA) and t' piston be too tight (needed some sanding). Begad! If you're addin' a motor retention system (PML kits don't include them) do it before you install t' motor mount, otherwise you'll never be able t' get t' aft centerin' rin' off t' add fillets t' the inside o' t' tube. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! PML has some jackass method for removin' t' rin' using scotch tape, but it's a total joke. Well, blow me down! Begad! Besides those two issues, me hearties, ya bilge rat, t' kit was a joy to build. Everythin' fit together perfectly. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! There are two things I hate in the world: fillin' spiral grooves and fillin' t' wood grain on fins. Well, me hearties, matey, shiver me timbers, the Quantum Tube has no groove and t' fins are G10 fiberglass. Ahoy! T' fins don't really need t' be shaped either since their so thin, plus G10 is a pain t' sand anyway. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! What you end up with is a really solid rocket. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! PML kits end up bein' a little heavier than offerings from other companies, arrr, but their ruggedness is well worth t' extra weight. Blimey!

Finishing:
I wasn't interested so much in creatin' an accurate scale replica, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, so I used my own idea for finishing. Arrr! I sanded t' whole rocket with 320 grit sandpaper and hit it with a coat o' Krylon sandable grey primer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, sanded out any flaws I missed, and hit it with primer again. Aye aye! I then gave t' entire rocket two coats of Krylon gloss red, me bucko, let it dry, shiver me timbers, and painted t' nose cone and one fin with two coats o' gloss black. Begad! Begad! T' kit didn't include any decals so I made me own using some glossy adhesive transparency paper I purchased from an art supply store. Aye aye! Aye aye! I printed out some o' me band's logos and applied them t' t' fins. Blimey! Begad! Looks pretty swank.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I brought t' rocket Tripoli Wisconsin's club launch on August 28th, 2000 -- hopin' t' go for me Level 1 cert. Ahoy! After findin' a NARRRRR prefect, I filled out the paperwork and loaded her up with an Aerotech H73 Blackjack reload. PML's Web site says t' H73 will take it up t' about 980 ft. -- perfect -- I didn't want this thin' t' go too high bein' that it was me first HP launch. I jammed in an ignitor, set it up on t' pad, me hearties, and waited for t' countdown. Begad! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! This thin' took off sloooowwwwly, but straight as an arrow even in 10mph winds. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' chute opened right after apogee and it came down pretty fast into a shrub... Arrr! Aye aye! no damage though.. these kits are tough.

Recovery:
T' parachute is great. Aye aye! Perfect size for this rocket. PML chutes have spill holes which really reduce drift (and walkin' distance). T' piston system is fantastic as well; very reliable. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Great first HPR. Begad! Blimey! I'm convinced that t' minor issues I had with t' kit were just flukes. I didn't have a doubt in me mind that I would certify on t' first try with this rocket. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Don't know if I'll ever be able t' go back t' plywood and cardboard. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5