Brief:
PML's Little Lunar Express is a well known HPR kit which has a 50's SciFi look. Begad! Recovery is via parachute which is ejected from t' airframe usin' a PML piston.

Construction:
This kit comes with t' followin' components:

• (1) 4" OD Ogive nosecone (a good one too) which has NO bottom (i.e. t' bottom o' t' shoulder is missin' allowin' access t' t' inside o' t' nosecone).
• (1) 4" OD , matey, 5.5" long section o' PML Quantum airframe tubing.
• (1) 4" OD plastic tailcone which has been pre-slotted for through t' wall fin attachment.
• (2) large G10 fins
• (2) small G10 fins
• (4) urethane fin-pods which attach t' t' tip o' each fin.
• (1) elastic shockcord
• (1) PML Piston with piston strap and D-rin' assembly
• (1) PML parachute
• (1) 17" long 3"OD Quantum tube used as t' 'recovery tube' -- piston goes inside o' this.
• (1) 1 centerin' rin' t' fit over 'recovery tube'
• (1) 1 centerin' rin' t' fit over motor mount.
• (1) 10" long 38mm motor mount.
• (1) internal nosecone bulkhead with hardware.
• (1) set o' sticky-back decals

Pros: ----- T' instructions were extensive and easy t' follow. Begad! T' order o' assembly was logical but you should read t' entire instruction set first at least two times t' get t' flow o' how it all goes together. Since this is a 4 fin (though o' different sizes) design t' alignment o' t' fins is no problem. Begad! I use West Systems epoxy for me rockets and a Dremel t' cut and sand when necessary. Arrr! In this case (and usually for PML kits) thar be no need t' cut or sand anythin' (except t' piston prior t' launching). Ya scallywag! I really liked t' way t' recovery tube connected t' t' airframe and motor mount assembly. Well, blow me down! This was well thought out and I have subsequently used ideas from this in a design for modification o' me KingBlobbo (when I submit me MOD o' this I will detail t' design then). Lots o' decals were included t' give it t' advertised finish but I decided t' finish me differently (see below).

Cons: ----- T' G10 fins are really strikin' but I found that mine had a slight wobble in them once they were attached t' t' tailcone. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' urethane pods are a nice touch but I wasn't holdin' out any hopes that they would stay on after a landing. Aye aye! I hate paintin' plastic and this rocket was a nightmare t' paint (I will discuss more below). Begad! Begad! I can't blame PML for this since t' basic design can only be realized usin' plastic or fiberglass.

Finishing:
T' decals supplied are meant t' give t' LLE an 'Earth t' Moon' spaceship look. Begad! Blimey! There is sufficient instruction supplied t' achieve this look with ease. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I however decided t' model mine on t' Tintin story 'Destination Moon' where Tintin and his trusted companions travel in their red and white checked spaceship t' t' moon. T' two spaceships where similar enough that I felt confident o' a successful outcome. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! So with t' picture taken from t' book cover in mind I set about finishin' t' LLE as t' 'Tintin Express'.

To start with I rough sanded both t' nosecone and tailcone. Ahoy! Arrr! I then applied then sanded filler-primer several times t' give a smooth transition betwixt sections (I had t' fill in t' seem betwixt t' airframe and t' tailcone with resin first). I first painted t' whole rocket RED several coats until it gleamed.

Next came t' task o' maskin' out a surface which was reducin' in size (i.e. Blimey! t' nosecone and tailcone) into four regions round (i.e. Ya scallywag! Avast! thar are four 'checked' areas in t' circumference o' t' rocket at any point along t' airframe) and four regions long (the actual Tintin rocket has five checked sections but four seemed t' work better on mine). Ahoy! This be t' point where things started t' get complicated. I had no problem in maskin' off t' proper areas (even takin' into account t' changin' geometry o' t' nose and tailcones) and paintin' t' white gloss. It was t' pullin' off o' t' mask (I used clear 'scotch' tape) where things went wrong. Avast, me proud beauty! Well needless t' say t' paint just pulled off 'here and there' leavin' patches o' bare nosecone and tailcone. Alas it took me several attempts t' get it even close t' lookin' acceptable.

In t' end it turned out OK but has really turned me off o' paintin' plastic. Avast! My final touch was t' have some decals made up which mark t' ship as t' 'Tintin Express'. Arrr! I even change t' PML LLE ship ID t' a PML TTE ID.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
(Please note t' launch photos are by Bob Arnott (bob@fatboab.org) who takes wonderful pictures.)

I decided t' use an I161W-10 on its maiden voyage with t' usual prep routine o' talc'in' me parachute and testin' t' piston (it be a bit cool so I wanted t' check for shrinkage o' t' recovery tube) which be fine (slid right out when I turned t' rocket up side down). Ahoy! Well t' time for t' countdown came and when I pressed t' button it took no time t' blast (and I mean blast) off t' pad. Begad! It seemed t' scream off t' pad and then coast forever before t' ejection charge deployed t' chute perfectly.

Recovery:
I had put in a smaller chute t' avoid t' long walk t' wind be goin' t' provide. Ahoy! I be also rather cynical about t' prospects o' this rocket landin' without mishap. So I figured if its goin' t' break it might as well do it near t' pad. Avast! Aye aye! It landed about 1/4 mile down range and upon inspection had chipped one fin-pod, loosened another and completely dislodged one o' t' big fins from its moorin' (no damage, just pulled t' fin and its fillets from t' tail cone --- more plastic...). Aye aye! Well, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it wasn't too bad and I can fix almost everythin' (I can get a replacement pod) so it will fly again. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Next time I am puttin' in an I211W.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I can't give it a 5 for flight as t' fins and fin pods are too susceptible t' landin' damage. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! PROS: Despite its faults I really like this rocket. Its design and flight characteristics are great. Aye aye! CONS: T' large fins don't give you that solid feelin' when mounted t' t' airframe. Avast, me proud beauty! Paintin' plastic... Aye aye! Blimey! well you know what I mean.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5