Brief:
This scale model uses a 29mm motor mount for midpower t' high power motors, shiver me timbers, and uses a parachute and PML's piston for recovery.

Construction:
T' construction o' t' AMRAAM was much easier than I had predicted. T' packagin' was neat and informative. Aye aye! All o' t' parts were in t' kit and in perfect shape.

T' kit is made o' a PML 54mm phenolic tube, 8 G10 fins, a 29mm phenolic tube for t' motor mount, matey, me hearties, 2 thick plywood centerin' rings, piston retainin' strap, ya bilge rat, piston, shock cord, arrr, 24" parachute, matey, thick plastic nose cone, and a copper launch lug (which I cut in half for better support).

T' instructions were nay anywhere near what they could have been. Begad! They took up t' equivalent o' one piece o' paper, ya bilge rat, arrr, and assumed a lot. Arrr! Avast! I was lucky t' have built mid-power rockets before so knew how t' make good bonds with epoxy, etc. Blimey! T' instructions did have several useful diagrams.

One problem I had be that on t' lower set o' fins I could nay tell which end went through t' rocket and which end stuck out. Avast! They were very similar, but different enough t' make a difference. Arrr! I looked as closely as possible at t' diagram provided and then tried what looked more like it. Aye aye! Ahoy! I'm still nay sure if I did t' right one! But t' only time I think it looks odd is when it is held up t' me Estes AMRAAM (of which I have know nothin' o' scale accuracy).

One thin' I did like about t' construction be materials. Arrr! This was me first experience with Phenolic and G10. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' materials weigh a lot more, but they are stronger than plywood and paper. Well, blow me down! T' copper launch lugs were also very nice. Blimey! I used 60 minute epoxy throughout construction and ended up with a very strong-seemin' rocket.

T' AMRAAM, me bucko, with t' exception o' t' fin problem mentioned above, was very easy t' use. T' upper fins fit perfectly in their notches, but t' lower fins left a small bit o' fin slot gap showing. Arrr! I epoxied a small square o' paper over this hole and spread epoxy over it. Begad! Blimey! I sanded it once and now you can't see it, arrr, so no big problem. Ya scallywag! T' AMRAAM didn't require any difficult construction techniques or special tools. Begad! Ya scallywag! Because it is promoted as a good mid-power/low-highpower rocket, me bucko, and therefore a logical first high power rocket, me bucko, I think t' instructions could be made clearer. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Overall a very nice kit.

Finishing:
Finishin' this model was nay overly-difficult. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! T' G10 fins are already nice and smooth, me hearties, arrr, but t' tubes have those nasty spirals which require a lot o' fillin' for a decent finish. Ahoy! Ahoy! Blimey! I used several coats o' grey primer t' smooth out imperfections (usin' white for t' nose). Begad! In t' instructions it tells you t' look for decal strips for t' colored strips, me bucko, but I just painted mine on. Aye aye! Blimey! T' decals also proved t' be very nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I have no complaints about t' finishin' o' this rocket.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' AMRAAM kit recommends F-H motors. Aye aye! Arrr! Because o' its high weight I would recommend flyin' it on high thrust F motors (F62, me bucko, F80), shiver me timbers, or just stickin' with G's and H's.

T' first flight be on a G35-7, which worked great. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I think that any G or H motor should work fine, except for t' really long burn G's (G25, me hearties, matey, G33) which might nay have enough kick for this model.

T' AMRAAM be t' easiest t' prep mid-power rocket I have. Because t' piston eliminates t' need for recovery wadding, arrr, arrr, all that is required is t' pack and insert t' chute. Aye aye! Motor retention on me model consists o' an Estes engine hook epoxied on (just like on Estes models). Although this systems sounds and looks simple and actually weak, shiver me timbers, it works fine. First I get a good solid friction fit with maskin' tape and make maskin' tape thrust rin' on t' aft o' t' motor, me hearties, then I insert t' motor and wrap t' aft o' it and t' motor mount with maskin' tape. T' maskin' tape acts as t' primary system, ya bilge rat, with t' engine hook as a great backup. Ahoy! On t' first launch t' AMRAAM's G35 ignited first try. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' rocket leaped off t' launch pad and went straight up. Aye aye! T' 7 second delay was just right with this motor.

Recovery:
T' shock cord on t' AMRAAM is black flat elastic nylon strap, me bucko, shiver me timbers, which attaches t' t' piston, which in turn attaches t' a heavy duty piston-retainin' strap. Begad! T' chute has a large spill hole, but even with this it is near perfect for t' AMRAAM. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Recovery was a little slow, me bucko, but overall it be great. Aye aye! Blimey! T' only damage t' t' rocket be some slight scorchin' at t' base. Avast! This was me first mid-power rocket nay painted black at t' rear, matey, so this be t' first time I experienced this. Begad! It does give t' rocket a sort o' battle-worn look which I think is cool.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' AMRAAM overall is a great kit. It flies great, shiver me timbers, is a very strong and durable rocket, shiver me timbers, and t' piston system eliminates recovery wadding. Begad! However, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' kit doesn't come with motor retention and t' fins didn't quite fit right in their slots. Arrr! Aye aye! None o' these were major problems.

T' PML AMRAAM be me first PML kit. Begad! I normally am against almost all high power kits because most o' them require so many replacement parts that they aren't worthwhile. While t' AMRAAM has flaws, matey, I still recommend it for those who don't enjoy designin' their own rockets.

My only advice for someone buildin' this kit is t' add positive motor retention and use a good quick-cure epoxy. Begad! Blimey! Other than that, have fun flying!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5