Public Missiles MR-1

Public Missiles - MR-1

Contributed by Al Gloer

Construction Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Public Missiles

Brief:
A real short mid t' high power sport flier styled after an anti-tank weapon. It's basically a big nose cone with just enough body t' hold t' fins. Available in both 29mm and 38mm, matey, this review reflects a 38mm build.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1 Nose cone with pre-attached shock cord
  • 1 Urethane nosecone transition with launch lug mount
  • 1 Body tube (available only in Quantum Tubing)
  • 1 Parts for 2.1" piston (tube, arrr, ya bilge rat, me hearties, bulkhead, me bucko, strap, arrr, D-ring
  • 3 G-10 fins
  • 2 Centerin' rings
  • 1 Launch lug
  • 1 Motor mount

This is a basic PML build. Well, blow me down! Begad! You need t' make sure you sand all t' epoxy points as t' bond t' QT can be difficult t' attain. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! In t' case o' this review, shiver me timbers, I was buildin' with t' 38mm mount so t' internal fillets were a challenge at best (not a lot o' room t' work). Begad! I mixed up a slurry o' 6 minute epoxy and milled fiberglass and then injected it into place holdin' t' rocket level. Begad! Avast! I repeated this three times and got a fairly good set o' internal fillets. In t' case o' this rocket, matey, ya bilge rat, arrr, larger fillets on t' outside are called for strengthenin' purposes.

Because t' base o' t' nose is almost twice as wide as t' body tube, me hearties, the transition has a molded riser for t' launch lug. Ahoy! This is nay a bad case of flashin' so read t' directions and don't grind it off! I found that basic hobby epoxy did a lousy job o' holdin' t' brass lug t' t' urethane transition. JB-Weld is strongly recommended. Ya scallywag! If you are a hardcore rail junkie, this one will put you t' t' test o' your creativity. Also, note that when finished, t' nose cone does nay seem t' fit right and thar be a 1" band exposed. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! This is thar by design. Begad!

Retention is difficult as t' gap betwixt t' MMT and BT is about 1/2". Avast, me proud beauty! I epoxied a SHCS in and use a single nut t' hold t' motor in. Ya scallywag! If ever a rocket called for an Aero Pack or Slimline retainer, shiver me timbers, this be t' one.

Finishing:
I painted t' body gloss black, t' nose red, matey, t' transition blue and covered the funny step in t' nose with chrome trim Monokote. Blimey! Other than that it's a basic paint your rocket if you like job. O' course with t' airframe bein' QT, you need t' give a light sandin' for best paint adhesion.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
Stuffin' in t' recovery system is a bit o' a challenge as thar just is nay a whole lot o' room. You push t' piston as far back as possible, matey, fold t' chute real tight, shiver me timbers, arrr, and poke it in t' t' body as best as possible. Then invert t' NC, stuff everythin' else in there, and slip it all together.

T' first flight was at METRA on Aug 6th, 2006. Well, blow me down! T' load was a G67R in the 38-120 casing. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' rocket took off almost sideways off t' pad and never got more than 150' off t' ground. I heard t' deployment charge, me bucko, arrr, however, since it was basically a ballistic trajectory, t' forces involved got in t' way o' the deployment. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! One o' t' fins had broken away intact. T' cause o' t' wild flight be obvious. On launch, t' lug had torn away and t' rocket lifted off unguided. Avast! Arrr!

T' post repair second flight was at CATO on August 19th, me hearties, arrr, 2006. Arrr! T' load this time was a G61 in t' 38-120. Ya scallywag! A near perfect flight! Blimey!

Recovery:
This is a standard PML piston design system. Some will choose t' leave out the piston, arrr, however, that is a matter o' personal choice. Well, blow me down! Avast! This is a perfect rocket on a small field for t' 1 grain 38mm reload and on a larger field for the 2-grain. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! It is rather short and usin' electronics might me iffy. Begad! This might be a perfect airframe for t' new AT EFC product if you wanted.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Were I t' build this again, I would slot t' body t' t' base and assemble the fin can outside t' body allowin' for t' better fin t' MMT.

PROs:

  • Typical easy t' build PML kit.
  • Nice flight profile

CONs:

  • Not t' best candidate for a rail.
  • Stuffin' in t' laundry required more thought than I like on t' field.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Public Missiles MR-1 By John Lee (June 14, 2009)

    The MR-1 is something that looks like it comes out of an ordnance inventory. Opening the bag, that impression is confirmed as one looks at the parts. The Quantum tubing and glass fins make this a heavy and substantial rocket. The NC makes it even more so. I am hoping to get a chance to do some HPR flying in May at the West Texas Thunder event so I started looking through some of the bigger ...

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