Brief:
This is a high performance 38mm two stage rocket. It features PML's CPR3000 system and t' inter-stage coupler unit. Well, blow me down!

Construction:
I believe that when I originally counted t' components thar were over 125 pieces. Basically thar were two sets o' G10 fins, two 38mm motor mounts, shiver me timbers, the inter-stage assembly, a tailcone, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' airframe for t' booster, three airframe sections for t' sustainer (one slotted, one fore recovery airframe, shiver me timbers, me bucko, one aft recovery airframe), shiver me timbers, two piston assemblies for t' sustainer and one for the booster, a 30" parachute for t' booster, matey, matey, a streamer t' act as a drogue for t' sustainer, shiver me timbers, and a 48" chute t' be t' main for t' sustainer. Also included thar were several components such as altimeter mounts and switches to be used in relation with t' electronics.

This was only me second PML kit, matey, ya bilge rat, their 1/4 Scale Patriot bein' me first, and it be much more complicated. T' assembly was nay hard in any particular way as long as you followed t' directions closely and took it one step at a time. I did have a couple o' difficulties though. Ya scallywag!

First, applyin' t' internal epoxy fillets t' t' fins was very difficult. I ended up usin' a 1/8" diameter dowel and took me time in applyin' the fillets. Blimey! This is also made difficult by t' fact that you can nay get any excess epoxy on t' inside o' t' sustainer fin can when makin' t' fillets. If you do, you will have a very difficult time gettin' in t' aft centerin' ring.

Next, t' coupler for joinin' t' fin can t' t' aft recovery airframe is too long. Well, blow me down! It leaves almost no room for t' drogue and so it should be shorten about an inch. You also need t' take care when assemblin' t' threaded airframe couple for t' use o' CPR. Begad! Blimey! T' position and fit o' t' threaded aft and fore couplers need t' be perfect t' achieve a good, sturdy fit. Ya scallywag! Avast! Also, me piston units were very tight and required quite a bit o' sanding.

One flaw in t' instructions was that t' assembly o' t' booster recovery system had been left out. Ahoy! Aye aye! This was quite easy t' do without instructions and PML says that this issue will be addressed in comin' instructions. Aye aye! Arrr!

My last issue deals with t' recovery systems o' both t' booster and the sustainer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! First, t' sustainer weighed in a little more than expected and since I believe t' rocket t' be a little heavy for this size chute in the first place, me bucko, I am goin' t' use a 54" chute instead o' a 48" for the main. Arrr! Blimey! Finally, me booster section weighed in at almost a pound over PML's estimated weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! As it is, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' 30" chute only fits in t' airframe with a little bit o' squeezing, but I will be upgradin' t' chute size t' 36" and probably findin' some way o' packin' it really small. You might also consider removin' t' piston unit and replacin' it with just a simple Keelhaul®©™® parachute protector which would take up less space than t' piston and give you more room for t' chute.

Overall, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, construction be pretty simple, it just took a while. Begad! As long as you test fit everything, arrr, make sure you know everythin' that has t' be done in a step, and follow t' directions exactly (ask PML if you have a question or concerns) you should be fine. Avast!

One last thing, make sure you sand everywhere that epoxy will be applied to.

Finishing:
For t' finishin' o' me kit I decided t' go a little overboard. First, I went through t' routine sanding, cleaning, ya bilge rat, priming, sanding, cleaning, priming, sanding, and cleanin' get a nice smooth surface t' apply t' paint to. Ahoy! The primer also helps t' paint adhere better. Well, blow me down! Then, t' first thin' I did was paint t' whole thin' gloss black with about three coats o' paint. Avast! Then I faded the bottom portion o' t' booster from black t' white, goin' through red, orange, and yellow t' achieve t' fade. Then, on t' sustainer, me bucko, I airbrushed lightin' bolts on around t' whole thin' in gloss white paint. Then I added letterin' t' it. Aye aye! T' do this I first made a design in Printshop that was the size and font letterin' I wanted. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Then I printed out t' design and transferred it t' a piece o' posterboard. Then I cut out each individual letter t' make a paintin' template. Avast, me proud beauty! I taped t' template t' t' airframe where I wanted the lettering. Aye aye! T' tighter you tape it t' ! t' airframe, t' cleaner t' lines of the lettering, t' looser, me bucko, t' more faded t' letterin' looks. Aye aye! Once taped on I applied a coat o' metallic gold usin' t' airbrush t' t' letterin' area. Aye aye! Ahoy! Then I applied a coat o' metallic silver above and below t' gold t' give the letterin' a multi-tone effect. Blimey! I removed t' template and voila, your own custom lettering. Begad! Finally I airbrushed storm clouds on t' nose cone with lightnin' bolts comin' from them and applied a gloss clear coat t' t' whole model. Arrr! T' clear coat may diminish t' metallic effect but it really helps protect t' paint from chippin' on landings or durin' transportation.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As o' May 11, 2002, me hearties, Thunder N Lightnin' has flown. Arrr! At our club's (NEPRA) second launch o' t' year we flew her for t' first time. We loaded her up with an I357T-M in t' booster and an H123W in t' sustainer. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' delay betwixt booster burnout and sustainer ignition be 0 seconds. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It took me father and I three hours t' set up all o' t' electronics and load all o' t' motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! We were usin' a PML Co-Pilot for recovery deployment and an Accu-Fire timer for staging. Begad! Blimey! Daveyfire e-matches dipped in pyrogen were used t' ignite t' upper stage. Begad! We used t' pistons along with some Nomex® and motor retention was achieved usin' dual Aeropac motor retainers. Ahoy! We finally finished preppin' it about 3:15 PM and we took t' beast out t' t' pad. Avast! I was really nervous as we loaded her onto t' rod, matey, considering, shiver me timbers, that, with everythin' loaded, its about $700 out on t' pad. Avast! We armed t' electronics, checked for continuity, me bucko, and got t' go from t' LCO t' launch it even though the rest o' t' pads were nay loaded, ya bilge rat, because we didn't want t' batteries runnin' down (Thanks again Tim). Begad! We had t' countdown, and, me hearties, nothing. We recycled t' launch and this time t' I357T lit. She kicked t' life in a split second and be soon approachin' 2000'. Avast! Then, t' sustainer lit, arrr, just as planned, and pushed t' upper stage t' 3690'.

Recovery: T' booster's 30" chute was deployed usin' motor based ejection from t' I357T-M and it worked perfectly, ya bilge rat, matey, with t' booster landing, pretty hard, 15' in front o' me. Begad! In t' mean time we were all lookin' for the sustainer, me hearties, but no sign o' it. Begad! Finally, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, about 1/4 mile downrange, and 1000' up, the LCO spotted it. Ya scallywag! We all looked just in time t' see t' main deploy perfectly at 800'. Blimey! My dad and I walked out and picked up t' booster. Although it had landed hard, me bucko, t' Aeropac retainer and tailcone design saved it from any damage. I might upgrade t' a 36" chute if winds were low. But if not, since it does nay have dual deployment, me hearties, matey, I would stick with t' 30" chute. Then we began our trek t' t' sustainer. Avast! When I got their it was beepin' out 3690', just 80' shy o' Rocksim's prediction, shiver me timbers, excellent! Best o' all, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, thar was no damage t' either t' sustainer or t' booster. Ya scallywag! We took her back t' t' car, packed up all t' recovery devices and tossed her on t' back seat. Begad! When we got home, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' only problem was in removin' t' altimeter from t' tube. Blimey! It was stuck! Finally, after pushin' REALLY hard with a spare 29mm MMT in one end, me hearties, it came loose. Actually, t' O-rin' just popped off. Arrr! Next time, matey, use more baby powder.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a great, arrr, complex, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, high quality kit. It has taught me and me father a lot. Arrr! This flight be out first t' use dual deployment, shiver me timbers, first t' use a staging timer or do any kind o' high power staging, arrr, and first I powered flight. Arrr! Avast! Maybe a little much for t' first time, but hey, you gotta learn sometime. Well, blow me down! I would highly recommend this kit t' anyone in high power rocketry. Ahoy! Blimey! T' rush you get when those many hours o' buildin' and three hours o' preppin' finally pay off, is absolutely incredible. Blimey! Ahoy! Nay t' mention, it sure did please a lot o' people at NEPRA. BTW-If you're interested in club NEPRA please visit our website. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Check us out, shiver me timbers, our club is really awesome! Blimey!

Overall Rating: 4½ out o' 5