Brief:
T' RAAM, otherwise known as t' "Radical All American Missile", ya bilge rat, is a semi-scratch built 2" HPR model that is dual-sized and can fly on a range of motors from an F40W with t' short version t' a H180W on t' long version of the model. Blimey! Blimey! It was built with left over parts from a recently demised PML AMRAAM 2, but has only t' lower fins, me bucko, hence it is half an AMRAAM, me hearties, arrr, otherwise known as the RAAM. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! These reasons are how I came about its name.

Construction:
Recently, me bucko, I lost me first PML AMRAAM 2 after many launches t' a premature nosecone ejection in mid-flight on an H128W and wound up havin' a torn Quantum body tube that was too much trouble t' repair. Begad! I purchased a replacement AMRAAM 2 kit, which can also be reviewed on t' EMRR site, me hearties, but then was left with a totally intact aft fin assembly, me hearties, piston, strap, ya bilge rat, shock cord and nosecone. Ahoy! The only components purchased were a PML 2" bulkhead assembly, me hearties, a PML 2" coupler, ya bilge rat, a PML 36" x 2" Quantum Body Tube, a pair o' 2.26" x ¼" Acme conformal launch lugs and two 1/8" quick links.

I began by cuttin' t' torn body tube from t' old AMRAAM 2, shiver me timbers, which left a lower section and fin assembly 10" long and completely built, matey, including the still attached piston and shock strap. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' inside area was cleaned o' old, hard t' reach ejection powder and then sanded usin' 80 grit sandpaper. Aye aye! Blimey! Next, a PML 2" coupler was cut lengthwise and slipped over t' black shock strap, then epoxied into t' lower fin body tube assembly so it was flush with the upper motor mount centerin' ring. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! This completed t' preparation o' t' lower, left over fin unit. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!

Next, I cut the 36" length o' new Quantum body tube into two 18" lengths. One of the 18" sections o' body tube was integrated into t' lower fin section. Aye aye! I roughed up t' inside o' t' body tube, then pushed t' piston assembly completely through t' tube. T' lower part o' t' shock strap was covered with maskin' tape in case epoxy dripped on it from t' next step. Begad! 15 minute epoxy was used t' glue it over t' split coupler t' t' fin section, matey, and left me a completed lower half o' t' rocket. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' maskin' tape be removed from t' shock strap and I did tape up t' outside o' t' body tube seam until t' epoxy set to help center t' tubes with each other. Blimey! Begad! As a last step, t' nosecone was fit to this lower tube and a 1/8" pressure relief hole was drilled through the body tube two inches below t' base o' t' nosecone.

T' upper o' these two tubes was sanded on t' inside at one end and t' new PML bulkhead was epoxied inside this upper body tube. Avast! Avast! In t' next step, ya bilge rat, I coated t' bulkhead ply face with a layer o' epoxy t' make it powder proof and easier t' clean. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' bulkhead be pushed into t' newly completed lower section and fit well. Arrr! Begad! Finally, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I installed t' original nosecone into t' top part of this upper tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, then marked and drilled a pressure relief hole into t' upper tube about two inches below t' base o' t' nosecone.

 T' lower section be stripped o' t' old AMRAAM paint usin' Acetone and Denatured Alcohol, arrr, matey, then it be sanded with 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper and primed with Krylon and "Painter's Touch" white primers. Begad! Blimey! About 6 coats o' primer were applied and final sanded with 600 grit. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It didn't take much t' prime; the lower fin section was already glassed, shiver me timbers, sanded and primed prior t' building since it was a leftover. Blimey! Blimey! Also, ya bilge rat, since Quantum tubin' was used, t' new sections primed like a dream and only 600 grit sandpaper be needed t' smooth them out. Aye aye! Blimey!

I painted t' body tube from t' blue seam forward in White Krylon Glossy. It was masked at t' blue seam so t' lower fin section was still primer only. Four coats o' white were added, me bucko, arrr, and t' last coat be thicker then t' rest. Once finished, I let it dry overnight, then masked off t' stripes and used Red Krylon Glossy t' paint t' irregular stripes, which covered in two coats. Ya scallywag! The nosecone was painted next with four coats o' Krylon White Glossy. Begad! I then removed t' maskin' from t' lower area, masked off t' striped upper section and painted this fin area with four coats o' Krylon Dark Blue. Aye aye! It left the joint where t' blue and White meet seamless, ya bilge rat, which is what I was shootin' for.

T' upper section was next. Blimey! I masked off t' area from t' top stripes down, then began workin' on t' stars. I used Paintshop Pro t' make t' stars, then printed them out on paper. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' stars were cut out in paper strips, arrr, 8 at a time and placed and scotch taped down over a 1" thick strip o' maskin' tape which be laid on a cuttin' board. Begad! Avast! I used a Exacto t' cut out each star from the maskin' tape and placed them in t' appropriate positions. Arrr! 4 coats of Krylon Dark blue were painted over t' upper section and nosecone and left to sit overnight. Ya scallywag! Avast! Then I removed t' maskin' tape stars and viewed t' final product for finish.

Once t' model was completely painted, arrr, I fastened t' shock cord t' the piston and used a drop o' epoxy t' hold it in place. Begad! A 1/8" quick link was tied t' t' cord for quick removal o' t' parachute and another quick link was added t' t' bulkhead end. Aye aye! This second quick link at t' end allows me to quickly switch t' connection from t' bulkhead eyebolt t' t' nosecone, for a "shorty" LMR version o' t' rocket. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I now have a dual purpose/sized model; T' shorty version flies on F-G motors and t' full version flies on the H motors. Avast! Ya scallywag!

T' final touches were added t' t' rocket; t' 24" parachute was attached and t' PMR retainer was checked for fit usin' t' original mounts. Also, me bucko, I marked t' spots for t' new Acme aluminum launch lugs, ya bilge rat, then removed the paint and used 15 minute epoxy t' attach them instead o' t' supplied double-sided tape. A stainless ¼" piece o' launch rod was used to insure alignment, then t' first lug was mounted exactly betwixt t' fins and the second lug be mounted mid way up t' total length o' "shorty" version with t' lower tube and nosecone combined.

Flight:
My rocket weighed in at around 30 oz for t' full version, shiver me timbers, but I have yet t' weigh it for t' short version. Arrr! We converted it to the short version for it's first flight on a F40-7W, me bucko, prepped it and placed it on t' pad. T' F40 was a very good choice as t' model lifted well; it be a very good launch, however, t' delay was too long for it's weight and didn't eject until it was nose down but t' model faired without a scratch. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' next flight was a real test o' stress; A G64-10W be built and loaded into t' rear of t' model and it was placed on t' pad. Aye aye! When it lit, ya bilge rat, me hearties, matey, it be an ANIMAL o' a motor for this rocket, t' best launch o' t' day with perfect deployment and landing. Aye aye!

T' next launch was at our first Tripoli Mid-Ohio meet for 2001. Ahoy! T' LONG version was configured, shiver me timbers, then I prepped a H128W with a medium delay and the rocket was prepped and motor was installed. Arrr! Also, when loadin' t' motor case, I did NOT use all t' black powder ejection charge. T' piston ejection system actually requires less ejection charge and PML includes a chart for reference when loadin' t' charge. Begad!

After waitin' patiently, ya bilge rat, t' rocket be placed on t' pad and then came its turn. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' RAAM left t' pad like a shell shot out o' a cannon; fast, loud and very straight, but nay quite as fast as me A2. Aye aye! It was an awesome launch, me bucko, with the sound and white smoke billowin' out t' tail. Blimey!

Recovery:
T' RAAM reached apogee and had a perfect ejection; it then floated safely to the ground. Estimated altitude was around 2600 feet and it was a very good flight. Well, blow me down! Avast! Upon examination, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' rocket came out o' it without a scratch and I look forward t' many more launches with this sturdy bird. It be late, ya bilge rat, so the RAAM was t' last launch o' t' day for us, but thar will be more t' come. Avast!

Summary:
T' RAAM turned out t' be one great flier! It is a stable rocket, somewhat over stable in its long 55" airframe with CG 4 body tubes ahead o' CP when loaded. T' shorty version also makes an excellent everyday flier for mid-power loads and it is a blast on a G64W. But, convert it t' full length in seconds usin' t' quick links and you have a very stable rocket that can easily compete with t' Mirages and others out there, and compete well. In summary, if you loose a rocket, shiver me timbers, don't just throw away t' pieces, but rather use t' leftovers. Who knows, you may just be able t' build one o' these RAAM's, a truly "Radical All American Missile"!