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4-Star ReviewsKit ReviewsPublic Missiles Product ReviewsReviews by Aaron Stanley (3 of 3)Reviews of Public Missiles - Phobos

Public Missiles - Phobos

Manufacturer:

Public Missiles

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Contributed by Aaron Stanley

Brief:
The Public Missiles, Ltd. Phobos is one of the great, easy to build mid and high power rockets out there you can buy. This rocket can be launched on any where from a F40 all the way up to a J570 if you get it with the 38mm motor mount. This is probably the best rocket to use for your Level 1 cert attempt, which I used it for. The only down side to this kit is you have to clean out the main airframe after every two flights due to the ejection charge.

Construction:
The Phobos kit contains all the parts necessary to build a flying mid/high power rocket:

• 1 pre-slotted main airframe
• 1 payload airframe
• 1 airframe coupler tube
• 1 coupler bulkplate
• 1 coupler hardware set, consisting of:
• 1 Eyebolt
• 1 Washer
• 2 Nuts
• 1 nose cone
• 3 G10 fins
• 1 piston ejection kit, consisting of:
• 1 piston tube
• 1 slotted bulkplate
• 1 piston strap
• 1 D-ring
• 1 parachute
• 1 motor mount tube
• 1 airframe to MMT centering ring
• 1 notched airframe to MMT centering ring
• 1 shock cord
• 2 launch lugs
• 1 decal sheet
• 1 instruction sheet

The construction of this rocket went together like any other high power rocket. The only problem I ran into was trying to get the strap for the piston ejection system through the notched centering ring.

Finishing:
The finish was super easy. Just sand it and paint it.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
First flight was on a F40-4W. It was a perfect flight to about 300 feet except the motor casing kicked. (I did find the motor.)

Second flight was successful on a H165R-M for my NAR Level 1 certification.

Third flight was with a G64-7W. Yet another perfect flight and perfect recovery except it hit a person's truck and broke a fin off.

The fourth flight was a H180W-M. WOW! Out of sight! I almost lost it but I was able to regain sight of it as it came back down on with a tangled parachute. It landed hard but with no damage.

Recovery:
The recoveries are good but a little too fast for my liking. The only thing I would change about the recovery is up grade to a 48 inch parachute instead of a 36 inch parachute.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
The main PROs of this kit are:

• Easy to build
• Easy to finish
• Great for flying on G and H motors

The cons are:

• Hard to put the piston strap through the notched centering ring
• Falls to fast with a 36 inch parachute

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight Log

Comments:

K.B. (June 1, 2000)

This was my first high power rocket and I thought it was great. The parts fit together easily and the instructions were easy to follow. I have since flown it many times. The motors I have used are G40-4, G80-7, H70-10 (for level one cert.), several H180-10, and one super long burn H45 (38mm). This rocket is nearly indestructible because of the Quantum tubes and G-10 fins. It has landed on concrete with just minor scratches. In addition, it had a G80 CATO at lift off and I just had to replace the 38/29 motor adapter. There are a few things I wish I would have done during the building of this rocket: extended motor mount, Kevlar recovery straps, an additional bulkhead on the piston (so its not as likely to zipper), and the Aeropack motor retainer. With those few mods I believe that this rocket would last forever barring some error in deployment. The review was very accurate.

R.D. (October 1, 2000)

Great first HPR. Easy to assemble. Be sure if you order the 38mm upgrade (comes 29mm standard) That the fins sent are for the 38mm and not the 29mm.

L.A. (October 31, 2003)

PML Phobos is an EXCELLENT first HPR although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a Level 1 certification flight. Design is comfortably over-stable but the smallish diameter allows for a LOT of altitude when used with a Pro38 H153 (be prepared for long recovery walks with one too). The Quantum Tubing is a cinch to finish--no spirals--& is very tolerant of early/late ejections, meaning little chance of zippering. I would recommend a larger chute than the 30 incher that comes with the kit if you are launching anywhere but a soft, grassy location...it comes down quick. Also with the 38mm MMT, only choices for motor retention on the Phobos are masking tape (cheap & sometimes unreliable) or a Slimline/Aero Pack retainer (expensive & overkill) because of the narrow centering rings.

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