This is the second PML Intruder that I have built, the first one was called 'Gabriel' and I certified Level 1 and 2 with it. I had 30 brilliant flights with this rocket and it proved to be very reliable and sturdy. Due to a 'mishap' my original Intruder burst into flames on it's 31st launch. I am going to build 'Gabriel 2' in the same way and paint it in the same colour scheme as the original rocket, it will be in burgundy and gold. The only additions to 'Gabriel 2' will be slimline motor retainer and slimline rail guides instead of the brass launch lugs supplied by PML.

This rocket is unusual as it has five fins, two of which have long strakes and this does make it look very different from other 3 or 4 fin rockets. It was this fin configeration that attracted me to this design back in 2002 and the Intruder became my first high-power rocket that I had built. The fins are made from G10 fibreglass. The Intruder has a 38mm motor mount so can fly with 'H' motors through to 'J' impulse. You can fit a 29mm adaptor to allow flights with that size casings if you can get hold of them. I flew mine with Ceseroni 2 to 6 grain PRO38 motors mainly. The flights with the J400 SS 6 grain motor were truly spectacular as this motor gave the Intruder a mighty kick of the launch stand and it was brilliant watching Gabriel streak into the sky with a dense black smoke trail behind it. The Intruder utilises a piston to eject the chute and this is initiated by the black powder charge in the delay grain of the motor. Bear in mind that the Intruder as sold will not be able to use CPR ( close proximity recovery ) so if launched with a 6 grain 'J' the main chute will be deployed at over 5,000 feet so make sure that you launch it in very favourable conditions with a Skyangle 36" chute ideally. The rocket is 3 inches in diameter

The airframe is a plastic/polymer based tube called 'Quantum' tube and is very nice to work with, remember to rough up bonded areas with a sanding pad first especially the fin slots where your fillets made with epoxy resin will have to bond to. It is also advisable to finely sand the whole airframe before priming with paint as the Quantum tube does have a very smooth and shiny finish. The airframe incorporates a 9" payload section.

I am seriously considering building a 6" Intruder with a 98mm motor mount and dual recovery for my L3 project as it would be nice to have passed all my certs with this rocket !! I am contacting PML to see if there are any problems with me upscaling their original design. This rocket will be called 'Rogue'

Dry fitting a phenolic tube coupler

Making sure the coupler fits both pieces of tube

Piston strap dry fitted to motor mount and then threaded through the tube

Eject Piston completed

Payload bay being epoxied

Make sure nuts on eyebolt are tight

Dry fitting the fins and positioning them

Used blue-tack and duct tape to hold fins as they will move as the epoxy cures

Repeat the above for all fins, 30 fillets to do !