Brief:
This is third and final kit that I received from t' last 2009 Quarterly Rocket Give-Away so, once again, me hearties, many thanks t' Nick!

T' Tau Zero, me bucko, matey, as you all know, is a futuristic rocket from Semroc that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a streamer. Ahoy! As o' this writing, thar are no less than seven great reviews on this kit. Begad! Ya scallywag! As a result, arrr, I'm nay goin' to cover t' parts list, t' basic instruction, matey, me bucko, etc. Avast! Well, blow me down! Rather, me hearties, I'm goin' t' state what stood out t' me. Arrr! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! You may also note that I flipped t' fins over. I did that on purpose. Blimey! Blimey! At least, arrr, that's me story and I'm stickin' t' it!

Modifications:
T' only physical modification I made was flippin' t' fins so they are swept backward. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I also used me own color scheme.

Construction:
T' parts are o' t' same excellent quality that you'd expect from Semroc. Arrr! Laser cut fins and alignment guides, Keelhaul®©™® leader for recovery, me bucko, and a pristine balsa cone. T' cone is awesome, ya bilge rat, kind o' a sleeker version o' t' Honest John.

Because t' inner set o' fins are supposed t' be painted t' same as t' outer, but different from t' rin' fin, t' instructions recommend that you paint t' parts before assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Like t' others, I did so.

Even though it is basically minimum diameter, matey, a motor hook is provided. Ya scallywag! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! It is held in place with a telescoping outer tube, which is tucked neatly under t' inner fins. Begad! Avast! I love laser cut parts :) Two fin guides are provided, ya bilge rat, one for each set o' fins.

T' quality o' t' cone was fabulous. Arrr! Begad! T' grain is fine and needs little filing. Blimey! They recommend t' drill a pilot hole for t' over sized screw eye, me hearties, and I heeded this advice. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I also soaked t' point tip in thin CA t' toughen it up a bit.

I filled t' balsa parts with fill'n'finish and Dupli-Color METALCAST paint system. Avast! This includes a silver base coat and a color coat. Well, blow me down! I used t' base coat both as as a primer and as t' silver coat for t' majority o' t' rocket. T' win' tip pods were painted with brush-on gold and t' tips o' t' attached dowels were dipped in day-glo orange,

T' decal set be great quality. Ahoy! However, ya bilge rat, t' purple fins and nose section don't provide a good backdrop for some o' them. Arrr! I shuffled a few and left a few off.

Flight:
I used a Quest 'long burn' C6-5 for t' first flight. It really ripped on t' C6. Well, blow me down! I lost sight o' it but spotted t' streamer at ejection. Arrr! Begad! Then, me bucko, I lost sight o' it again. I thought it was lost but on t' way home, I stopped on t' high ground and grabbed t' binoculars that I carry in me range box...and spotted it!

Summary:
This is a slick lookin' rocket and a fun build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' parts are perfect and t' instructions are great. Ya scallywag! However, me bucko, I'm nay a big fan o' BT-20 body tubes. Aye aye! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' fact that t' Tau Zero recovers with a streamer mitigated this issue for me. Avast! It flies great and t' streamer recovery is adequate for this sized rocket. Ahoy! Especially if you point t' fins in t' proper direction!