Brief:
A clone o' t' classic Centuri two-stage Black Widow usin' Semroc parts. Begad! The "unique glidin' booster" feature is a great crowd pleaser. Ya scallywag! Semroc has all t' parts includin' t' outside passport stage coupler with pre-drilled holes, me bucko, arrr, decal, and a beautiful set o' laser-cut fins that includes t' balsa fin fillets for t' booster.

Construction:
Parts list with Semroc part numbers:

• 1 BC-733 Balsa Nose Cone #7 3.3"
• 1 CP-12BY Chute Pak - 12"
• 1 EC-118 Elastic Cord 18"
• 1 FV-5 Black Widow Laser-Cut Fins
• 2 HTC-7 Tubin' Coupler #7 1.0" Long
• 1 HTC-7B Tubin' Coupler #7 Outside 1.0" Long
• 1 Engine hook
• 1 SCK-24 Keelhaul®©™® Thread 100# 24"
• 1 ST-740 Body Tube #7 4.0"
• 1 ST-790 Body Tube #7 9.0"
• 1 TB-7 Thrust Block #7
• 1 Black Widow decal

I also used a fiber engine hook lock rin' that goes outside t' #7 booster BT. Blimey! Aye aye! This is mylar in t' original kit.

I followed t' instruction found on Jim Z's site. Begad! Ya scallywag! It is a straightforward build. In Step 2, arrr, I cut one o' t' 1" couplers t' 1/2" t' duplicate the original's 1 1/2" coupler. One major correction: in step 3, shiver me timbers, do nay use the 1 1/4" measurement for t' engine hook lock ring. Ahoy! Instead, lay one o' the laser-cut booster fins against t' BT with t' aft edge flush with t' aft of the BT and mark where t' fin cut out is on t' BT. Well, blow me down! I used t' measurement and the fins didn't line up so they were too far forward. I wound up loppin' off 1/2" o' t' booster on me next try, matey, figurin' t' length o' t' BT was wrong (don't ask, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, it's a long story) and this cost me some scorchin' on my first flight. T' 4" length is correct--it's t' lock rin' measurement that is wrong on t' instructions.

T' rest o' t' assembly went easily. T' instructions have handy fin guides. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Make sure you use t' correct one for each stage. Aye aye! T' booster fins are offset slightly t' allow t' glidin' recovery. Ahoy! Sandin' t' balsa booster fin fillets takes a bit o' time, matey, but they really add t' t' strength o' the booster. Blimey! I also used t' more modern method o' attachin' a line o' Keelhaul®©™® thread t' t' upper stage engine block and attachin' t' shock cord t' that. You'll need t' stack t' 1" and 1/2" couplers inside t' booster BT. Semroc has t' passport stagin' outside coupler pre-drilled with two vent holes. Make sure one o' t' holes is nay directly beneath a fin on t' upper stage or you will get scorching. It's tricky t' line t' holes up with two holes and three fins. Avast! I would also recommend soakin' t' inside o' all the stage couplers with CA for durability. Ahoy! T' top o' t' booster BT needed a good amount o' sandin' down t' get a nay too tight fit inside t' stage coupler.

Finishing:
I really wanted t' duplicate t' catalog picture and it was a challenge. Avast, me proud beauty! After applyin' a couple coats o' Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' t' spirals and fins, I gave it two coats o' primer, me bucko, me bucko, maskin' off t' top o' t' booster BT where it goes inside t' stage coupler. Ya scallywag! Avast! I gave t' nose cone two coats o' gloss white and t' rest o' t' rocket two coats o' gloss black. Ya scallywag! Now t' fun began. Ya scallywag! I decided t' use white self adhesive Trim Monokote t' do t' white areas on the BT and fins. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! First I used paper t' plot out t' curvin' patterns through trial and error. Then I transferred those templates t' t' Trim Monokote and cut them out with a sharp hobby knife. Trim Monokote is peel and stick and permanent once you put it on. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I applied water with a few drops o' dish detergent t' the areas first and this gives you time t' adjust before t' adhesive grabs. Ahoy! Avast! It was tricky around t' balsa booster fin fillets and I needed t' touch those up with white paint, but t' final effect is very striking. Aye aye! I finished with a thin band of chrome Trim Monokote at t' top o' t' second stage BT, and t' Semroc decal on one o' t' fins.

Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5

Flight:
T' engine hook in t' booster and passport stagin' make this easy t' prep for flight. For t' first flight I didn't have any A8-5s and just used an A8-3 I had in t' box. Begad! T' booster had a B6-0. Avast! Arrr! I wrapped a bit o' maskin' tape around the upper stage motor. Begad! Although it flew very nicely, ejection was obviously too early. Ahoy! Begad! I was lucky t' avoid a zipper. T' first flight was with t' incorrectly shortened booster, ya bilge rat, and t' inside o' t' coupler on t' upper stage was seriously scorched and cracked. Arrr! I am pretty sure this be because thar wasn't enough o' t' booster's BT in thar protectin' t' coupler from t' booster engine's charge. Blimey! After this I added a 1/2" piece o' BT with an inside coupler t' t' booster. Begad! I also sanded down t' coupler and recoated it with CA. I made 3 flights with a B6-0 t' A8-5 combination and they were beauties. Well, blow me down! On the first two flights, t' booster fluttered down, however, matey, after addin' more clay to t' front end o' it, it glides reasonably well if a bit steeply.

Recovery:
Again, shiver me timbers, I would recommend a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attachment. Ya scallywag! T' trickiest part o' recovery is gettin' t' booster to glide. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Hand tossin' wasn't really a good indicator o' glide. Ya scallywag! After a couple of flights, I got t' clay weight right. Aye aye! It's a pretty amusin' sight watchin' the booster straighten out and glide down. Begad! Also make sure you coat t' inside of the stage coupler with CA as t' design with t' coupler attached t' t' upper stage instead o' t' lower is prone t' scorching. Ya scallywag! Also usin' t' correct measurements helps!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a classic beauty and a pretty easy build, although it takes a bit of fiddlin' t' get right. It's a strikin' lookin' rocket and produces interesting flights with t' glidin' booster. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! T' only real gotcha be t' incorrect engine hook retainer measurement on t' instructions. Aye aye! Semroc makes it a breeze with all t' parts and laser-cut fins.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5