Brief:
T' Semroc "Penetrator" is an X-Kit. Avast! This kit is a reproduction o' t' Flight Systems Inc, kit first released in 1967.

Construction

T' kit consists of:

• Balsa nose cone.
• 2 x 9" body tubes (0.921" OD).
• Tube coupler.
• Laser cut plywood fins (3).
• 18mm motor mount kit includin' block and metal hook.
• Keelhaul®©™+elastic shock cords.
• Waterslide decal.
• 12" plastic chute.

There were no instructions included with t' kit, but thar be a link t' an online source. Avast! Blimey! I didn't download t' instructions since it looked like a very simple kit t' build and it was. Ahoy! Blimey! One thin' I've been doin' lately is installin' t' engine mount very late in t' build process t' give me rockets somethin' flat t' sit on and it worked out well for this kit.

I started out lightly sandin' t' three plywood(!) fins and t' balsa nosecone. Arrr! I wasn't too pleased with t' quality o' t' balsa in t' nosecone, matey, it seemed soft.

When I assembled t' body tubes I noticed one o' them had small marks on one end for t' fin locations. Avast! Avast! I extended t' lines up t' tube a bit t' make t' fin installation easier. T' tubes went together smartly and easily with t' included coupler.

While that was drying, ya bilge rat, I constructed t' engine mount. Arrr! Avast! T' rings were notched which made it easier t' slide them over t' engine hook, and I be pleased t' find t' engine mount tube already had a slit in it for t' hook.

I installed t' fins and t' two launch lugs and t' Penetrator was ready for finishing.

Finishing:
I toyed with several paint schemes for this rocket, me hearties, since it was bein' built for t' EMRR "Double Vision" Contest. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I wanted t' get t' most points possible so I be goin' for t' "mirror" or "opposite" scheme. Blimey! I wanted t' do a candy-stripe and call it "Peppermint Stick" but I wasn't too keen on doin' spiral masking. So I decided t' use some o' that way cool Testor's purple and gold glitter paint and go for more o' a Mardi-Gras theme.

First, shiver me timbers, arrr, I shot t' whole thin' with a coat o' primer and let it dry then sand. Repeat two more times for a pretty good finish. Well, blow me down! I stink at nosecones but it didn't come out too badly.

One one rocket (I had t' build two for t' contest) I started with a gold base coat and with t' other I started with t' purple. Ya scallywag! I waited for all that t' dry, and then started masking. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Again, I though about doin' somethin' complex, arrr, but eventually decided on a series o' stripes around t' rocket.

I masked off t' area betwixt t' fins first since t' fins were goin' t' be a different color than t' base color. Arrr! Then I masked off t' striped areas tryin' t' keep t' size o' t' stripes t' same on both rockets. Aye aye! When that be ready I shot t' overlay color on both rockets, waited for it t' dry and then shot a second color for good measure (the gold didn't cover t' purple too well on t' first coat).

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I launched this rocket on a pretty windy day so I started out with A8-3s in both. Arrr! T' launch be picture-perfect into t' wind and recovery be reasonably close t' t' pad. For t' second flight I used B4-4s and again t' launch be perfect but a bit further from t' pad. Aye aye! However, me bucko, I noticed that I had a din' in one o' t' nosecones where it snapped back against t' body tube. Begad! For t' third launch, I again used A8-3s because I didn't want t' chase them down. Arrr! Again a perfect flight straight into t' wind and perfect recovery close t' t' pad. Arrr! Also, ya bilge rat, again, arrr, matey, I had a din' in one o' t' nosecones. Aye aye! Begad! I will definitely need t' attach more elastic t' next time I fly these beauties.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is too short on this kit. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Definitely needs another four or five inches at least. Other than that t' flight and recovery were great.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Overall this is a great kit and easy t' build. Begad! I like t' plywood fins but t' balsa on me nosecones seemed nay up t' Semroc quality. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! If I had read t' other review on EMRR I would have added more elastic. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Oh well.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5