Brief:
I received this kit from Semroc at NARAM 50. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Semroc gave t' Mark t' anyone who purchased a kit from them. Begad! T' Mark is a reproduction o' t' Estes kit #K-02 and is part o' t' Semroc XKits line. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' XKits line o' rockets are beautifully recreated reproductions o' classic Estes, me bucko, FSI, ya bilge rat, and Centuri rockets we remember as kids.

T' Mark is a simple, matey, super light 3FNC rocket that will really get some altitude on A and B impulse engines, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and will fly out-of-sight on C impulse engines. Begad! I wouldn't recommend flyin' this on a C engine as it may become a fly-and-forget-you-ever-had-it rocket.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a beautifully turned balsa nosecone, three laser-cut fins, a balsa engine block, me bucko, a sturdy body tube, crepe paper streamer, me bucko, a screw eye, and a rubber shock cord.

• BT-30B Body Tube 6.125" Long
• BNC-30E Balsa Nose Cone
• EB-30 Balsa Engine Block
• FES-K2 Laser-Cut Balsa Fins
• LL-2B Launch Lug
• SC-1A Shock Cord 9"
• SM-1A Streamer 1" x 8"
• TD-1 Tape Disc

Construction directions are nay included with t' kit. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' directions are t' be downloaded from JimZ's website. T' kit does come with an "instruction manual" that gives a complete history o' t' rocket. Aye aye! In this "instruction manual", Semroc acknowledges that t' streamer is a little short, me hearties, me hearties, but be t' same length as the original. Ahoy! I have t' agree with that assessment and I should also mention that t' shock cord is a little too short as well.

Because t' instructions were scans o' t' original Estes instructions, me hearties, me hearties, t' build be smooth and error free. There were no "gotchas" or alignment issues, and all t' parts fit together perfectly.

T' only special tool you will need is an empty engine casin' t' push t' engine block t' t' proper place inside the body tube.

After you have t' engine block and fins attached t' t' body tube, two slits are cut into t' top o' t' body tube just below t' nose cone shoulder. Aye aye! T' two slits form an openin' that will become t' shock cord attachment point. This be t' first time I have attached a shock cord in this manner. Begad! I have t' say that this way is very solid, and might outlast a standard tri-fold mount. Avast, me proud beauty! T' down side be t' bump that is left on t' outside o' t' body tube.

Once t' shock cord is mounted, glue t' launch lug on, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and it is ready for primer and paint.

One thin' I would like t' mention, arrr, thar seems t' be two or three scans o' instructions for t' Mark on JimZ's website. Avast! T' instructions show two different launch lug mountin' points. Avast, me proud beauty! One set shows t' launch lug mounted at a fin root, me bucko, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' other set shows t' launch lug mounted betwixt two fins. However, arrr, I really don't think it matters where the lug is mounted.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' Mark is very straightforward. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Fill t' balsa with t' technique o' your choice, arrr, prime, me bucko, and paint. Avast, me proud beauty! I choose nay t' use any balsa fillers and just used a high build primer from a spray can found at most automotive parts or home improvement stores.

After t' rocket has been filled, primed, and sanded, me bucko, paint t' rocket t' color o' your choice. Aye aye! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I would recommend a highly visible color as this is a small rocket and can easily be overlooked. Blimey! Especially in high grass.

I choose t' paint mine like t' cover picture, which has a red body tube and a gold nose cone. Avast! I used t' same gold "metal" paint for t' nose cone that I used for me Golden Scout. Avast, me proud beauty! I have nay put t' black stripes on yet.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Both Semroc and t' Estes instructions recommend A8-3, B6-6, and C6-5 for engine choices. Ahoy! As I mentioned, I would not fly this rocket on a C engine as you will most likely never see it again. Ya scallywag! I would suggest flyin' this exclusively on A impulse engines.

T' maiden flight be on an A8-3. Blimey! T' flight was straight, me bucko, fast, me bucko, and high. I would guess that it went every bit of 600 feet. Arrr! Ejection be just after apogee. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' streamer did nay fully deploy though. I am nay certain if t' streamer got stuck on t' shock cord mount or if I put in a little too much cellulose wadding. Ya scallywag! T' rocket came down a little fast but landed in some tall grass and received no damage. Unfortunately, this has been t' only flight so far.

There was a small dent on t' top edge o' t' tube. Blimey! I believe this was from t' nose cone snappin' back at ejection. Avast, me proud beauty! Lengthenin' t' shock cord should eliminate this.

Recovery:
T' recovery was fine except for t' streamer nay fully deploying. Avast! Ahoy! However, arrr, shiver me timbers, even if it did fully deploy, matey, ya bilge rat, I still think it would have come down too fast. Begad! I would recommend lengthenin' t' streamer t' get slower decent rates.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PROs: Easy t' build. Avast! Fast, me hearties, high flights on low impulse engines. Begad! A great rocket for beginners and school projects. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! A perfect rocket for small fields.

Main CONs: Short shock cord, short streamer.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5