Brief:
T' Mark II is a single stage Retro-Repro kit o' Orville Carlisle's Rock-A-Chute Mark II model rocket. Begad! It is, ya bilge rat, as noted by t' history sheet that came with t' kit, nay a clone kit, but rather a reproduction o' a classic kit updated with t' latest technology and buildin' components.

Construction:
Openin' t' packagin' and layin' out t' contents revealed what would be an easy build, usin' t' high quality components that Semroc is known for. Ahoy! T' package contents included:

• 1 Precision turned balsa nose cone
• 1 Series 10 body tube
• 1 Series 7 t' 10 engine mount kit (engine tube, engine hook, arrr, thrust ring, 2 centerin' rings
• 1 BT-3 launch lug
• 1 Recovery kit (Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cords, screw eye, me bucko, 12" parachute kit)
• Extremely clean laser cut balsa fins.
• Instructions and history o' t' Rock-A-Chute
• No decorative decals, however thar be a name plate decal, me bucko, arrr, which includes t' name o' t' kit, matey, and a production number.

I got t' Mark II as part o' me purchase from a Hobby Lobby sale at t' end o' December 2005, shiver me timbers, so what better way t' rin' in t' new year than hangin' in T' Rocketry Forum chat room and buildin' this kit at me desk.

Yeah. I know. Begad! Get a life...

Anyway, ya bilge rat, t' instructions are straightforward, me bucko, startin' with assemblin' t' EM-710 motor mount. Arrr! Blimey! T' engine tube even comes pre-slotted, arrr, so thar be no question about where t' motor hook goes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Semroc does have a better trick for attachin' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord attachment than what I usually use and it's a real forehead slapper. Arrr! (You know...you smack yourself in t' forehead and say "Now why didn't I think o' that?") I usually loop t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine tube and notch t' centerin' rin' t' allow t' Keelhaul®©™ t' exit t' body tube. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Semroc has you just tie t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine block itself and glue that into place. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! It is much less work and as long as you use a good grade o' glue (because o' t' attachment point, me bucko, arrr, I glued t' block in with wood glue and reinforced with a dab o' 5 minute epoxy), it isn't goin' anywhere.

While that assembly is drying, I put t' #10 body tube on t' fin markin' guide that was printed on t' instructions. Blimey! I personally prefer t' wraparound type, but t' way Semroc does it maintains t' integrity o' t' instructions (which are printed on a good grade o' cardstock, arrr, ya bilge rat, interestingly enough...) for filin' away for future use and perhaps allowin' them t' be preserved for a generation o' yet t' be born BARs? T' three fins themselves are extremely clean laser cut and pretty much fell away from t' surroundin' balsa. I sanded all edges except for t' root edges round and used me handy yellow plastic Estes fin attachment tool t' attach t' fins with wood glue. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! After those were set, shiver me timbers, t' engine mount be installed (again with wood glue) and t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord is fed through t' front o' t' body tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, attached t' t' generous length o' elastic shock cord, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and then t' t' beautifully turned balsa nosecone via t' included screw eye. Well, blow me down! Finally, shiver me timbers, t' oversized launch lug (accurately reflectin' Carlisle's original) is attached t' t' body tube.

Finishing:
I gave t' nose one and fins a coat o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. Arrr! Blimey! T' next morning, arrr, I sanded them smooth and hit t' rocket with a shot o' sandable primer just t' make sure t' grain wasn't too obnoxious. Begad! Blimey! That be then followed by a couple o' coats o' red spray paint, then one fin and t' nose cone were masked for a shot o' black. With that it was called finished, matey, and I assembled and installed t' 12" plastic Semroc parachute. Avast! Blimey! T' rocket was then ready for t' January 8th Sky Buster launch!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, me hearties, t' January 8th launch be canceled for poor field conditions and since most o' t' flyers are HPR guys, ya bilge rat, a lack o' a waiver due t' changin' o' t' officers, me bucko, ya bilge rat, matey, so thar be no big launch that day. Blimey! However, nay bein' one t' let a mid-winter 45 degree day go by, I packed me rockets, me daughter, arrr, and myself up for a launch at Lakewood park.

Semroc recommends t' followin' engines: A8-5, B6-6, C6-7. T' only one's I had out o' those 3 were t' C6-7s, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but t' park wasn't big enough for those motors in that rocket. Well, blow me down! I did, however, have some Quest A6-4s and thought that would be even better that riskin' too short a delay with t' A8-3s I did have. Since t' park is also surrounded by trees, shiver me timbers, arrr, I swapped out t' chute for a streamer for t' first flight. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! My daughter hit t' launch button and t' Mark II shot arrow straight into t' sky, me bucko, poppin' t' streamer at apogee, me hearties, which I estimate t' be possibly 200 feet. Avast! As thar was virtually no wind, t' rocket landed maybe 30 feet away from t' pad with t' streamer recovery resultin' in no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! For t' second flight I put t' chute back in t' rocket in place o' t' streamer, and launched again with me last A6-4. Begad! Begad! Once again, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, arrow straight flight, matey, me bucko, poppin' t' chute right at apogee or maybe just a breath thereafter. This time, matey, thar was a little drift but nothin' serious. Well, blow me down! T' 12" chute is just t' right size for a rocket this weight. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Recovery was right next t' but nay quite in a mud puddle. A few swipes with a baby wipe cleaned t' crud off t' gloss paint. Begad! This little bad boy is lookin' t' cut loose on a real field this spring!

Recovery:
There be no damage at all. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I used dog barf for waddin' and it proved t' be adequate protection for t' recovery system. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' chute be t' right size for a rocket this size and weight, but t' rocket is small, shiver me timbers, light, and sturdy enough that a streamer can also be used easily.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Very simple, me bucko, shiver me timbers, inexpensive replica o' a historic model rocket that can be put together in an hour or so (dependin' on how slow settin' your glue is) at one sitting. Aye aye! Good performer. Begad! Good beginner kit without bein' insultingly simple (i.e., Rip t' package open and launch).

CONs: I can't think o' any.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5