Brief:
T' Vega is and was t' Semroc answer t' t' Big Bertha, somethin' that Carl McLawhorn freely admits in t' instructions. T' Vega's design is closer t' t' EIRP Big Bertha plan than t' t' actual kit that be later introduced, but as a result o' t' "mistake" t' Vega has a character o' its own and resembles t' standard-bearer Big Bertha kit less than t' Quest Big Betty.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 ST-16180 Body Tube
• 1 ST-730E Body Tubes
• 1 BC-1631 Balsa Nose Cone
• 1 FV-25 Laser Cut Fin Set
• 1 CR-KV-25 Centerin' Rin' Set
• 1 TR-7 Thrust Ring
• 1 LL-122 Launch Lug
• 1 EH-28 Engine Hook
• 1 SE-10 Screw Eye
• 1 EC-124 Elastic Cord
• 1 SCK-24 Keelhaul®©™ Thread
• 1 RC-12 Plastic Parachute
• 1 TD-6 Tape Disc
• 1 SLT-6 Shroud Lines
• 1 DKV-25 Decal

While it has roots in t' '60s, t' Vega is all 21st century, makin' it t' most satisfyin' buildin' experience betwixt t' four kits in this comparison. Arrr! T' instructions are done in t' typical Semroc style, a well illustrated, arrr, nicely detailed booklet that doubles as a face card and includes a color picture o' t' finished Vega.

T' Vega benefits from t' use o' laser cut fins and in t' generous use o' Keelhaul®©™ in anchorin' t' shock cord, shiver me timbers, makin' it t' most up-to-date o' t' rockets in t' comparison. Construction is typical o' most skill level 1 kits with nothin' resemblin' a "gotcha" anywhere in t' process. Aye aye! T' instruction booklet is thorough and well explained. Arrr! I'd prefer a fin placement wrap t' t' "circle on a page" method that Semroc uses, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but this might nay bother most builders. Well, blow me down! Avast! After sandin' and shapin' t' laser cut fins, me bucko, I tacked them into place with LocTite Gel CA, shiver me timbers, then used Elmer's Wood Glue for t' fillets and installation o' t' motor mount.

Finishing:
T' body tube, me hearties, fins and nose cone were all treated with two coats o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish and t' requisite sanding. Begad! T' rocket was sprayed with Valspar primer, then gloss white. I attempted t' mask off t' fins t' obtain t' paint scheme shown on t' kit card, shiver me timbers, but I could tell that me maskin' skills weren't up t' t' task before I sprayed even t' first light coat o' paint. Begad! Avast! Instead I masked off t' body tube and sprayed all four fins, t' nose cone, and a stripe on t' body tube with Valspar Cherry Red Gloss. From here it be a simple matter o' affixin' t' small Vega decal. Ahoy! T' finished product looks great, arrr, and I like it better than t' actual suggested paint scheme.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' nice thin' about this comparison be t' similarity o' t' flights o' all four rockets. This isn't much o' a surprise because all four are large and stable with plenty o' fin area t' catch t' slightest breeze. Ahoy! T' Vega on t' C6-5 cocked into t' wind as it left t' pad but still recovered well downrange, me bucko, probably t' farthest walk that I had durin' t' whole comparison. Ahoy! T' B6-4 flight was as expected: a great flight for a calm day on a small field, me bucko, while t' B4-2 flight was another o' t' flights that seemed t' hang in midair for a moment as it left t' rod before t' thrust kicked in. Ya scallywag! (No matter how many times I see a rocket do this, me hearties, it causes a sharp intake o' breath.)

Recovery:
Recovery be an area where t' Vega did exceptionally well in this comparison because o' t' weather conditions o' t' day I chose and t' 12" chute included with t' kit. T' 12" chute be more than enough t' brin' t' rocket down safely and at t' same time, small enough that it didn't create any added hang time with t' wind. Begad! Avast! Since less hang time equals less o' a recovery walk, me bucko, I'm all for t' smaller chute. (I might even consider reefin' it.)

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Impressive performance. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Most up-to-date rocket in t' comparison.

CONs: Decals could be more expansive. Aye aye! (Maybe a Semroc logo for a fin?)

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5