Semroc Rawhide

Semroc - Rawhide {Kit} (KV-19) [?-]

Contributed by Dennis McClain-Furmanski

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Diameter: 0.76 inches
Length: 12.20 inches
Manufacturer: Semroc
Skill Level: 1
Style: Sport
Semroc Rawhide

Brief:
Clone o' historic 1966 single stage, ya bilge rat, streamer recovery kit for Rocket Development Corporation. Begad! RDC was started in 1961 by Irvin' Wait, ya bilge rat, me hearties, an employee of Thiokol. Ahoy! His major contribution t' rocketry was t' development o' high power composite engines, arrr, known as Enerjet. Ahoy! Begad! These were later sold through Centuri and shaped all o' high power rocketry.

Construction:
T' parts list:

  • 1 body tube
  • 1 balsa nose cone (the original used hardwood)
  • 3 laser cut fins
  • 1 1/8" launch lug
  • 1 engine block
  • 1 empty casing
  • 1 screw eye
  • 1 Keelhaul®©™® thread
  • 1 elastic shock cord
  • 1 crepe paper streamer
  • 1 tape dot

As with all Semroc kits, me hearties, t' instructions are professional grade and made for t' first timer. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! Follow them and nothin' can go wrong. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Follow t' pictures and you hardly need t' read. T' fins are precut in t' way Semroc does, matey, which is better than most other kit makers. Aye aye! Ahoy! Blimey! Everythin' goes just where it should and fits perfectly. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Although t' components are very light weight in keepin' with the original, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, they are well made. Only t' most common LPR materials and tools are needed. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Blimey! Usin' CyA t' tack fins on and t' fillet with wood glue, me bucko, arrr, ya bilge rat, I built this in an hour.

Finishing:
Finishin' is up t' t' builder. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! I primed and then painted with Rustoleum black appliance epoxy, ya bilge rat, which I was enjoyin' way too much at t' time. Bad idea, me hearties, since Semroc gives a black colored water slide decal with t' original logo and rocket dimensions with t' kit.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Long delay A, ya bilge rat, B, and C motors are recommended since this light thin' will coast forever if you let it. Blimey! My flights were with B6-4s. Avast! I also replaced t' crepe paper streamer with a mylar streamer. Begad! Boost was straight and super fast, me hearties, ya bilge rat, coast was straight up and ejection be at or just before apogee. Ya scallywag! Recovery was fine.

Recovery:
This is me main beef with Semroc kits: Keelhaul®©™® thread tied directly t' t' thrust ring. Avast, me proud beauty! It's exposed t' ejection gasses and can burn through. Ya scallywag! After 3, shiver me timbers, mine is showin' wear. Avast! An alternate anchor would be better. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Once again Semroc offers an excellent build o' an historic model, a real boon to BARs like me. Begad! It's a good little rocket that's worthy o' bein' a show piece. Thanks Semroc for lettin' me relive memories!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Semroc Rawhide By Chan Stevens

    Semroc has reintroduced the 1966 Centuri RDC kit in a slightly modernized and upgraded form. This is an entry level single stage minimum diameter 18mm kit, and at $5 list price, it could be a good kit for "build and fly" projects for scouts and school groups. Semroc uses very good quality components, packed in a plastic bag with unique production number tags in each kit. This kit includes: ...

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