Brief:
In 1973, ya bilge rat, matey, arrr, Estes released 6 pretty wild (for Estes) designs loosely resemblin' t' Baby Bertha o' today but with relatively zany fin and decal schemes. Avast, me proud beauty! T' were called t' "Goonybirds" and after a 2-year run went out of production. Arrr! They have since survived only through t' clonin' efforts o' die-hards (Bill Eichelberger comes t' mind) and through kitbash plan/decal packs available through Excelsior Rocketry. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! In t' fall o' 2007, shiver me timbers, a thread on Ye Old Rocket Shoppe be started attemptin' t' document as thoroughly as possible t' history o' Estes designers and their respective creations. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Durin' t' ensuin' dialog, ya bilge rat, a few sketches o' some Goonybird design proposals that didn't make the cut surfaced. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' designs were nay exactly politically correct and were rejected for fairly obvious reasons, arrr, but the Mad Magazine-like humor holds a certain appeal t' adult rocketeers. So Semroc jumped on t' concept and has now released two o' these as "Groonies" becomin' grown-up goonies. Aye aye! Avast! T' pair include t' Russian bomber style "Ruskie" and t' Japanese zero "Saki".

For more information on t' original sketches, arrr, me bucko, as well as t' complete thread, check out the Rocketshoppe forum.

Construction:
At this point, we probably just need a boilerplate header for all Semroc reviews: t' parts are exceptional quality, you get a lot o' stuff packed into a bag/box full o' value, arrr, and t' instructions are clearly written with plenty of illustrations. In fact, I think I'll bookmark this review so I can just cut/paste t' simplify future reviews, me hearties, me hearties, as I'll surely buy more o' their terrific products.

This specific kit includes

• BT-60 based BT
• balsa nose cone
• laser-cut balsa fins
• BT-20 motor tube with centerin' rings/block/metal clip
• Keelhaul®©™® and elastic recovery line
• plastic parachute
• waterslide decals.

T' motor mount is pretty straightforward with a metal clip/hook, a BT-20, a pair o' 20/60 rings and a motor block. T' Keelhaul®©™® anchor slips under t' forward end o' t' clip and through t' 20/60 ring. T' finished mount then goes inside the BT-60 body tube, me bucko, me hearties, recessed enough that t' motor clip is completely hidden and flush with aft end o' tube.

There are 5 total fins, arrr, shiver me timbers, one o' which is a two-piece assembly, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me bucko, so if you want t' fill grains, ya bilge rat, you'll have a lot of work. Well, blow me down! Blimey! In me case, a couple o' coats o' dilluted wood filler and sandin' added about 2 hours t' what was otherwise a 90 minute build (plus paint). Avast! T' top fin (rudder) is a two-piece due t' its funky shape versus t' balsa grain and mixing the grain directions on t' assembled unit will add strength.

T' 5 fins are bonded t' t' body tube along lines drawn via a markin' guide included on t' instructions. Avast! Blimey! I'd prefer a wrap-around guide, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but if you've got a steady hand t' markin' guide works fine too. Ahoy! Blimey! T' 5 fins are odd-shaped. T' two on t' "bottom" (if this flew horizontally like a plane) are cloud-shaped, while t' two "middle" fins are standard wing-like shapes and t' upper fin is intended t' look more like a rudder. Ahoy! Blimey! In my case, t' balsa was very soft/pliable and t' fins sit at such odd angles thar's really no way t' set this down during construction that doesn't apply some pressure t' a fragile joint. Avast! Blimey! I suffered three cracked fins just durin' t' build, all along t' grain lines.

Finishin' up with t' elastic for t' shock cord and t' parachute assembly. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Then you're ready t' paint.

Finishing:
As noted earlier, matey, if you want a nice finish thar will be a lot o' work involved. Mainly balsa grain treatment (5 fins and t' nose) but also a bit o' work on t' tube spirals. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I have started usin' t' Fill N FInish small tubs available at t' nearby big-box retailer (rhymes with nose), so spirals don't take too much work.

T' paint scheme could be a simple white or for a splash o' color paint t' nose separately with a cherry red and the win' tips red.

T' decals are great t' work with. Avast! Avast! They are srong enough t' allow a little slidin' into position, but thin enough to look painted on. Well, blow me down! If usin' a decent gloss coat before decals, shiver me timbers, t' clear is practically invisible. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! My only beef with the decals is that t' ones designed for t' lower cloud fins were a little oversized. Begad! Begad! I pointed this out on a forum and got a decent tip. Aye aye! Instead o' applyin' them as a single piece, cut them into 2-3 sections overlappin' a bit on the clear portion.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
As draggy as this thin' looked, I was a bit suspicious o' t' 300 foot estimate for t' B6-4 and jumped all t' way up t' a C6-5 for first flight. Blimey! Blimey! I was surprised as it flew up fairly quickly, with a minor spin all t' way up. Ya scallywag! I doubt that it quite hit t' listed 725 feet and would estimate me actual apogee t' be around 600. Avast! Well, blow me down! T' 5 second delay be a good fit, occurin' just after it arced over.

Recovery:
T' 12" plastic chute be fine though as fragile as t' fins are. Arrr! I'd consider at least a 15-18 inch if flying on hard ground or anywhere near rocket-eatin' roadways. Mine was recovered without damage as it landed on fresh, soft snow.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other:
Make sure durin' t' flight prep that you include plenty o' wadding/dog barf. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! This is a BT-60, nay a BT-20 and the chute will be packed pretty close t' t' forward end o' t' motor.