Brief:
SEMROC's Tau Zero is a futuristic looking, shiver me timbers, fighter styled, single stage model rocket. Designed by Jay Goemmer, it has a long, arrr, ya bilge rat, bulbous nose cone, ya bilge rat, matey, a rin' tail with 3 forward swept fins capped by laser guns.

Construction:
In t' kit you get:

• Balsa nose cone
• Main body tube
• Rin' fin body tube
• Laser cut fins (3 outer fins, matey, 3 inner fins)
• Engine hook
• Thrust ring
• Retainer ring
• Empty engine casing
• 1/8" Launch lug
• 3 3/16" launch lug (laser guns)
• 3 1/8" wood dowels (laser guns)
• Elastic shock cord
• Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• Screw eye
• Streamer
• Adhesive disk (streamer)
• Glue applicator (cotton swab)
• Tau Zero gluin' jigs
• Waterslide decal sheet

For t' construction, t' instruction set is first rate and is simple t' follow with diagrams t' aid every step. Begad! You even get 2 separate glue jigs t' aid in fin placement and spacing. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' model is easiest t' build in two parts: t' main body and t' rin' fin assembly. Begad! This will greatly aid in finishin' t' model t' match t' instructions paint scheme. Arrr! Ya scallywag! Just use some cut strips o' maskin' tape t' cover t' areas t' be glued together after painting. Arrr!

Finishing:
One thin' I don't agree with is sealin' t' balsa parts early on in t' construction. I have never known sanding sealer t' accept wood glue very well. It is better t' wait until t' fins are on then seal t' balsa on t' two separate assemblies. Arrr! Perhaps Semroc needs t' look at this and rearrange or modify t' instructions t' better suit this approach. Arrr! Begad! Beyond that small hiccup, finishin' is straightforward model rocket finishing.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight with an EST A8-3 be underpowered but a nice stable flight. Begad! Ejection was a bit early.

Second flight went better with an EST B4-4. Arrr! Blimey! This should be t' smallest motor t' use with this rocket. Ejection was dead-on at apogee, just nosin' over. A nice, shiver me timbers, straight, arrr, shiver me timbers, and stable flight.

Third flight was with an EST B6-4. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Much like t' B4-4 t' ejection was dead-on at apogee, me hearties, nosin' over. Ya scallywag! T' B6 gets it up in t' air for a very nice flight.

Fourth flight was an EST C6-5. T' C power really send this rocket into t' air. A beautiful arrow straight flight. Ahoy! I could just see t' ejection as t' nose started t' point down.

Recovery:
After years o' flyin' with elastic shock cord, I've gotten tired o' t' snap back damage from t' nose cones. Ahoy! Avast! With this kit I substituted a 36" length o' 100# Keelhaul®©™® to replace t' elastic. It makes for a nice, smooth ejection. Begad! Also, me bucko, based on previous reviews here on EMRR, I switched out t' kits streamer for me own 3" x 36" pleated mylar streamer. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This was still nay enough for an easy recovery. Ahoy! T' rocket came back t' Earth in a controlled crash more than a landing. Ya scallywag! I think t' soft grass soccer field I be in kept t' rocket from bein' damaged with nay so much as a stress crack. Well, blow me down! Arrr! A chute with a spill hole would be a better match t' this small but slightly heavy rocket.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Tau Zero is a very nice rocket t' build and fly. With a B4 or larger motor, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, arrr, this rocket really loves t' fly. It is recommended though that a small parachute be used instead o' t' included streamer. Avast! Aye aye! This rocket is somewhat heavy for its size. Arrr!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5