Brief:
T' Aerobee-Hi was t' first production model offered me Model Missiles Inc. Blimey! (MMI), ya bilge rat, and was introduced just about 50 years ago from t' time this review is likely t' be posted. Ya scallywag! T' original version featured a maple nose cone, arrr, parallel-wound tubes, arrr, and sold for $7.95. Arrr! 50 years later, arrr, Semroc has gone with balsa nose cone, me hearties, shiver me timbers, upgraded t' laser-cut fins and Keelhaul®©™ shock cord, shiver me timbers, while keepin' t' price down t' $11.50 retail (NAR members receive a discount when orderin' direct from Semroc).

I had originally received a free version o' this kit at NARAM-47 in Cincinnati back in t' summer o' 2005, but since it was a special commemorative package, me bucko, I decided t' keep it. Ahoy! When I received another free version at NARCON in 2008, I commented that I hardly thought this one was "free", shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, since havin' two in me collection meant I still could nay build one so I wound up havin' t' buy one at NARCON without t' commemorative packaging.

Construction:
Parts are typical top notch Semroc quality and include balsa nose cone, shiver me timbers, laser-cut fins and strakes, shiver me timbers, ST-730 body tube, 18mm motor tube, matey, motor block, shiver me timbers, matey, 12" plastic chute, arrr, Keelhaul®©™/elastic shock cord and a set o' waterslide decals.

Instructions are very well done with plenty o' good computer illustrations and consist o' 19 steps includin' surface prep. Ahoy! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' kit is rated a skill level 1, arrr, and I would agree that this is a quick, simple build though t' perfectionist could spend a little time workin' on stuff like fin seams.

Construction starts with t' motor mount. Begad! Aye aye! Tie t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord t' t' motor block then glue t' block inside t' 18mm tube, matey, and you're done. Blimey! Aye aye! Note that thar be no metal hook on this, so you must use tape/friction fit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' completed motor mount is then bonded inside t' ST-730 body tube.

T' fins are laser cut balsa and consist o' three main fins with three long strakes. Avast! Begad! T' instructions call for bindin' t' fins first then t' strakes, shiver me timbers, however, I cheated and bonded t' fins t' t' strakes before attachin' t' t' body tube. Blimey! Ya scallywag! This allowed me t' get them perfectly aligned. It also made it much easier t' fill t' tiny seam betwixt t' two pieces.

With t' fins in place, arrr, all that's left is attachin' t' tiny launch lugs then gluin' a screw eye into t' nose cone.

Finishing:
Finishin' on this is probably a bit tricky for a skill level 1 kit, matey, matey, mainly because o' t' somewhat challengin' paint masking. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! I started off with me usual Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish for spirals and grains then a coat o' Plastikote gray primer.

After sandin' off most o' t' primer, ya bilge rat, I followed up with two more thin coats. Avast! However, this time I used white primer. Arrr! I then pulled t' nose cone off for separate treatment--gloss black base followed by a silver gloss finish. T' black undercoat helps set t' silver off more.

T' rocket itself got a couple coats o' gloss white. Blimey! Then I masked off t' two fins that would remain white, matey, shot t' body with orange, then masked off everythin' but t' one fin that would be black. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I say t' maskin' is tricky, shiver me timbers, me hearties, because t' lines are right at t' fin/strake joint, me bucko, which is a tiny area t' mask.

Once everythin' is dry, I applied t' waterslide decals. Avast! Well, blow me down! One set is for t' black fin and as such, is white letterin' on a black decal background. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Be careful t' cut this one as close t' t' white letterin' as possible since it will surely have more o' a gloss than t' paint underneath.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight on a very breezy day be on a B6-4 as t' wind was also blowin' towards t' lake about 500 yards away. Ya scallywag! T' flight was very nice with a slight weathercock into t' 10-12 mph winds but otherwise straight and with no roll.

Ejection would have been perfect on a 100% vertical path but was about a half second late on this flight.

Recovery:
I was stupid but managed t' catch a slight break. Somehow in constructin' t' parachute, ya bilge rat, I managed t' attach two o' t' six shroud line ends t' t' same point on t' chute (at least on opposite sides though--I'm nay that stupid). Begad! That left me with a very sub-optimal chute so it came down fairly fast, but it landed on very soft grass. Begad! Recovery walk was short, shiver me timbers, and t' threat o' a water recovery be eliminated.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I really like t' look o' this semi-scale rocket. Begad! Pros are nice stylin' and quality parts. Avast! If I had t' pick a con, arrr, me bucko, I'd go really picky and wish for a decal on t' black fin that is just white letterin' over clear, me hearties, nay over black as it contrasts just a bit with me black paint. Maybe I'm usin' t' "old" black and Semroc used t' "new" black?

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5