Brief:
T' Aerobee-Hi was t' first production model offered me Model Missiles Inc. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! (MMI), and be introduced just about 50 years ago from t' time this review is likely t' be posted. T' original version featured a maple nose cone, parallel-wound tubes, arrr, and sold for $7.95. Ya scallywag! 50 years later, arrr, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, Semroc has gone with balsa nose cone, matey, upgraded t' laser-cut fins and Keelhaul®©™ shock cord, 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. Aye aye! Arrr! When I received another free version at NARCON in 2008, I commented that I hardly thought this one be "free", me bucko, matey, 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, ST-730 body tube, 18mm motor tube, motor block, me hearties, me hearties, 12" plastic chute, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! T' kit is rated a skill level 1, me bucko, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Tie t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord t' t' motor block then glue t' block inside t' 18mm tube, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and you're done. Avast, me proud beauty! Note that thar be no metal hook on this, so you must use tape/friction fit. Begad! 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. Well, blow me down! T' instructions call for bindin' t' fins first then t' strakes, however, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, I cheated and bonded t' fins t' t' strakes before attachin' t' t' body tube. This allowed me t' get them perfectly aligned. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It also made it much easier t' fill t' tiny seam betwixt t' two pieces.

With t' fins in place, 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, me bucko, mainly because o' t' somewhat challengin' paint masking. Ahoy! 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, me hearties, matey, I followed up with two more thin coats. Ahoy! However, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, this time I used white primer. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I then pulled t' nose cone off for separate treatment--gloss black base followed by a silver gloss finish. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' black undercoat helps set t' silver off more.

T' rocket itself got a couple coats o' gloss white. Then I masked off t' two fins that would remain white, shot t' body with orange, me hearties, then masked off everythin' but t' one fin that would be black. I say t' maskin' is tricky, matey, 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. Ahoy! Begad! One set is for t' black fin and as such, ya bilge rat, me bucko, is white letterin' on a black decal background. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! 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 be also blowin' towards t' lake about 500 yards away. 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 be about a half second late on this flight.

Recovery:
I be stupid but managed t' catch a slight break. Begad! Begad! Somehow in constructin' t' parachute, 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). Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! That left me with a very sub-optimal chute so it came down fairly fast, me bucko, but it landed on very soft grass. Recovery walk was short, shiver me timbers, and t' threat o' a water recovery was eliminated.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5