Semroc Launch Missile

Semroc - Launch {Kit} (KN-4)

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 1.34 inches
Length: 16.00 inches
Manufacturer: Semroc
Skill Level: 1
Style: Sport

Brief:
Well, it took me so long t' fly this rocket that thar are already a couple o' good reviews. But since I already had started me review, I might as well offer me opinion too.

Semroc LAUNCH Missile Earlier this year, ya bilge rat, LAUNCH Magazine commissioned Semroc t' produce a kit based on t' missile depicted in their logo. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! T' result is the LAUNCH Missile (i.e. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' Rocket that Launched a Magazine). Aye aye! Avast! T' first 300 kits were reserved for LAUNCH subscribers. As you can see, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I got one.

T' LAUNCH Missile is a 4FNC kit that flies on 18mm motors and is recovered by parachute. Avast! T' main distinguishing feature is a ribbed tail section and t' custom decal set.

Construction:
T' kit consists o' 1.34" diameter main body and a 0.759" diameter payload. T' nose cone and transition are balsa and were very smooth. Begad! T' balsa fins, centerin' rings, arrr, me bucko, and tail cone vanes are all precision laser-cut. Ya scallywag! Arrr! The nominally 18mm motor mount includes both a sprin' hook and cardboard block. Begad! Aye aye! Recovery is handled with a Keelhaul®©™® leader, matey, a elastic cord, me bucko, me hearties, and a plastic chute. Blimey! Ahoy! These are connected t' t' transition with a hefty screw eye, me hearties, arrr, me hearties, which undoubtedly also is used for nose weight.

Semroc LAUNCH Missile

T' motor mount assembly is assembled like any other mount. Well, blow me down! T' slit for t' sprin' hook was pre-cut in t' mount. Semroc instructs you t' tie a loop in t' Keelhaul®©™® cord and hook it under t' motor hook. Begad! T' cardboard block sits in t' end o' t' motor tube and abuts t' tab on the motor hook. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor hook is held down with a pair o' centerin' rings. T' aft rin' is slotted t' mate with tabs on the laser-cut vanes. Arrr! I am so happy they invented lasers! These tabs fit nicely and made t' installation o' t' vanes a snap. Aye aye! T' only 'extra' I did was t' wick some thin CA into t' thin tips o' t' vanes once they were attached. Well, blow me down! Once dry, t' mount is easily inserted into t' main tube,

T' four fins and launch lug are positioned via a markin' guide in t' instructions. Begad! T' elastic is then tied to the Keelhaul®©™® cord and t' screw eye.

Finishing:
I 'painted' mine with white primer covered with a clear coat t' make a semi-gloss finish. Begad! T' kit comes with decals, which I also coated with a clear coat before application. Ahoy! These went on fine except for t' inverted-U shaped decals that were t' fit over t' root o' each fin. Aye aye! Avast! It appears that I am nay alone here. Begad! Arrr! T' edge o' a couple o' these flipped on themselves and it was difficult t' straighten them out. Ahoy! As a result, I removed them all. Avast! Avast!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Semroc LAUNCH Missile

Flight:
I used a piece o' Quest waddin' crumpled into a ball and some dog barf. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Unlike many o' me models, arrr, I decided t' use the stock chute. Ahoy! Since t' wind was brisk, I decided t' fly t' Launch Missile on a B6-4. T' boost be quick and straight considerin' t' wind.

Recovery:
Eject appeared t' be at apogee and t' stock chute did its job.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this rocket look nice and t' quality o' t' kit is typical Semroc. Arrr! And I can't beat t' price! Given a calmer day, I'll might try a C6 motor...but t' B6 is a really good choice for this small rocket.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Semroc Launch Missile By Steven Gill (April 20, 2018)

    This is a kit by Semroc. This was the first time I have assembled a rocket like this. Assembled March 2018. Kit was dated February 2, 2009 Components 1 Balsa Nose Cone BC-720 1 Balsa Reducer BR-713 1 Body Tube ST-760 1 Body Tube ST-1380 1 Body Tube ST-730E 1 Ring Set CR-KN-4 4 Laser Cut Fins FN-4 1 Engine Hook EH-28 1 Chute Pak CP-12RY 1 Screw ...

  • Semroc Launch Missile By Chan Stevens (July 13, 2009)

    Brief: When Launch Magazine when on a roughly 6-month "hiatus" towards the end of 2008, as a gesture of appreciation to their subscriber base they teamed up with Semroc to release a kit version of the rocket depicted within their magazine's logo. When the kit release was announced at NARCON 2009, all current subscribers of Launch Magazine got a free special edition of the ...

  • Semroc Launch Missile By Jewel B. Butler Jr. (April 20, 2009)

    Brief: This is a single stage rocket basically a BT-55 that transitions to a BT-20 with nose cone and four fins. This was a kit from Semroc, one of the best companies that I have ever bought supplies from. Semroc gave these kits as an incentive prior to NARCON. And the best part about this kit it was made in the United States of America Construction: These are Semroc part ...

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