Brief:
Nice little minimum diameter rocket that zips off t' pad in a hurry and at $4 retail, ya bilge rat, makes for a nice little kit for that Cub Scout or school group. This is also an appealin' kit t' t' nostalgia buff that is based on t' 1963 Centuri kit by t' same name.

Construction:
As be t' case with almost every Semroc kit, arrr, matey, this one came in a professionally bagged package along with a certificate o' authenticity/production number. Parts include:

• ST-765 body tube
• Balsa nose cone/screw eye
• 4 laser cut balsa fins
• Thrust ring
• Streamer (crepe paper)
• Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord combo

With laser cut fins, ya bilge rat, this is definitely somewhere just below a skill level 2 kit. Begad! T' only challenge is t' mask a 2 or 3 color paint scheme.

T' instructions were well written and clear; offerin' some decent construction tips along t' way, matey, such as how t' fill grain on t' balsa fins.

Bein' a minimum diameter kit, t' body tube acts as a motor tube, so simply gluin' a thrust rin' into one end takes care o' t' motor mount assembly aspect of t' build. Begad! Before doin' this though, you tie one end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord t' t' ring, me bucko, thereby anchorin' it t' t' thrust rin' inside t' body tube. Avast! This is a very good and effective technique, ya bilge rat, matey, one that I wish was more common in t' lower skill level kit range.

Next, matey, sandin' t' fins, which is easier t' do this while still in t' balsa sheet, ya bilge rat, and removin' them from t' laser-cut sheet. Ya scallywag! T' instructions call for bondin' them flush with t' aft end o' t' tube, although I'd consider sliding them forward about 1/8". This won't throw t' CP off that much and enables you t' use a band o' tape around t' motor and body tube for improved motor retention.

Tack on t' launch lug, glue t' screw eye into t' balsa nose cone, and you're ready for recovery and paint prep.

T' streamer for this kit isn't too bad, ya bilge rat, it is a piece o' bright orange crepe paper roughly 3" x 36", matey, but it's attached usin' a fairly weak line and is secured by a single tape disk attached t' t' center. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I don't think this is likely t' hold up very well over repeat flights and would have preferred t' see a chute instead.

Finishing:
I skipped t' balsa sealing/fillin' routine on this one, jumpin' straight to primer. Two coats o' primer and sandin' in betwixt with a 220 grit sponge did a reasonably good job on t' balsa grain, me bucko, me hearties, so I moved on t' two coats o' Krylon gloss white. I finished up with a blue nose and red fins, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, matchin' the illustration on t' package header. Ahoy! T' header also depicts some blue accent stripes (roll pattern), ya bilge rat, which is possible t' paint but would clearly be better (and easier) if a waterslide decal were supplied for this. I guess for $4 I shouldn't complain but I'd rather pay $6 and have a decent decal or two.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' maiden flight was on a beautiful fall day with low winds, me bucko, though thar was some cloud cover way up above our club's waiver ceiling. I went with a B6-4, as I did nay have any B6-6s handy. Before I could even blink, me bucko, this be pushed almost beyond me sight, well over 800 feet. Apogee might have been a little early, but nay enough early t' worry about.

T' streamer deployed fine, shiver me timbers, but it didn't offer much drag for this rocket and it came down fairly fast. Aye aye! Fortunately, it landed in a large, soft grassy area undamaged. Still, given t' descent rate and weak attachment point, shiver me timbers, I will be replacin' t' streamer with one o' me spare chutes just t' avoid any potential damage on t' recovery.

Recovery:
PROs: Keelhaul®©™®/elastic combination is a solid, durable method.

CONs: undersized streamer, weak attachment disk/line. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This was a terrific value at $4 retail and I'd recommend buyin' this for a group build-fly session in t' future.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5