Brief:
Semroc describes t' ThunderChief as t' third largest member o' t' Thunder kit series that they are producing. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! This series is essentially t' same rocket scaled approximately 1.25 times each step up in body tube size. Avast, me proud beauty! T' series is based from t' Centuri Engineerin' Thunder rockets that included t' ThunderHawk, ThunderBird, matey, and ThunderRoc. Well, blow me down! With Semroc's introduction o' this rocket and t' other planned Thunder series rockets, arrr, ya bilge rat, thar will be a total o' seven Thunder rockets t' add t' your rocket collection.

Construction:
As is always t' case with Semroc kits in me experience, arrr, me hearties, t' parts are high in quality and neatly packaged in several plastic bags. Included are detailed buildin' instruction that provides a colored image o' t' rocket on t' cover. Arrr!

For this kit you get:

• 1 balsa nose cone
• 3 body tubes
• 2 tube couplers
• 1 motor tube
• 1 set o' laser cut fins
• 1 bag o' parts (launch lugs, motor mountin' and recovery components, etc...)
• 1 12" plastic parachute kit
• 1 waterslide decals
• 1 detailed instructions, which can be found at t' Semroc website

I ordered t' rocket directly from Semroc when I first noticed it had become available on a Monday morning. Avast! I received an email that t' rocket plus t' other items that I had ordered shipped only 90 minutes later. Avast! I received the well secured package on Wednesday afternoon and be happy t' see that I had landed production kit #9. This goes t' show you that Semroc's service and shippin' are absolutely fantastic.

For t' construction o' this rocket, me bucko, I followed t' instruction as they were laid out. Well, me hearties, blow me down! As with most Semroc instructions, you prep t' fins then assemble t' engine mount. Ya scallywag! Begad! After that you connect t' body tubes, mark t' rocket for t' fins, insert t' engine mount, then attach t' fins and launch lugs. Begad! T' final steps have you prepare t' nose cone for t' parachute which you need t' assemble and attach t' t' shock cord. Arrr! Begad!

A couple o' things t' note durin' t' construction be that t' engine mount only has a single centerin' rin' which makes it much easier t' glue into t' body tube. Begad! T' anchorin' o' t' shock cord is done with Keelhaul®©™® strin' tied t' one o' t' tube couplers. Ahoy! I thought that this would make it too tight t' couple t' body tubes together but that was nay t' case at all. Avast! This be t' first 3FNC rocket where I attached a launch lug along t' side o' a fin. My only gripe was with t' fin markin' guide. Avast! Well, blow me down! As with other Semroc kits, you stand t' body tube over t' instructions to mark t' fin placements. Ahoy! I am nay a big fan o' this method since me body tube usually moves durin' this process. Begad! To make matters worse, me bucko, t' fin guide that was in me instructions be for a larger body tube. A quick email and reply from Carl at Semroc confirmed t' misprint. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I had t' proper fin guide in another rocket's instructions so I used that.

Finishing:
T' finish for this rocket uses a two color scheme so it is nay very complicated t' paint. I used some watered down Elmer's Carpenters Wood Filler t' fill t' tube spiral, nose cone, and fins. Well, blow me down! After sanding, arrr, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I primed t' rocket with Kilz Original spray primer and one coat o' white primer. I masked off t' lower half o' t' rocket and applied a couple coats o' gloss white. Avast! Once dry, I masked o' t' top half and painted t' lower section with Rustoleum Painter's Touch Gloss Marigold. Begad! This be t' same color I have used on me other Thunder-series rockets. T' finish t' rocket, shiver me timbers, you apply the decals. Well, blow me down! I applied a coat o' Future Floor Wax t' protect t' rocket.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended engines for this rocket are an A8-3, arrr, B6-4, me bucko, and C6-5. Blimey! When I arrived at t' launch field with the ThunderChief and reached into me field box for a B motor, me hearties, me hearties, I discovered that I only had a B6-4. Ya scallywag! I decided t' load that into t' rocket instead o' an A or C engine. Arrr! T' rocket went straight up off t' launch pad. As far as I could tell the rocket was still movin' upward when t' parachute ejected. Begad! This would explain why two o' t' tape disk that holds the shroud lines t' t' parachute came off.

Recovery:
T' rocket uses a 12" plastic parachute which should be about perfect when you use t' recommended motors. Aye aye! Since two o' me shroud lines failed durin' flight, t' rocket came down smartly but was nay damaged when hit t' lush green grass o' t' field. Ahoy! This be t' first time I have had a tape disk get pulled from a Semroc parachute. If it would have been tied through a punched hole, matey, me bucko, I suspect that t' parachute would have ripped or even worse that t' body tube would have been zippered. Luckily, arrr, this did nay happen.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I am a huge fan o' t' Thunder series rockets. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' series may only consist o' a simple 3FNC rocket that is scaled to different sizes, arrr, me hearties, but I love t' long sleek look o' t' design. T' ThunderChief is another great addition t' the series. I highly recommend this rocket t' any fan o' t' Thunder series. Ahoy! T' service and kit components that you receive from Semroc is well worth t' cost o' t' ThunderChief.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5