Brief:
T' Mark II is a single stage Retro-Repro kit o' Orville Carlisle's Rock-A-Chute Mark II model rocket. Arrr! It is, me hearties, shiver me timbers, as noted by t' history sheet that came with t' kit, nay a clone kit, but rather a reproduction o' a classic kit updated with t' latest technology and buildin' components.

Construction:
Openin' t' packagin' and layin' out t' contents revealed what would be an easy build, usin' t' high quality components that Semroc is known for. Avast, me proud beauty! T' package contents included:

• 1 Precision turned balsa nose cone
• 1 Series 10 body tube
• 1 Series 7 t' 10 engine mount kit (engine tube, engine hook, ya bilge rat, arrr, thrust ring, 2 centerin' rings
• 1 BT-3 launch lug
• 1 Recovery kit (Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cords, screw eye, ya bilge rat, 12" parachute kit)
• Extremely clean laser cut balsa fins.
• Instructions and history o' t' Rock-A-Chute
• No decorative decals, shiver me timbers, however thar be a name plate decal, which includes t' name o' t' kit, and a production number.

I got t' Mark II as part o' me purchase from a Hobby Lobby sale at t' end o' December 2005, so what better way t' rin' in t' new year than hangin' in T' Rocketry Forum chat room and buildin' this kit at me desk.

Yeah. Aye aye! I know. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Get a life...

Anyway, t' instructions are straightforward, startin' with assemblin' t' EM-710 motor mount. Begad! T' engine tube even comes pre-slotted, me bucko, so thar be no question about where t' motor hook goes. Ya scallywag! Semroc does have a better trick for attachin' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord attachment than what I usually use and it's a real forehead slapper. Ya scallywag! Blimey! (You know...you smack yourself in t' forehead and say "Now why didn't I think o' that?") I usually loop t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine tube and notch t' centerin' rin' t' allow t' Keelhaul®©™ t' exit t' body tube. Begad! Semroc has you just tie t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine block itself and glue that into place. It is much less work and as long as you use a good grade o' glue (because o' t' attachment point, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I glued t' block in with wood glue and reinforced with a dab o' 5 minute epoxy), it isn't goin' anywhere.

While that assembly is drying, I put t' #10 body tube on t' fin markin' guide that was printed on t' instructions. Aye aye! Blimey! I personally prefer t' wraparound type, but t' way Semroc does it maintains t' integrity o' t' instructions (which are printed on a good grade o' cardstock, interestingly enough...) for filin' away for future use and perhaps allowin' them t' be preserved for a generation o' yet t' be born BARs? T' three fins themselves are extremely clean laser cut and pretty much fell away from t' surroundin' balsa. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I sanded all edges except for t' root edges round and used me handy yellow plastic Estes fin attachment tool t' attach t' fins with wood glue. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! After those were set, shiver me timbers, t' engine mount was installed (again with wood glue) and t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord is fed through t' front o' t' body tube, attached t' t' generous length o' elastic shock cord, and then t' t' beautifully turned balsa nosecone via t' included screw eye. Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, t' oversized launch lug (accurately reflectin' Carlisle's original) is attached t' t' body tube.

Finishing:
I gave t' nose one and fins a coat o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. T' next morning, ya bilge rat, I sanded them smooth and hit t' rocket with a shot o' sandable primer just t' make sure t' grain wasn't too obnoxious. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down! That was then followed by a couple o' coats o' red spray paint, then one fin and t' nose cone were masked for a shot o' black. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! With that it was called finished, me bucko, and I assembled and installed t' 12" plastic Semroc parachute. Ahoy! T' rocket was then ready for t' January 8th Sky Buster launch!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, t' January 8th launch was canceled for poor field conditions and since most o' t' flyers are HPR guys, a lack o' a waiver due t' changin' o' t' officers, me hearties, me bucko, so thar was no big launch that day. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! However, nay bein' one t' let a mid-winter 45 degree day go by, I packed me rockets, me bucko, me daughter, and myself up for a launch at Lakewood park.

Semroc recommends t' followin' engines: A8-5, me bucko, shiver me timbers, B6-6, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, C6-7. T' only one's I had out o' those 3 were t' C6-7s, ya bilge rat, but t' park wasn't big enough for those motors in that rocket. Begad! I did, shiver me timbers, arrr, however, ya bilge rat, have some Quest A6-4s and thought that would be even better that riskin' too short a delay with t' A8-3s I did have. Begad! Avast! Since t' park is also surrounded by trees, shiver me timbers, I swapped out t' chute for a streamer for t' first flight. Ya scallywag! My daughter hit t' launch button and t' Mark II shot arrow straight into t' sky, poppin' t' streamer at apogee, which I estimate t' be possibly 200 feet. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! As thar be virtually no wind, me bucko, t' rocket landed maybe 30 feet away from t' pad with t' streamer recovery resultin' in no damage. Arrr! For t' second flight I put t' chute back in t' rocket in place o' t' streamer, ya bilge rat, and launched again with me last A6-4. Arrr! Once again, arrow straight flight, poppin' t' chute right at apogee or maybe just a breath thereafter. Well, arrr, blow me down! This time, me bucko, thar was a little drift but nothin' serious. Arrr! T' 12" chute is just t' right size for a rocket this weight. Recovery be right next t' but nay quite in a mud puddle. Avast! Avast! A few swipes with a baby wipe cleaned t' crud off t' gloss paint. This little bad boy is lookin' t' cut loose on a real field this spring!

Recovery:
There be no damage at all. I used dog barf for waddin' and it proved t' be adequate protection for t' recovery system. Avast! T' chute be t' right size for a rocket this size and weight, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but t' rocket is small, matey, me bucko, light, and sturdy enough that a streamer can also be used easily.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Very simple, inexpensive replica o' a historic model rocket that can be put together in an hour or so (dependin' on how slow settin' your glue is) at one sitting. Blimey! Good performer. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Good beginner kit without bein' insultingly simple (i.e., Rip t' package open and launch).

CONs: I can't think o' any.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5