Brief:
Semroc has reintroduced t' 1966 Centuri RDC kit in a slightly modernized and upgraded form. Aye aye! This is an entry level single stage minimum diameter 18mm kit, me hearties, and at $5 list price, it could be a good kit for "build and fly" projects for scouts and school groups.

Construction:
Semroc uses very good quality components, me hearties, me bucko, packed in a plastic bag with unique production number tags in each kit. Ahoy! Blimey! This kit includes:

• ST-790 body tube
• balsa nose cone/screw eye
• laser-cut fins
• crepe paper streamer
• elastic/Keelhaul®©™® shock cords
• 1/8" launch lug

Semroc instructions are well written and nicely illustrated. Veteran builders can whip this thin' together in about half an hour without t' instructions and novice builders will find plenty o' good construction tips, like how t' fill balsa grain, ya bilge rat, and a reminder t' smartly pull out t' motor casin' used t' push t' motor block into t' tube.

Construction starts by tyin' t' Keelhaul®©™® line t' t' motor block, which is then glued inside t' body tube. Ahoy! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™®/elastic shock cord combination is a great upgrade t' t' original design and is much more durable than t' standard elastic and paper tri-fold mount.

T' fins are laser cut (the sheet even has a cool Semroc logo burned into it). Ya scallywag! Aye aye! After lightly sandin' rounded edges into them for better performance, me bucko, they're ready for attachment. Ahoy! T' alignment is a standard 3-fin 120 degree pattern, but for markin' you're left with placin' t' tube on a circle/guide and markin' t' edge lines. I prefer a paper wrap/cutout but both approaches work.

T' nose cone attachment be t' classic screw eye into balsa method and is attached usin' t' elastic shock cord.

T' streamer is a basic crepe paper streamer attached t' t' shock cord usin' a small tape disk. Aye aye! Aye aye! I think this is probably t' weakest point o' t' otherwise terrific kit and would suggest usin' a little more robust piece o' maskin' tape, me hearties, at least half an inch along t' bottom o' t' streamer.

Finishing:
While t' cover illustration in me kit showed a red/white roll pattern at t' top end o' t' body, matey, shiver me timbers, thar are no decals included or referenced in t' kit. Avast! Blimey! Paintin' a roll pattern would definitely raise this above a skill level one kit.

I decided t' go for a quick and easy tri-color scheme. Aye aye! After applyin' a couple o' coats o' white primer, me bucko, I went with glossy white finish, me hearties, shiver me timbers, masked off and painted t' fins red, me bucko, arrr, then painted t' nose black. Aye aye! This matched t' standard scheme, sans roll pattern.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight be on a clear day with light winds and I grabbed a B6-4 out o' me box. T' recommended delay was a 6 but I thought this would be a bit late if it weathercocked any.

T' flight was absolutely straight up and really surprised me for altitude. Well, blow me down! Arrr! This thin' easily topped 750 feet, probably gettin' closer t' t' 1000 foot estimated altitude listed in t' instructions. Arrr! (At that altitude, shiver me timbers, me deadlights aren't sharp enough t' pick out this little rocket.)

T' delay did turn out t' be a bit early but thankfully I avoided any zipper or damage. Avast, me proud beauty! T' early deployment did prove t' be more than t' tape disk could handle though, ya bilge rat, rippin' away t' crepe paper streamer.

In a park roughly 1 square mile o' grass, matey, this rocket did manage t' land on t' access road that runs through t' center so t' streamerless tumble resulted in very minor chips t' a couple fins.

Recovery:
Excellent flyer and t' Keelhaul®©™®/elastic recovery is top notch, but t' tape disk attachment is a bit feeble.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very nice entry level kit for t' novice builder. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! It's a good flyer, easy t' build, and you can't beat t' price. Begad! Begad! A decal would be nice but that raises t' price a buck or two.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5