Semroc Saki

Semroc - Saki {Kit} (KA-12)

Contributed by George Beever

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 1.84 inches
Length: 9.30 inches
Manufacturer: Semroc
Skill Level: 1
Style: Goonybird, Odd-Roc

Semroc Saki

Brief:
A single-stage LPR kit, me hearties, one o' t' "Groonie" line from SEMROC. Begad! Begad! Designed t' bear a resemblance t' t' WWII Japanese "Ohka" kamikaze plane.

Construction:
1 Balsa nose cone, 2 body tubes [one bein' t' motor mount tube], ya bilge rat, 1 centerin' rin' set, 1 laser-cut balsa fin set, arrr, arrr, 1 thrust ring, me hearties, 1 motor hook, arrr, 1 Keelhaul®©™ thread/elastic cord shock cord, shiver me timbers, clay nose weight, shiver me timbers, matey, 1 plywood disc, 1 screw eye, 1 12-inch plastic chute kt, me hearties, and 1 decal set.

T' instructions were t' standard high SEMROC quality, ya bilge rat, bein' very easy t' follow and with an exploded-view o' t' model included. All parts were high caliber, matey, makin' t' actual build a breeze. Ya scallywag! Ii used yellow aliphatic resin glue throughout with one exception and be able t' complete construction in one afternoon. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' nose weight set-up was unique t' me. Begad! T' base o' t' balsa nose cone is pre-hollowed out for a depth o' about an inch or so. T' clay included in t' kit is rolled into a cylinder and inserted into t' cavity. T' plywood disk with t' screw eye threaded into it is then glued into t' hole, ya bilge rat, matey, me hearties, holdin' in t' clay. Begad! Avast! This was t' one area where I used epoxy.

Semroc SakiSemroc Saki

Finishing:
There are some odd body tube/balsa attachment point angles on t' Saki, me hearties, which led me t' fear some balsa fillin' problems. I shouldn't have worried, as thar were no problems. Avast, me proud beauty! T' same goes for painting. Fear not, matey, spray away. I was tempted t' use a dark green over sea grey color scheme like many Japanese aircraft o' t' Pacific War were painted, arrr, but in t' end I stuck with t' kit color (yellow).

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight o' t' Saki, shiver me timbers, I chose an Estes C6-5. Blimey! I prepped t' model in t' usual manner, includin' t' kit parachute on which I had installed a snap swivel. Begad! Begad! In t' future, me hearties, I might go with a larger chute, too, me bucko, maybe an 18-inch one.

Recovery:
T' boost was very fast and surprisingly straight, me bucko, considerin' all o' t' balsa hangin' off o' t' Saki at weird angles. At apogee, she just arced over and...what? No chute? Well, me hearties, thar had been one, but t' added weight o' t' nose cone caused t' swivel t' open up. Aye aye! Avast! T' chute went one way, t' model another. Avast! Blimey! No problem though as t' Saki tumbled in and landed in some high grass. Well, blow me down! T' model suffered no damage whatsoever. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I wish I could say t' same for me pride! Lesson learned. Arrr! Lose t' swivel next time and attach t' shroud lines right t' t' model.

Semroc SakiSemroc Saki

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' Saki be me first venture into Groonie-land (or is it Groonie-ism?), and it be a fun, easy build.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Semroc Saki By Bill Eichelberger (September 20, 2021)

    At first glance the Semroc Saki appears to be an Estes Goonybird Cloud Hopper with different paint and decals, but comparing the two side by side tells a different story.  They share the same basic shape, but little else, as the Saki is not only larger than the BT-60 Estes bird, but also 18mm powered compared to the mini-engine Goony.  According to Estes Industries legend, ...

  • Semroc Saki By Daniel Draney (October 6, 2015)

    Great little GoonyBird style kit by Semroc. Components Balsa nose cone, fins, and cockpit. Water slide decals. /h2 No problems building the kit. Finishing Was a little difficult to paint the joint under the wings. Construction Score: 5 Flight Great flights, fin config makes it look cool in the air. Recovery I wish I had put ...

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