Brief:
A reproduction o' t' very first model rocket built by Orville Carlisle in 1957. Blimey! Blimey! Single stage, me hearties, parachute recovery. This is a very faithful reproduction of the original which now resides in t' Smithsonian along with a few component updates.

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• 1 main body tube, 1.04" diameter
• 1 18mm motor tube
• 1 Balsa nose cone
• 1 set laser cut fins
• 2 centerin' rings for MMT
• 1 thrust ring
• 1 engine hook
• 1 screw eye
• 1 elastic cord
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® thread
• 1 plastic parachute
• 1 set tape discs for chute construction
• 1 set o' pre-cut shroud lines
• 1 "empty casing", ya bilge rat, actually a small tube used as t' oversize launch lug

Semroc's instructions are as superb as their kits. Begad! Each step is illustrated with very professional quality pictures, sometimes several pictures in a single step. As an example, in t' finishin' steps is a series o' pictures o' how wood filler and sandin' progressively fills and smoothes wood. Arrr! You nay only see how, but it teaches you why. Arrr! Who else does this? Too few. Even their very complete listin' o' tools and materials needed was illustrated. Arrr! This kit, as with most of their kits, could be built from t' instructions by someone who'd never seen a model rocket before. Avast, me proud beauty! Also, me hearties, t' instructions include biographical and historical data about Orville Carlisle and t' original Rock-A-Chutes Mk I and Mk II, so complete that they note that t' nose cone on t' original Mk II was a plastic pencil sharpener. Aye aye! A very few kit builders have instructions this good. T' rest should.

As noted, shiver me timbers, a complete beginner could build this. Begad! There were no hitches or problems. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pre-cut fins were far better cut than many other LPR models. Ahoy! A few changes from t' original were used: 12" hex chute rather than 18" square, MMT t' fit today's 18mm motors rather than Carlisle's original motors, matey, MMT includes Estes style engine hook, matey, and t' shock cord anchor is Keelhaul®©™® thread attached t' t' top end o' t' engine hook. Everythin' fit properly the first time. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! As a reproduction o' t' original, built before thar were lighter weight components, t' parts are comparatively very sturdy. In fact, arrr, it's solid as a rock.

Finishing:
Complete finishin' instructions are included, ya bilge rat, even givin' t' paint scheme of the original (international orange with a red nose). Arrr! A decal is included that shows t' Semroc logo, t' name o' t' rocket, matey, and even t' dimensions o' the original. Avast! Even t' model itself becomes a learnin' experience. Avast! I finished mine per t' instructions, includin' t' original paint scheme. I'm glad I did.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended motors are A8-5, B6-6 and C6-7. Ahoy! Blimey! Estes waddin' was used. Begad! Motor retention is by engine hook.

For t' first flight I used an A8-3 because that's what I had. I would have been better t' get t' longer delay. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Ejection be before apogee, shiver me timbers, matey, but deployment was fine. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' boost was fast and arrow straight, matey, a perfect and beautiful maiden flight.

Second flight was on a B6-4. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Again, ejection was before apogee, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, but the flight was otherwise great. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! It impressed t' crowd. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I too be impressed by the success o' this "old" design. So much so that I resolved t' build an upscale. And so I did (the Rock-A-Chute Mk III). Havin' done so, me hearties, I retired the Mk II t' serve as an honored flight veteran and display piece.

Recovery:
T' 1"+ body fits t' 12" chute easily. Ya scallywag! However, me hearties, me bucko, t' body is fairly short, so it's a tight fit t' get plenty o' waddin' in t' protect t' chute that close t' t' motor and fit t' nose on top.

I'm nay fond o' t' recovery system design due t' t' Keelhaul®©™® anchor bein' attached so close t' t' ejection gasses. Arrr! Keelhaul®©™® is flame resistant but nay flame proof. I've had it burn through on me Mk III, an upscale o' this design, due t' t' close exposure t' ejection charges. Avast, me proud beauty! Motor mount anchorin' is fine, me bucko, but t' Keelhaul®©™® should be protected for a bit above t' top o' t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' only CON o' this design be t' shock cord anchorin' method (same used in other Semroc models), arrr, however, me hearties, this is easily fixed.

Everythin' else about this kit and Semroc's work in general is a great big PRO. A beginner would benefit by startin' with a Semroc kit. Avast! A seasoned veteran will appreciate t' historical value and t' superb job on t' kit and instructions. It's a rare rocket that I want t' preserve t' just sit on a shelf and show off. Begad! This is that rare rocket.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5