Brief:
T' OSO is another superb Retro-Repro kit from Semroc. Ahoy! Avast! This rocket is based on t' original Oso kit by Flight Systems, arrr, Inc but with several improvements. Well, blow me down! Begad! While t' rocket appears nay much more that a 3FNC kit, me hearties, it does contain a payload section and an ejection baffle. At a finished length o' just over 30”, t' rocket is a nice additional to anyone's fleet. Arrr! Begad! I ordered t' rocket o' t' Semroc website and it be delivered t' me home smartly and securely packaged.

Construction:
T' OSO kit is rated a skill level 1 kit from t' manufacturer. Ya scallywag! Begad! I would probably rate it at a 1.5 if you have never built a rocket before. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' instructions are easy t' follow and well organized with great illustrations. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! All the components in this kit were typical high quality material that I have come t' expect from Semroc. Blimey!

T' rocket is assembled like most other kits. Well, blow me down! Avast! I built it t' stock with t' exception o' paperin' t' fins. Avast! Well, blow me down! They are quite thin and really flexible. Well, blow me down! It would be easy for them t' break durin' construction if you are nay careful. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! My only other real grip with t' construction be t' way Semroc instructs you t' mark where t' fins go on t' body. Instead o' havin' a paper wrap that fits on t' tube, you have t' hold t' rocket securely down against t' instruction sheet fin guide t' place t' marks around t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! This is kind o' awkward.

T' only other thin' out o' t' ordinary be t' construction and installation o' t' baffle. T' system uses two smaller tubes and a pair o' centerin' rings t' form a chamber for t' ejection particle t' get trapped so there is no need for recovery wadding. Avast! Well, blow me down! You will also be attached t' shock cord t' one end o' t' baffle. Avast, me proud beauty! You must make sure that t' two centerin' rings dry symmetrically so that t' assembly will easily fit into t' main body tube. Begad! The baffle needs t' be inserted into t' body tube about 4-5” from t' top o' t' tube. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Be sure t' use glue that will not dry too smartly so that it can be put all t' way in place. I appreciate t' fact t' Semroc includes a long cotton swab t' be used as a glue applicator for this step. Aye aye!

Finishing:
T' finish for this rocket is quite simple. Ahoy! T' instructions cover how t' get a professional lookin' rocket with a little elbow grease. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Since I papered t' fins and t' balsa nose cone be extremely smooth with very little wood grain ridges, I primed t' rocket with Kilz Original spray primer. Avast! I sanded it and then applied a couple coats o' gloss white. Avast, me proud beauty! T' color scheme in t' instructions has an optional red nose cone which I decided t' do. Arrr! Avast! T' finish t' rocket, you apply t' decals. Semroc's decals are probably t' best I have ever worked with from a vendor. Begad! They go on so easy with no worries o' tears.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
This rocket can be launched on 18mm A, shiver me timbers, B, and C motors. For t' first flight I chose a B6-4. T' rocket went straight up off t' launch pad. Aye aye! Blimey! T' tip o' t' rocket be pointin' down when t' parachute ejected. Begad! Blimey! There was evidence that the two rocket parts snapped back into each other on ejection. This is described in t' Recovery section o' t' review. Other than that I be very satisfied with t' flight.

Recovery:
T' rocket uses a 12" plastic parachute for recovery which is fine for this size rocket. Arrr! As mentioned earlier, the baffle be t' rocket eliminates t' need for recovery wadding. Arrr! When buildin' t' rocket I was worried about the length o' t' shock cord. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It is about 24” long with 6” o' it used inside t' body tube. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! As a result from the upper body tube snappin' back into t' lower rocket tube, arrr, arrr, thar be a dent in t' balsa coupler. Blimey! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This happened a second time with t' next launch too.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I like t' components, looks, shiver me timbers, and performance o' this rocket. I definitely will increase t' shock cord length before the next flight. Blimey! Aye aye! I would recommend this t' a rocket beginner or veteran lookin' for somethin' different in a kit. Avast! Well, blow me down! The baffle allows you t' smartly prep t' rocket for t' next flight. Arrr! Ahoy! It is well worth t' price o' $17.50.

PROs: Baffle, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, payload section, matey, improved OOP kit

CONs: Shock cord length, fin markin' guide

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5