Brief:
A reproduction o' t' very first model rocket built by Orville Carlisle in 1957. Begad! Single stage, parachute recovery. Arrr! 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, shiver me timbers, 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", me bucko, actually a small tube used as t' oversize launch lug

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

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

Finishing:
Complete finishin' instructions are included, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, even givin' t' paint scheme of the original (international orange with a red nose). Begad! Ya scallywag! A decal is included that shows t' Semroc logo, me hearties, t' name o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, and even t' dimensions o' the original. Arrr! Avast! Even t' model itself becomes a learnin' experience. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I finished mine per t' instructions, me bucko, includin' t' original paint scheme. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I'm glad I did.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Recommended motors are A8-5, B6-6 and C6-7. Begad! Avast! Estes waddin' was used. Begad! Avast! 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! Ya scallywag! Ejection was before apogee, but deployment was fine. Begad! Ahoy! T' boost be fast and arrow straight, shiver me timbers, a perfect and beautiful maiden flight.

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

Recovery:
T' 1"+ body fits t' 12" chute easily. Ahoy! Arrr! However, 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. Avast! Avast! Keelhaul®©™® is flame resistant but nay flame proof. I've had it burn through on me Mk III, an upscale o' this design, shiver me timbers, arrr, due t' t' close exposure t' ejection charges. Motor mount anchorin' is fine, me bucko, but t' Keelhaul®©™® should be protected for a bit above t' top o' t' motor tube. Aye aye! Avast!

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), however, matey, ya bilge rat, this is easily fixed.

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5