Brief:
Semroc has developed (or continues t' develop) a line o' kits called "Retro Repro". Ya scallywag! Blimey! These kits are reproductions o' out-of-production models that had some level o' significance in t' model rocket industry. Avast! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' kits are generally true t' t' original except for utilizin' modern techniques as well as materials.

T' Arcon-Hi was a kit first developed by Centuri in t' mid-1960s. Well, blow me down! It was a semi-scale model o' t' Arcon soundin' rocket. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Centuri converted it t' a 2-stage kit usin' a double-coupler method that was later patented. Well, blow me down! Blimey! The sustainer was a 1/6th scale model o' t' soundin' rocket, ya bilge rat, but t' booster was nay t' scale as it wasn't original t' the soundin' rocket.

Semroc describes this kit as a Skill Level 2 and that seems about right. Well, blow me down! There are many components, ya bilge rat, me hearties, matey, a unique couplin' method, shiver me timbers, some techniques that require t' builder t' pay attention (no real "gotchas" but does require planning), and precision durin' buildin' is necessary.

This rocket is perfect for t' Skill Level 1 builder lookin' for a challenge or a step up t' Level 2.

Construction:
T' components for this kit came well packaged. Arrr! I had just completed a Semroc SLS Jaguar so I did note some differences betwixt t' two kits. Ahoy! However, shiver me timbers, t' Jaguar is considered a mid-power rocket and came from a higher end line of kits so t' comparison may nay be appropriate. Begad! Blimey! Even so, t' Arcon-Hi components appeared sturdy and o' relatively good quality. Ahoy!

As seen in t' picture, me bucko, ya bilge rat, t' components in t' kit include:

• 5 body tubes (2 engine tubes, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a booster, sustainer, me hearties, and payload)
• 3 couplers (includin' 1 balsa one)
• 4 centerin' rings
• 2 thrust blocks
• 4 booster and 4 sustainer fins
• empty engine casin' for measuring/spacin' (nice touch!)
• nose cone
• parachute and recovery system (Keelhaul®©™® thread, ya bilge rat, elastic, screw eye, parachute that requires assembly)

All parts were accounted for. Begad! Blimey! Semroc's attention t' detail continues t' be evident. This company makes kits I will enjoy making. Begad!

T' end o' t' sustainer was a little bent and creased, arrr, ya bilge rat, and I have little doubt Semroc would have replaced it if I asked. Avast! Begad! Blimey! After several dry fits o' t' balsa coupler, I was able t' smooth out t' crease.

T' balsa parts seemed t' be o' decent quality. Ya scallywag! T' fins felt a little thicker than other kits and were flexible but nay flimsy. Ahoy! T' nosecone had an even grain that be easy t' fill. Begad! It didn't require any extra sandin' t' make symmetrical.

T' instructions are detailed, me bucko, nicely laid out, and easy t' follow. Ahoy! Blimey! There are several steps that have t' related picture on t' next page, matey, requirin' t' builder t' flip back and forth, a minor inconvenience. Blimey! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' instructions have an "exploded view", me hearties, which I did find t' be helpful several times as I wasn't used t' a kit with so many components.

Just like t' SLS Jaguar kit, t' font is easier t' follow than kits from other companies. I usually have the instructions off t' t' side and it was nice nay havin' t' lean over so far t' refer t' them. Avast! T' illustrations were nicely drawn and easy t' follow.

Durin' a dry-fit, I noticed many o' t' components fit loosely. T' nosecone in required tape t' make a snug fit. T' centerin' rings and thrust blocks also felt too easy t' slide on (I'm used t' havin' t' sand these). Aye aye! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' couplers were very snug and they all required some sanding.

Assembly follows a logical progression: engine tubes/mounts first, booster stage then sustainer, followed by the fins and recovery system. I followed t' directions in order except for a few steps, me hearties, which are described below. Arrr! I did do a mod at t' very end, which is discussed below too.

All assembly was done with Titebond III, but fin fillets were made usin' JB Weld. Avast, me proud beauty! I usually use Loctite 5 minute epoxy. I read a lot about JB Weld so thought I'd try it. Avast, me proud beauty! It's a little easier t' use and definitely easier t' make nicer fillets around smaller fins.

One area that required attention was both engine mounts are nay built identically. Arrr! Durin' t' booster assembly, there is an instruction or two that states "repeat with t' 2nd engine mount". Avast! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I went too far and repeated too many o' t' steps and had t' remove a centerin' rin' before t' glue set. While this was me fault and doesn't count as a "gotcha", matey, I do feel t' instructions should minimize t' "back and forth" and keep the assembly o' t' booster separate from t' assembly o' t' sustainer.

Before attachin' t' fins I did another dry fit, and I would recommend this t' other builders. Avast! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' couplers required some sanding, matey, and I imagine this is easier t' do prior t' t' fins bein' attached. This step is nay listed in the instructions.

T' photo shows t' dual couplin' method that Centuri had patented. Begad! Begad! Blimey! T' engine mount o' t' sustainer slides inside t' inner coupler o' t' booster. Begad! Blimey! It is this connection that required sanding. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Blimey! T' reader may note t' inner coupler has 2 vent holes t' help facilitate ignition o' t' sustainer engine--it is me guess that they let cool air escape, allowin' hot gases t' enter t' sustainer engine. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Otherwise t' cool air might block t' hot gases and contribute t' pressurizin' t' connection and ejectin' t' booster.

T' only "gotcha" in t' kit involved t' steps for attachin' and alignin' t' fins. Avast! Instead of cuttin' out a section o' paper with marks and tapin' it t' t' body tube, arrr, thar be a circle drawn on t' page with marks around t' edge. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' builder is t' stand t' rocket on t' circle and mark t' tube where t' fins are t' be attached. Aye aye! As seen in t' picture, t' circle be a larger diameter than t' body tube, shiver me timbers, makin' transferrin' marks evenly a challenge.

T' directions have t' builder transfer marks t' t' booster and sustainer in separate sequences. Aye aye! T' prevent mis-alignment, shiver me timbers, I made t' marks on t' booster, me bucko, attached t' sustainer t' t' booster, and drew lines on both tubes at the same time. Even with me technique, I still have a slight spacin' error as indicated by t' fins linin' up only in a certain way. Ahoy! That is, t' first line I drew on t' booster has t' be in line with t' correspondin' line on the sustainer, etc. Avast! T' ease alignment durin' flight preparation (as t' lines will be covered by paint), ya bilge rat, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I drew marks on the couplers.

If I were t' assemble this kit again, one thin' I would do differently is glue t' fins on t' sustainer first. I would then connect t' two stages and glue t' fins on t' booster, arrr, arrr, makin' sure they are in line with t' fins on t' sustainer. T' root edges o' me fins all lined up, but as seen in t' picture, thar be a fin that leans a little t' t' side (this actually happened t' 2 fins) and therefore are out o' alignment.

Another thin' I would do differently is build in some form o' adjunctive engine retention for t' sustainer so I won't have t' rely solely on a friction fit. Ahoy! There is no room at t' base o' t' fins for tape, arrr, and t' engine fit is fairly snug already.

Here is a modification I performed: After I built t' rocket, ya bilge rat, I epoxied some 60# Keelhaul®©™® thread across t' engine mount. This will slide over t' engine and help hold it in place durin' ejection. Blimey! Blimey! T' allow the booster t' slide on, arrr, matey, I cut out rectangular sections that align with t' epoxy placements. Avast! This o' course would be easier t' do prior t' buildin' t' rocket. I did nay use an engine clip because thar wasn't enough room t' allow epoxy to hold t' clip and a small distance t' allow t' clip t' be raised.

Assemblin' t' payload is straightforward and didn't require any special instructions or techniques.

Finishing:
As o' this writing, me hearties, me bucko, I have only primed t' rocket. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Instead I focused on completin' assembly, and launchin' off a maiden flight. Well, blow me down!

I usually paint me kits differently than on t' picture on t' kit. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! My 4 1/2 yr-old son likes t' help choose the colors. Begad! Blimey! However, arrr, because this is a first review for this rocket, I will try t' follow t' color scheme o' black, yellow, and silver and send a picture later. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I will use a metallic silver (or t' shiny side o' aluminum foil on 1 or 2 fins) t' help it be easier t' find in t' air and on t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Because I'm nay used t' followin' schemes, arrr, me bucko, I anticipate a slight challenge.

Semroc states t' finish weight is 1.9oz. Begad! With t' primer, mine weighed in at nearly 3oz. This is likely due to the extra epoxy for t' fillets. Begad! I'm a little concerned about stability, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, because I intend on usin' a beeper/locating device when I launch it.

I'm ratin' assembly a 4 because I didn't like t' fin alignment method. Begad! I prefer t' have a cut-out strip t' tape to t' body. Also, arrr, I think me technique o' attachin' t' two stages before drawin' t' lines shouldn't be considered an epiphany and should be part o' t' instructions.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I finished this rocket about two weeks before I had a chance t' launch it. Avast, me proud beauty! T' waiting, ya bilge rat, as t' sayin' goes, arrr, is the hardest part. I took me launch stuff t' work once or twice in case I had t' opportunity with low wind and decent weather. Arrr! Finally, a lunch launch came t' be...

Preparation was fairly straightforward. I initially put a single layer o' maskin' tape around t' middle o' the sustainer engine, then a double layer at t' aft end. I had a lot o' trouble gettin' t' engine in, ya bilge rat, I nearly bent the body tube. Avast! Blimey! It did compress a little along a spiral and one o' t' fins became slightly deformed from me thumb. Avast! Blimey! I really need t' perfect me friction fit technique. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I took off t' double layer, put in t' engine, and taped t' Keelhaul®©™® thread in place. Ahoy! Without t' Keelhaul®©™® as t' engine definitely would nay have stayed in.

T' booster was easy t' prepare. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I used 3 pieces o' wadding, put in t' chute, arrr, and attached me Transolve micro trans beep. Everythin' fit easily. Blimey! I had t' use tape around t' base o' t' nosecone.

I used a C6-0 for t' booster because t' store didn't have any B6-0 engines. Begad! This is just as good because the rocket was heavier than intended due t' t' extra fillets and t' trans beeper. T' beeper alone is nearly 0.5oz so my rocket is 1.5 times t' predetermined weight.

I didn't have a large field so I wanted t' use a B engine for t' sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Although a B6-6 is recommended, all I had was a B6-4 so used that.

T' flight was beautiful. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I'm 40 years old and still get giddy when I launch a rocket, particularly a maiden launch. Avast! Blimey! I'm guessin' it was due t' t' added weight, arrr, but this thin' launched much like me Quest Superbird: slow, me hearties, big puff o' smoke, shiver me timbers, almost a little wobbly at first (I use a 4' launch rod, good thin' too)... It be really fun t' watch.

T' booster took it up t' maybe 150 feet or so. Arrr! Blimey! Then it ejected and t' sustainer took off like afterburners were kicked into overdrive. It was a really fun, arrr, arrr, matey, awesome flight t' watch.

It went nearly out o' sight. Begad! I'm nay sure what RockSim would have predicted, but I'm guessin' nearly 1000' even with t' added weight. Aye aye! Ahoy! T' chute came out perfectly and I looked down t' get t' booster, which landed about 20' away. When I looked up I had difficulty findin' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! I'm really glad I used t' beeper, because I found me rocket on someone's roof. Aye aye! It bein' midday, shiver me timbers, t' family was out t' work/school, matey, etc. Avast! It was approachin' 100 deg and really high humidity and I didn't want t' tempt fate with t' police, matey, so instead o' climbin' up t' retrieve it, matey, matey, I left a note and will go back later t' retrieve it.

Recovery:
I did have difficulties with t' parachute. It's a nice plastic but thick and durable chute. T' shrouds do nay go through t' chute but are threaded through circle stickies (similar t' hole reinforcements but without t' hole in the middle) and stuck t' t' chute. Avast! T' problem is when I threaded t' shrouds through t' sticky, it lost adhesion. I tried gluin' them but they still didn't stick. Avast! Arrr! I used 5 min epoxy with some success. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I ended up coverin' each circle with some clear packin' tape.

After t' launch, t' chute deployed just fine. Ahoy! I do feel descent was too fast, but this is likely due t' the added weight nay due t' t' chute bein' too small.

Though me rocket is still on t' rooftop, I was able t' see it pretty clearly and thar be no evidence o' damage.

I'm ratin' flight recovery a 4.5 only because I felt t' shrouds could be better connected t' t' chute.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket is perfect for t' Skill Level 1 builder lookin' for a challenge and ready t' enter Level 2 models. It is a fun rocket t' build and fly but does require a level o' attention that is atypical o' most skill level 1 kits.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5