Brief:
This is third and final kit that I received from t' last 2009 Quarterly Rocket Give-Away so, once again, many thanks t' Nick!

T' Tau Zero, matey, me bucko, me hearties, as you all know, is a futuristic rocket from Semroc that flies on 18mm motors and recovers via a streamer. Aye aye! As o' this writing, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, thar are no less than seven great reviews on this kit. Ahoy! As a result, me bucko, me hearties, me bucko, I'm nay goin' to cover t' parts list, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' basic instruction, etc. Ahoy! Rather, I'm goin' t' state what stood out t' me. Begad! You may also note that I flipped t' fins over. Well, blow me down! Begad! I did that on purpose. Ahoy! At least, ya bilge rat, that's me story and I'm stickin' t' it!

Modifications:
T' only physical modification I made was flippin' t' fins so they are swept backward. Begad! I also used me own color scheme.

Construction:
T' parts are o' t' same excellent quality that you'd expect from Semroc. Laser cut fins and alignment guides, Keelhaul®©™® leader for recovery, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and a pristine balsa cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' cone is awesome, matey, kind o' a sleeker version o' t' Honest John.

Because t' inner set o' fins are supposed t' be painted t' same as t' outer, ya bilge rat, but different from t' rin' fin, t' instructions recommend that you paint t' parts before assembly. Like t' others, me bucko, me hearties, I did so.

Even though it is basically minimum diameter, a motor hook is provided. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It is held in place with a telescoping outer tube, which is tucked neatly under t' inner fins. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I love laser cut parts :) Two fin guides are provided, ya bilge rat, one for each set o' fins.

T' quality o' t' cone was fabulous. T' grain is fine and needs little filing. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! They recommend t' drill a pilot hole for t' over sized screw eye, arrr, and I heeded this advice. Ahoy! I also soaked t' point tip in thin CA t' toughen it up a bit.

I filled t' balsa parts with fill'n'finish and Dupli-Color METALCAST paint system. Avast! This includes a silver base coat and a color coat. I used t' base coat both as as a primer and as t' silver coat for t' majority o' t' rocket. T' win' tip pods were painted with brush-on gold and t' tips o' t' attached dowels were dipped in day-glo orange, me bucko, me hearties,

T' decal set was great quality. Ahoy! Avast! However, me bucko, t' purple fins and nose section don't provide a good backdrop for some o' them. I shuffled a few and left a few off.

Flight:
I used a Quest 'long burn' C6-5 for t' first flight. Arrr! It really ripped on t' C6. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I lost sight o' it but spotted t' streamer at ejection. Ya scallywag! Then, I lost sight o' it again. Well, blow me down! I thought it was lost but on t' way home, I stopped on t' high ground and grabbed t' binoculars that I carry in me range box...and spotted it!

Summary:
This is a slick lookin' rocket and a fun build. Well, blow me down! T' parts are perfect and t' instructions are great. Ahoy! Begad! However, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I'm nay a big fan o' BT-20 body tubes. T' fact that t' Tau Zero recovers with a streamer mitigated this issue for me. Blimey! It flies great and t' streamer recovery is adequate for this sized rocket. Especially if you point t' fins in t' proper direction!