Brief:
LPR, Sleek, matey, 18mm, Parachute Recovery

I be fortunate t' be asked t' test out a new rocket from First Flight called t' Semi-Sonic. Mine was a pre-production model. Ya scallywag! It arrived in a hangin' bag with all parts and instruction included and neatly bagged. Ya scallywag! It is a sleek lookin' design which has two sets o' 3 fins, one mounted just before t' other, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, that gives a visual impression of speed.

Construction:

Construction began by locatin' t' motor tube and makin' an 1/8" cut for t' engine hook. T' hook was inserted and bound into place with t' addition o' some electrical tape. Begad! T' motor tube be then marked as per directions and t' centerin' rings slipped into place. Both o' t' rings needed a slight bit o' sandin' along their inner surfaces t' fit. Ahoy! They were secured with yellow glue. T' thrust rin' be then slipped into place, flush against t' engine hook, and sealed into place with t' addition o' some more yellow glue. Blimey! T' motor mount was then set aside t' dry.

Although this is intended as a beginner kit, t' builder is expected t' cut t' fins from sheet balsa usin' t' provided template. Begad! This is NOT a bad thin' and teaches an important skill. Begad! Blimey! T' templates were cut out and the outlines o' t' fins were transferred t' t' balsa stock. Begad! Arrr! Instructions guide t' correct layout t' ensure everything fits and that t' grain is oriented correctly. Avast! With t' outlines marked, t' fins were cut out with a razor knife using a steel ruler t' keep me honest about such slippery concepts as "straight". Ya scallywag! Both sets o' fins were then stacked and evened up with some sandpaper and then t' leading, trailin' and outer edges were rounded a bit with some sanding.

T' template sheet also comes with a wrap around fin markin' guide. Begad! I much prefer these t' t' end markin' type. T' guide was cut out and taped into place on t' body tube. Begad! Avast! T' fins lines an lug line were then transferred. Begad! The guide was removed and t' lines were lengthened t' t' entire length o' t' tube.

T' kit comes with a Keelhaul®©™® shock mount. Aye aye! It be tied into place around t' front end o' t' motor mount and filleted into place with the application o' some white glue. Aye aye! A notch was also cut in t' forward rin' in order t' pass t' Keelhaul®©™®.

The balsa nose cone looked nice and needed just a small bit o' sandin' around t' shoulder t' fit t' body tube. It was pre-weighted for stability. T' eye screw was then screwed into place and sealed with t' application o' a drop of glue. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! When that glue had dried, shiver me timbers, matey, I doused t' cone in thin CA in order t' harden in and fill it some.

I allowed everythin' t' dry overnight and then fed t' Keelhaul®©™® back through t' motor mount t' keep it from interferin' with t' actual mounting. Avast! Avast! A scrap o' wood was used t' swab yellow glue around t' interior o' t' t' body tube and then t' motor mount was pushed into place with t' engine hook aligned with t' lug line and leavin' about 1/4" or t' motor tube protrudin' from t' rear.

The aft fins were mounted usin' a double glue joint and yellow glue with their back ends flush with t' aft end o' the body tube. Begad! Ya scallywag! When those had stiffened up sufficiently, me hearties, arrr, I began applyin' t' forward fins in t' same manner along the same fin lines leavin' a space about t' thickness o' t' balsa betwixt forward and aft fins. Avast! When all t' fins were in place and t' yellow glue had dried, arrr, me hearties, shiver me timbers, white glue fillets were applied t' all. Begad! Arrr!

As t' fillets set up, some white glue be used t' apply t' launch lug along t' marked line betwixt two o' the upper fins.

T' Keelhaul®©™® still had t' be fished through t' motor mount and t' body tube. Ahoy! Before doin' that, I tied on t' sewin' elastic and then used a long piece o' rod t' poke it through. Well, blow me down! T' kit came with a snap swivel for attachin' t' parachute but I did nay attach it at this point; I merely slipped t' elastic through it for safe keeping.

With t' launch lug in place, assembly o' t' Semi-Sonic was complete.

Finishing:
I decided t' use Elmer's filler for fillin' t' balsa grain. Well, blow me down! Accordingly, I took out me stash, matey, noticed it needed a bit o' thinnin' and added some water. Begad! It was then brushed onto all t' fins and onto t' hardened nose cone. Avast! T' rocket was then set aside t' let t' goop dry.

T' filler dried for a day and then I took t' sandpaper t' it, me bucko, bringin' it down nice and smooth. Avast, me proud beauty! I went from 220 t' 380 grit and then used a brush t' remove t' plethora o' dust it generated.

T' rocket was then taken t' t' spray booth and given 2 coats o' Kilz for primer. Ya scallywag! Normally, that stuff needs plenty o' time t' dry but t' combination o' heat and lack o' humidity led t' t' chance just leavin' it for 7 hours. Well, blow me down! It turned out me hunch was right this time and I was able t' sand it with #400 without any gummin' problem.

T' rocket be then taken back t' t' booth t' be given a base coat overall o' a very light lavender. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It received 2 such coats.

T' lavender had a day t' dry and then I began maskin' for t' dark red contrast. My nephew came up with what sounded like a nice scheme but, unfortunately, arrr, shiver me timbers, I didn't have t' maskin' skills t' pull it off. Well, blow me down! I wound up with a simplified version o' his idea. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I masked off t' forward fins and tried t' continue t' lines o' t' edges along the body tube. Aye aye! I also masked o' t' nose cone.

T' rocket was then taken back t' t' booth and sprayed with 2 coats o' a darker red. T' red be nay as dark as either me memory said or t' top o' t' can.

When t' maskin' be removed, I found I had a few places o' seepage under t' tape but nothin' that could nay be fixed by hand. Ya scallywag! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I did nay like t' scheme I had settled on as well as I thought I would have and it be certainly nay as cool as me nephew's idea but it would work and it was definitely all mine.

A day later I took a closer look at t' runs and creeps. I was less happy even than I had been t' day before. It wasn't anythin' that would be noticed from t' launch pad but I noticed it and it bugged me. Aye aye! T' fix it, I shook up the can o' lavender paint really well and then sprayed a big puddle o' it in a paper bowl I keep for just that purpose. The paint from t' puddle be then brushed on over t' bad places. Again, its nay perfect but its much better than it was.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' day finally came for t' maiden flight and I prepped t' rocket with dog barf and an Estes A8-3. It got favorable comments based on appearance from others present.

Lift off was a quick affair and confirmed what this rocket looked like: it looked fast. Aye aye! Begad! Even with an A motor, it snapped off t' rod.

T' streamer deployed while t' rocket was still movin' up, me hearties, although nay very quickly. A few seconds into the deployment, ya bilge rat, matey, it was evident that t' Keelhaul®©™® thread I had used t' attach t' streamer had cut through t' mylar and t' rocket recovered as a tumble. Avast! Both rocket and streamer were recovered near each other and no damage t' t' former and only t' cuttin' on t' latter.

A video o' t' first flight can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/3811545799/

T' second flight needed minimal preparation and started much as t' first except that a B4-4 was loaded and the streamer was reattached. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! IT was put on t' pad and it still looked good.

T' flight performance be very similar t' that o' t' first flight except for t' altitude attained. Avast, me proud beauty! It flew well.

Deployment o' t' streamer was again marginally early but nay a real concern. This time t' streamer stayed connected and it came down t' way it was supposed to. Blimey! Blimey! On inspection, matey, me hearties, t' rocket seemed fine except for a small whack made when t' cone rebounded.

A video o' t' second flight can be seen here.

For t' third flight, ya bilge rat, it was just a matter o' repackin' and then loadin' a motor. Begad! I chose a B6-4 this time. Although close inspection would show some damage, me bucko, it still looked good on t' pad.

T' flight profile was a bit different this time. Avast! Ya scallywag! If anything, me bucko, it whipped off t' pad faster but it also did some spinnin' on t' way up. Begad! Well, blow me down! It had nay done that before.

This time t' ejection seemed t' be right at apogee. Begad! Blimey! T' streamer deployed with a pop and it drifted down. Blimey! Blimey! The smiley damage in t' tube be reinforced and thar was a small nick in t' cone.

A video o' t' third flight can be seen here.

The final o' me test flights o' this rocket saw me introducin' a C6-5 t' t' setup. It be loaded and put on t' pad. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! The ignition and flight went well. Begad! There was no repeat o' t' previous spinning. Ejection again seemed just about perfect but, like t' first flight, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' streamer parted ways with t' rocket. It tumbled down fine.

Checkin' t' rocket over after t' 4th flight, I saw that t' elastic bounce be an issue. Avast! It probably needs a bit longer o' a harness. Avast! I also found some fin damage after t' final flight that I attribute t' t' whippin' o' the snap swivel based on t' manner in which I had installed it. Begad! Blimey! It is all easy fixing.

A video o' t' fourth flight can be seen here/

Recovery:
A Word o' Warning: I did nay set up me recovery system as provided by t' instruction. Avast! Avast! Instead o' usin' t' nice chute that was sent, me hearties, I used a streamer. It worked fine but generated its own issues attributable only t' me, ya bilge rat, NOT First Flight Hobbies.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I took a closer look at t' damage from t' first outing. Aye aye! T' most noticeable thin' was t' dents in one o' t' fins where t' snap swivel struck after t' last ejection. Begad! Arrr! Somehow, I don't know how, shiver me timbers, t' launch lug be also damaged. Well, blow me down! The last real noticeable bit be t' "Estes smile" on t' NC and a similar issue at t' top o' t' BT.

T' first step on t' road t' recovery was t' fill in t' holes. Avast! With that in mind, shiver me timbers, me hearties, some Elmer's filler was applied t' t' nicks, me hearties, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, dings and gouges. T' goop on t' fins was sanded down smooth. Aye aye! Avast! T' restored profile was nay perfect but it was satisfactory t' me. In order t' strengthen t' filler and help it to hold up under flight, arrr, some thin CA be drizzled on and allowed t' soak in t' harden it. Ahoy! T' filler on t' nosecone too be sanded smooth but no CA be added here since t' filler was within t' wood instead o' formin' a new edge like on t' fins. While sandin' t' NC, ya bilge rat, I found another dent in t' cone. Begad! Aye aye! T' newly found dent got a layer o' goop and was given a day t' dry.

A combination o' tape and aluminum foil was used t' mask t' lavender area above t' lower fins. Well, blow me down! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! T' only goal was t' completely mask t' lavender, arrr, nay t' reproduce t' original borders. Arrr! T' masked rocket was taken t' t' booth and sprayed with t' same red paint used originally. Begad! It took 3 coats t' cover t' filler. Ahoy! Begad! Meanwhile, me bucko, t' nosecone was detached from t' shock cord, me hearties, arrr, put on a paintin' tube and sprayed as well. Begad! It only took 2 coats.

I cut t' old lug off with a razor knife leavin' in tact t' part that had been glued t' t' body. Arrr! A new lug was glued into t' same place with white glue. Titebond Trim and Moldin' Glue was used t' apply a fillet t' t' launch lug. Well, blow me down! Begad! I had nay used this product before and gave it a try because I be told how well it worked for fillets. Arrr! Its stiff and does nay leave holes as it dries. Aye aye! It did very well.

I thought t' kit needed a longer shock cord and t' manufacturer agreed. Begad! Begad! Instead o' replacin' mine, arrr, though, me bucko, arrr, shiver me timbers, I just tied in another length o' sewin' elastic. Begad! Mine is now longer than needed but I like t' look o' a long recovery train as it comes down. First Flight is now providin' longer cords.

T' last step was t' touch up t' lavender paint. Begad! T' trailin' edge o' one o' t' forward fins needed some and then thar were a few other places such as t' new lug and t' forward end o' t' BT. Ahoy! I sprayed some o' t' original lavender paint into a paper bowl and then used a brush t' apply it where needed. Arrr! Avast! T' paint was allowed t' dry for a few hours and, with that, arrr, t' repairs are complete and t' Semi-Sonic is ready t' take t' t' air again.

For its first post repair flight, ya bilge rat, I loaded a Quest A6-4. Ahoy! T' Semi-Sonic be t' be t' first launch o' t' day at t' Alamo Rocketeers September 09 launch. As before, it performed well on lift off. Aye aye! It flew straight. Avast! It ejected on schedule and returned t' earth under its streamer without any harm at all. Avast! T' added length o' shock cord made all t' difference.

A video o' t' post overhaul flight can be seen here.

All in all, I am well satisfied with this rocket. Arrr! T' issues I identified durin' t' build were promptly addressed by First Flight and changes are t' be incorporated into t' production model. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' production model is supposed t' included a decal as well.

Persons wishin' t' see what happens with this rocket can find it all documented here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23694991@N03/collections/72157622523644403/

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5