Brief:
This is a very light, quick build kit from Semroc that is essentially a 3FNC but with some head snappin' zip when matched with t' right engine!

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 14.7" length o' BT-5
• 1 Balsa sheet o' laser cut fins
• 1 Balsa nose cone
• 1 Cardboard thrust ring
• 1 Launch lug
• 1 Screw eye
• 1 Elastic cord
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® thread
• 1 Crepe paper streamer
• 1 Tape section
• 1 Empty engine casing
• 1 Q-tip
• 1 Decal sheet

This is a relatively simple kit t' build. T' instructions are straightforward and easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! Begad! As this is a minimum diameter body tube that is quite long, thar are some precautions t' take:

• Read t' instructions first. It is a simple kit, arrr, but it does have a couple pitfalls if nay careful.
• Do nay over glue t' thrust ring. Avast, me proud beauty! I let one o' t' neighbors build one and he got t' thrust rin' stuck about 1/2inch into t' tube. Avast! He used too much glue and could nay overcome t' friction while tryin' t' insert t' thrust rin' to the proper depth. Well, blow me down!
• If you push too hard on t' thrust ring, matey, you can easily crumple t' body tube. Ahoy! If you are buildin' this kit with children, me hearties, this might be a step for the adults t' do for them. Ahoy! Begad!
• T' kit suggests roundin' t' fins, shiver me timbers, which is nay a bad idea for bigger fins, ya bilge rat, but on this kit, they are fairly thin already so it doesn't seem t' make that much difference. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!
• In buildin' a set o' seven (with two failures) we tried CA, wood glue, matey, and instant glue. Avast, me proud beauty! It really didn't seem t' mater all that much. All flew well and have held up for multiple flights.

T' only thin' that we did differently on construction was t' fit t' thrust rin' without glue then glued it in place usin' t' Q-tip provided.

Finishing:
There is a small decal sheet and t' only real direction for finishin' is the color cover that is a standard part o' all Semroc instructions. Ahoy! I did one as factory as possible, then did a couple variations. Ya scallywag! I would highly suggest using colors that you can easily detect in a natural environment. Paint it white or blue, you will lose it in t' sky. If you paint it green, ya bilge rat, camo, or any colors that exist in outside, then make sure you have plenty o' spotters or some good eyes. Avast! Begad! Day-Glo or neon colors seem t' work best (unless you live someplace very odd).

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Since t' engines were relatively cheap and readily available at me local hobby store, me bucko, I bought a retail case and just kept launchin' and launchin' the different variations o' t' kits. Avast! Blimey! (All flights used A10-3Ts.) In retrospect, some o' t' smaller engines might have been nice t' try as this thin' moves out on an A10-3T!

I tried a variety o' different motor retention techniques and even tested motor ejections t' see if it would impact recovery. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! My favorite method of positive retention is t' use a 1/3 o' an inch o' maskin' tape just wrapped around t' body o' t' engine. Ya scallywag! Blimey! This was strong enough t' hold t' engine in place on every launch.

Preppin' t' rocket is straightforward but is a bit difficult as t' tube diameter is so small. Begad! Usin' a pencil really aids in slidin' t' shock cord and waddin' in.

All flights were very straight with arcs at apogee. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

Recovery:
This rocket uses t' "standard" Semroc small diameter shock cord. Begad! A length o' Keelhaul®©™® strin' tied t' t' thrust ring. Well, blow me down! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! In turn t' other end o' t' Keelhaul®©™® is tied t' an elastic cord which is then secured t' t' screw eye attached to the nose cone.

T' crepe paper streamer is pretty long and can be a bit difficult t' pack into t' body tube. Begad! In testing, matey, me hearties, this rocket will recover with no streamer and recovers very gently with only half a streamer. Aye aye! Ahoy!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is a very fun kit! It is easy and fast t' build, cheap t' feed, matey, and gets some great height in a short period o' time. Arrr! Avast! I chuckle every time I launch the ThunderBee, it's just one o' life's small pleasures. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It's diminutive size belies a real fast mover. Begad! On 1/4A or 1/2A engines, I could see this bein' a nice back yard rocket. On t' full A10, shiver me timbers, make sure you have some space.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5