Brief:
I received this kit from Semroc at NARAM 50. Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey! Semroc gave t' Mark t' anyone who purchased a kit from them. Ahoy! Blimey! T' Mark is a reproduction o' t' Estes kit #K-02 and is part o' t' Semroc XKits line. T' XKits line o' rockets are beautifully recreated reproductions o' classic Estes, FSI, and Centuri rockets we remember as kids.

T' Mark is a simple, super light 3FNC rocket that will really get some altitude on A and B impulse engines, and will fly out-of-sight on C impulse engines. I wouldn't recommend flyin' this on a C engine as it may become a fly-and-forget-you-ever-had-it rocket.

Construction:
T' kit comes with a beautifully turned balsa nosecone, matey, three laser-cut fins, a balsa engine block, me bucko, a sturdy body tube, crepe paper streamer, a screw eye, and a rubber shock cord.

• BT-30B Body Tube 6.125" Long
• BNC-30E Balsa Nose Cone
• EB-30 Balsa Engine Block
• FES-K2 Laser-Cut Balsa Fins
• LL-2B Launch Lug
• SC-1A Shock Cord 9"
• SM-1A Streamer 1" x 8"
• TD-1 Tape Disc

Construction directions are nay included with t' kit. Blimey! Blimey! T' directions are t' be downloaded from JimZ's website. T' kit does come with an "instruction manual" that gives a complete history o' t' rocket. Arrr! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! In this "instruction manual", Semroc acknowledges that t' streamer is a little short, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but be t' same length as the original. I have t' agree with that assessment and I should also mention that t' shock cord is a little too short as well.

Because t' instructions were scans o' t' original Estes instructions, me hearties, t' build was smooth and error free. There were no "gotchas" or alignment issues, me hearties, me hearties, and all t' parts fit together perfectly.

T' only special tool you will need is an empty engine casin' t' push t' engine block t' t' proper place inside the body tube.

After you have t' engine block and fins attached t' t' body tube, shiver me timbers, me hearties, two slits are cut into t' top o' t' body tube just below t' nose cone shoulder. Avast! T' two slits form an openin' that will become t' shock cord attachment point. This be t' first time I have attached a shock cord in this manner. Avast! I have t' say that this way is very solid, and might outlast a standard tri-fold mount. Blimey! T' down side be t' bump that is left on t' outside o' t' body tube.

Once t' shock cord is mounted, glue t' launch lug on, and it is ready for primer and paint.

One thin' I would like t' mention, arrr, me bucko, me hearties, thar seems t' be two or three scans o' instructions for t' Mark on JimZ's website. Well, blow me down! T' instructions show two different launch lug mountin' points. One set shows t' launch lug mounted at a fin root, me bucko, t' other set shows t' launch lug mounted betwixt two fins. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! However, me hearties, I really don't think it matters where the lug is mounted.

Finishing:
Finishin' t' Mark is very straightforward. Begad! Blimey! Fill t' balsa with t' technique o' your choice, prime, me bucko, me bucko, and paint. I choose nay t' use any balsa fillers and just used a high build primer from a spray can found at most automotive parts or home improvement stores.

After t' rocket has been filled, primed, and sanded, me hearties, ya bilge rat, paint t' rocket t' color o' your choice. Ya scallywag! I would recommend a highly visible color as this is a small rocket and can easily be overlooked. Especially in high grass.

I choose t' paint mine like t' cover picture, which has a red body tube and a gold nose cone. Ahoy! Aye aye! I used t' same gold "metal" paint for t' nose cone that I used for me Golden Scout. Ya scallywag! I have nay put t' black stripes on yet.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Both Semroc and t' Estes instructions recommend A8-3, shiver me timbers, B6-6, and C6-5 for engine choices. Arrr! Ya scallywag! As I mentioned, I would not fly this rocket on a C engine as you will most likely never see it again. Aye aye! I would suggest flyin' this exclusively on A impulse engines.

T' maiden flight was on an A8-3. Ya scallywag! T' flight be straight, fast, matey, and high. Arrr! I would guess that it went every bit of 600 feet. Ahoy! Ejection be just after apogee. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' streamer did nay fully deploy though. I am nay certain if t' streamer got stuck on t' shock cord mount or if I put in a little too much cellulose wadding. Ya scallywag! T' rocket came down a little fast but landed in some tall grass and received no damage. Unfortunately, arrr, me bucko, matey, this has been t' only flight so far.

There be a small dent on t' top edge o' t' tube. I believe this was from t' nose cone snappin' back at ejection. Lengthenin' t' shock cord should eliminate this.

Recovery:
T' recovery be fine except for t' streamer nay fully deploying. However, ya bilge rat, even if it did fully deploy, matey, I still think it would have come down too fast. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I would recommend lengthenin' t' streamer t' get slower decent rates.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Main PROs: Easy t' build. Aye aye! Fast, me hearties, high flights on low impulse engines. Aye aye! Begad! A great rocket for beginners and school projects. A perfect rocket for small fields.

Main CONs: Short shock cord, matey, short streamer.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5