Brief:
This be t' new Semroc A10-0T booster unit for t' Centurion, Vega, and Goliath rockets. Well, blow me down! It is meant for existing, single stage rockets usin' t' ST-16 (old Centuri style) body tubes. Ya scallywag! It will be interestin' t' stage a 13mm booster t' a 18mm sustainer. Blimey! I've never used a lower powered booster (A10) with a higher powered sustainer (B6 or C6, a A8 is also listed as a sustainer engine).

Construction:
T' booster kit consists of:

• 1 Body Tube ST-825
• 1 Engine Tube ST-520E
• 1 Rin' Coupler HTC-16S
• 1 Rin' Set CR-EM-516
• 1 Engine Hook EH-18
• 1 Shroud Sheet IEM-516B

All parts are pretty much standard except for t' centerin' rings. Well, blow me down! T' laser cuts are tight and clean. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' centerin' rings for t' ST-5 series engine tube have eight elliptical holes cut into them. Blimey! I would assume this is for ventin' while staging. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Read through t' directions before building. With two shrouds and four centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, me bucko, take it slow and follow directions.

I reinforced all t' tube ends with Super Glue.

STEP 3: I sanded t' tube coupler's ends flat and square with a sandin' block. I wanted t' (slightly) increase t' gluin' surface.

STEP 5: T' small centerin' rings (with t' eight holes) fit too loosely on t' 5 series engine tube. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I build up t' inside edge o' t' rin' with some "rings" o' white glue. Aye aye! T' instructions suggest usin' CA t' glue them in place. T' instructions suggest: "Make sure t' keep glue out o' t' holes". Blimey! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! You would have t' use a Teflon tube out t' front o' your CA bottle t' control t' flow. Ya scallywag! T' holes are very close t' t' body tube/rin' joint.

I was reluctant t' apply a thin film o' CA around t' rin' edges before punchin' out t' holes. Begad! I be afraid t' glue would get into t' holes. Ya scallywag! I punched out t' holes, then applied glue t' t' edges o' t' rings.

T' instructions say "A thin film o' CA around all t' rin' edges harden them and keep them from de-layering. Blimey! After I easily punched out t' holes, matey, matey, I noticed outside layer o' t' rin' was startin' t' peel. Ahoy! T' CA layer held down t' liftin' layer.

STEP 6: Says t' slide t' engine mount inside t' body tube until t' end with t' hook is even with t' body tube. Ya scallywag! T' hook will over hang slightly. Begad! It just didn't read well. Blimey! Aye aye! I know they meant that t' engine tube should be even with t' outside (larger diameter) tube. Aye aye! T' hook overhangs more than slightly, me bucko, it overhangs by 1/4".

STEP 8: Normally I hate paper shrouds. Hate paper shrouds! T' shroud material was glossy on one side and matte on t' other.

I wanted t' printed lines on t' inside, arrr, arrr, me hearties, so t' glossy surface ended up on t' outside. For once, shiver me timbers, these paper shrouds glued together without any problems. Aye aye! Blimey! I pre-curled them over a thick Sharpie pen barrel. Avast! Blimey! One thin coat o' white glue was enough for t' glue tab t' hold well.

T' paper used for t' shroud went together smoothly, shiver me timbers, with no bumps or bends. But when glued together, me hearties, t' seams were opposite. Blimey! One upper-smaller shroud overlaid t' t' right, t' lower shroud tab laid t' t' left. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! There wasn't any other way t' correct this unless I would make one shroud with t' gloss surface out, t' other with t' matte paper side out. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Nay really a big deal. Ya scallywag! Begad! But, (on one shroud pattern) Semroc may want t' switch t' side t' tab sits on.

Both shrouds fit well. Blimey! Blimey! I had t' widen t' mouth o' t' larger shroud slightly t' fit over t' ST-8 main tube. Begad! Avast! Blimey! It's nay a fault o' t' shroud pattern, arrr, matey, paper shrouds always seem t' need a little adjustment.

Finishing:
Even without paint, t' finished look is great! Blimey! On me Centurion t' booster extends 1 1/4" beyond t' trailin' edges o' t' fins, shiver me timbers, but it still looks cool. Avast! Blimey! And structurally it feels strong.

With t' gloss paper surface on t' outside, I really don't have t' paint it. But t' exposed browned edge o' t' upper centerin' rin' will need a touch up.

I enjoyed t' build. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It's nice when t' shrouds cooperate.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
With t' engines installed and t' booster unit in place, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' engines ends are separated by about 3/8". Avast! Ahoy! I tested t' fit with a A10-0T in t' Booster 16 and a C6-5 in me Centurion.

Summary:
PROS: A fun build and t' shrouds cooperated for once!

CONS: When built, shiver me timbers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' shroud tabs face opposite sides. Aye aye! One goes t' t' right, matey, t' other t' t' left.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5