Brief:
This be t' second Semroc V2 that I’ve built. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! You can see me earlier review elsewhere on this site along with (at least) one other opinion o' this kit. I won’t repeat a bunch o' background in this review and instead will focus on what I found and did differently. Most obviously, this build utilized scale fins whereas me previous V2 has t' larger semi-scale fins (laser-cut versions o' both are provided).

Construction:
Parts included:

• One Semroc V2 xKit
• Lead shot
• 18” o' Keelhaul®©™ twine
• 3/16” launch lug

T' first thin' I noticed be that neither t' nose or tail cones fit in t' BT-55 tube. This is nay uncommon and I easily sanded t' shoulders down. Begad! Arrr! But then I noticed that neither was flush with t' tube. T' base diameter o' t' cone and t' top o' t' tail cone were too big. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! In addition, matey, ya bilge rat, t' tail cone looked like it got bigger in t' middle before it tapered back down. Aye aye! Aye aye! I started merely sanding, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, but then I took a sharp hobby knife and ran it along t' tube until it met t' cone’s overhang and trimmed t' excess off. I then went back t' sandin' and even had t' backfill a few nicks that were too deep.

I decided t' ditch t' stock recovery components for a long piece o' Keelhaul®©™ twine. I tacked t' twine t' t' motor mount with CA and then wrapped it in a loose spiral. Blimey! I coated t' inside o' t' tail cone with 5-minute epoxy and twisted t' mount, wrapped with t' twine into position. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I used t' provided dummy motor t' support t' mount durin' this process.

T' fins and trim components all were installed in accordance with t' original K-22 instructions downloaded from JimZ’s site. Avast! Blimey! Nothin' else t' add here.

As noted in t' brief instructions, t' scale fin version requires additional nose weight. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I referenced Semroc’s instructions, this thread on YORF and a RocSim model t' determine how much nose weight was required. Ahoy! I used t' scale file found in that thread and modified it for me design (includin' a tweak t' t' fin position). Ahoy! I drilled a 2.75” x 1/2” hole in t' base o' t' cone usin' me drill press. Well, blow me down! I also carefully torque t' cone while t' press be runnin' t' expand t' diameter a bit. I added enough lead shot (˜0.75oz, ya bilge rat, plus epoxy) so that it balanced t' model at ˜5.2” from t' tip without motor.

Finally, matey, since I noticed some rod whip on me first V2 when powered with a C6-5, I swapped t' provided 1/8” lug for a 3/16” lug.

Finishing:
Since I used t' scale fins, matey, I decided that I’d try a scale-style paint job. Avast, me proud beauty! I’ve always liked t' yellow/black patterns featured on t' first few rounds fired at White Sands so I decided t' pattern mine after round number two. Blimey! I started with fillin' and sanding. Ahoy! When I went t' grab t' primer, me hearties, I found I was out. Avast, me proud beauty! Instead, I used silver XMetals basecoat as a uniform base color. Ya scallywag! I used Testors' yellow spray and coincidentally, silver was one o' t' recommended base colors. Ahoy! I masked t' roll patterns with Frog Tape and used Rustoleum black, sprayed into a plastic cup t' make it brush-on. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' Frog Tape didn’t work all that well for me. In retrospect, arrr, I knew that I should have used a light overcoat o' yellow t' seal t' edges, but hoped t' Frog Tape would stand up t' its claims. Avast, me proud beauty! Bottom line - this is another ‘5-foot’ finish job.

I'm tryin' t' keep down ratin' inflation in me reviews and just couldn't call this an average kit due t' t' nose and tail cone issues. I added half a point because o' t' residual memory o' me first kit.

Construction Rating: 2 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first and only flight (so far) was on a C6-5. Avast! I also used a 12” nylon 'chute in place o' t' stock plastic one. Arrr! Blimey! T' boost was quite wobbly and it weathercocked a little.

Recovery:
It ejected close t' apogee and recovered in good shape. Avast, me proud beauty! I started with a below average ratin' for flight/recovery because o' t' amount o' wobble on a recommended motor. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I bumped it t' average because it seems t' be quite robust.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
T' scale fins on this kit make it look a little better, but t' penalty is added weight. Ahoy! Begad! Even with t' recommended amount o' added mass it be marginal on t' heavier C6. Avast, me proud beauty! I’ll try a B6 next. T' nose cone fit issue be easy t' correct, but I don't expect t' have t' in this day and age. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Based on me past experience with Semroc, I know t' problems I had are nay typical and I bet they'd even replace it if asked. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I'll count this instance o' this kit as average. Ahoy! I'd probably be more critical o' these shortfalls in other 4FNC kits. Arrr! However, thar be an inherent coolness factor in this retro kit.

Overall Rating: 3 out o' 5