Brief:
T' Recruiter Space Probe, ya bilge rat, kit # KV-22, shiver me timbers, arrr, is a 'RetroRepro' version o' t' original Centuri kit (KC-30, circa 1967). Arrr! It features a "Gemini-styled" capsule and six "Redstone type" fins. T' fins thickness be increased t' 3/32", t' 'chute was downsized t' reduce drift, and t' rubber shock cord be replaced with a Keelhaul®©™ and elastic combo. Begad! Well, blow me down! This limited edition kit was provided as a 'thank you' t' people who have reviewed Semroc's products or otherwise promoted t' company. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Very classy!

Construction:
T' kit came nicely packed with a colorful insert, me bucko, which also holds t' instructions. As you can see in t' photos, me bucko, individual parts such as t' motor mount, chute, shiver me timbers, fins, and miscellaneous small parts are all individually packaged. Aye aye! T' instructions are clear and include plenty o' diagrams. Begad! There is even a brief history o' Centuri and o' t' kit itself. As with other Semroc kits, shiver me timbers, this one comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

So t' parts include (roughly from stem t' stern):

• 1 balsa nose cone, 3.75" long (exposed)
• 1 0.908" diameter body tube, me hearties, 5.5" long
• 1 balsa transition, 1.625" long
• 1 1.34" diameter body tube, matey, 8" long
• 1 screw eye
• 1 elastic cord
• 1 Keelhaul®©™ thread
• 
• 1 12" plastic chute (includin' tape discs and shroud lines)
• 2 1/8" lugs
• 6 laser cut balsa fins
• 1 thrust ring
• 1 engine hook
• 1 18mm motor tube
• 1 fiber retainer ring
• 2 centerin' rings
• 1 fiber coupler
• 1 waterslide decal sheet
• 1 small 'specification decal', ya bilge rat, includin' t' s/n (mine is #00033)

To build t' kit, me hearties, you require all t' normal tools and supplies: white or wood glue, filler, paint, matey, sandpaper, ya bilge rat, etc. I used wood glue throughout. Blimey! Blimey! This is a straightforward build and these are t' highlights:

• T' Recruiter sports a cool capsule-style balsa nosecone. T' thin neck got some reinforcement with thin CA.
• T' motor mount features both a hook and thrust ring. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' Keelhaul®©™ leader is tied t' t' motor hook, and both are retained with a fiber ring. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' centerin' rings are thick and a fiber coupler, which fits betwixt t' rings, me bucko, shiver me timbers, further strengthens t' mount.
• T' six laser-cut fins are perfect. I'm now a big fan o' lasers.

PROs: Great parts, clear instructions, matey, cool spacecraft styling, ya bilge rat, me hearties, strong motor mount, Keelhaul®©™/elastic shock cord.

CONs: T' thrust rin' was missing. It probably isn't really necessary, matey, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but I replaced it with an Apogee 18mm-13mm centerin' ring.

Finishing:
Finishin' started with Fill 'n' Finish and Plasticote white primer. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I couldn't resist makin' this look more 'Mercury Redstone-like' than t' cover art. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I painted t' body o' t' cone and fin roll patterns black (Testor's brush-on), and t' tip o' t' cone red (Painter's Touch spray).

T' decals are nice and thick. Aye aye! They were generally placed as shown on t' cover art. Aye aye! T' thin stripe on t' cone was left off since t' whole cone portion was black and I added t' Semroc logo t' one o' t' white fins. Arrr! I also left off t' specification decal as it seemed too big for t' rocket.

I finished t' recruiter off with a coat o' Krylon clear coat. ARGH! Another case o' nay testin' for compatibility! T' clear coat made t' black paint run slightly. T' black both rolled down and wicked upward along t' border o' t' white and black patterns. Ya scallywag! Very odd--this be a first for me. Ya scallywag! Avast! Maybe t' black paint was nay fully dry? I scraped and retouched and have it lookin' OK.

T' kit was easy t' finish and t' decals are nice. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' clear coat problem was mine and nay a fault o' t' kit.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors include t' A8-3 (200'), arrr, B6-4 (500'), shiver me timbers, me bucko, and C6-5 (950'). Arrr! So far, shiver me timbers, I only have tried t' B6-4. Well, blow me down! T' flight be nice with ejection just past apogee.

Recovery:
I used dog barf waddin' and a square o' Estes paper t' wrap t' chute. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! T' 12" parachute was perfect for this sized model.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This is cool lookin' limited edition rendition o' a Centuri classic. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' materials are great and t' finished product is solid.

My thanks again t' Carl and Sheryl at Semroc!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5