Brief:
T' SPEV (Space Exploration Vehicle) by SEMROC is a Retro-Repro o' an Estes kit made back in 1972 in t' Model Rocket News, Volume 12, Number 3. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! It was a limited run and was discountinued that very same year in November, never having made it t' an Estes catalog.

Construction:
Parts list:

• 1 Nose Cone BNC-52G
• 1 Body Tube BT-52S
• 1 Transition
• 1 Body Tube BT-60FG
• 1 Transition TA-6070
• 1 Body Tube BT-70H
• 1 Body Tube BT-70H
• 1 Laser Cut Fins
• 1 Body Tube ST-730E
• 1 Centerin' Rin' Set
• 1 Thrust Ring
• 1 Engine Hook
• 1 Launch Lug
• 1 Screw Eye
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® Thread
• 1 Elastic Cord
• 1 Plastic Chute
• 1 Tape Disks
• 1 Shroud Line
• 1 Decal

As with all Semroc products this one is first class all t' way. Ahoy! Blimey! T' instructions were very easy to follow and all steps were in a very logical order. Avast, me proud beauty! T' skill level is rated as 1 (Easy). Blimey! Avast! I would put it at a Skill Level 2 because o' t' amount o' balsa work that needs t' be done on this rocket. Ahoy! There is a balsa nose cone, shiver me timbers, me bucko, two balsa transitions, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me hearties, four balsa fins and four balsa fin strips. Blimey! There's a lot o' gluin' and sandin' t' be done on this rocket which I find very enjoyable.

There were no "gotchas" on this build. Avast! There are two options that t' builder is given with this kit. T' builder is given t' option o' gluin' t' small fin strips flush with t' bottom o' t' body tube or with a 5/16" overhang as with t' original. Begad! Arrr! I chose t' latter and I think it looks great. Ahoy! T' builder is also given the option o' includin' a payload section on t' rocket or sealin' it up and only leavin' t' lower most body tube accessible for t' chute. Ahoy! Ahoy! I went with t' latter option and did nay include a payload section on t' rocket.

Finishing:
Since thar be a lot o' balsa, ya bilge rat, thar be a lot o' sandin' and fillin' t' be done on this rocket. Ya scallywag! I applied Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish t' all o' t' balsa and sanded. I did this three times in total t' get a nice smooth look t' all balsa surfaces. Ahoy! I then primed t' rocket with Painter's Touch primer and then painted with Painter's Touch Gloss White paint. Three coats in all. Aye aye! I then taped t' rocket off t' apply t' Painter's Touch Gloss Black and then decals and clear coat.

There's a good deal o' tapin' that needs t' be done on this kit t' model t' picture shown on t' header card. I tried t' stay as close t' t' picture as possible, however, arrr, I did cheat a bit by usin' black auto detail tape t' form the three black bands on t' rocket. Arrr!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended engines are B4-4, B6-4, C6-5. Avast! I flew t' first flight on a B6-4 and t' altitude was around 200-250' or so. Ahoy! Begad! Great flight. Avast, me proud beauty! T' next three flights were on C6-5s and t' rocket really took off under this engine. Begad! Great flights, all in t' 500-600' range. Ahoy!

It seems t' me that t' 12" chute is a bit small for this rocket, me hearties, but I wouldn't really use anythin' bigger when usin' a C engine because this rocket gets up high enough t' drift a good deal.

Recovery:
Flights were great and I have no complaints. Avast! This one looks so good I'm goin' t' use it for show more than go.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
As with everythin' Semroc does, this is a great kit. Begad! T' materials were excellent and thar be lots o' balsa which I really enjoy workin' with.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5