Brief:
T' Texas Firefly is a gap staged 18mm kit from Semroc. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit exemplifies everythin' I love about Semroc: high quality, ya bilge rat, me bucko, matey, wide selection, low price, outstandin' customer service.

T' rocket stands 14.3in and 1.34in diameter (ST-13 is slightly larger than BT-55 tubing). Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' total weight is 2.1oz.

Construction:
T' assembly is so utterly straightforward that it hardly merits description. Arrr! T' instructions were flawless: clear, detailed, and completely unnecessary given t' elegance and simplicity o' this design. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down!

T' booster motor mount is standard except that t' centerin' rings have holes cut throughout them t' allow rear ventin' o' ejection gases t' facilitate t' gap staging. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! T' sustainer motor mount is standard, me hearties, with Keelhaul®©™® strin' attached for t' recovery device. Begad!

T' fins are laser cut balsa. Ya scallywag! I beveled these t' a symmetric airfoil shape and sealed with Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish, me bucko, which was also used t' fill tiny tube spirals and t' balsa nose cone.

T' tail nozzle is a double wrap o' stiff paper. Ahoy! Ahoy! This was nay sturdy enough in me opinion. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I gave it several coatings o' CA on both inside and out t' achieve better stiffness. Ahoy! I also omitted t' rods on t' fin tips because I didn't want t' be constantly repairin' them. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye!

Two heavy washers are affixed t' t' nose t' ensure stability with all those rearward motors. T' chute is a standard tiny plastic Semroc style. Begad! Avast!

Finishing:
I finished mine in purple and gold and used most o' t' waterslide decals. T' decals went on without problem except that some darker ones didn't show up too well against dark paint. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Wal-mart clear spray paint went over t' top of everything. Avast!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first launch was on a beautiful day on t' prairie with only a slight breeze. I suspect that B6-0/C6-7 motor combination would be an ideal motor combination for this kit. Blimey! Aye aye! Unfortunately, I'd used up me cache o' B6-0 motors. Ahoy! Avast! Thus, I tried t' slightly unusual combination o' C6-0/B4-4. It seemed like t' only reasonable combination available at the only hobby shop open t' mornin' we drove t' t' launch. I figured that t' relatively slow-burn B4 would partially compensate for its short delay. Avast, me proud beauty! I was afraid o' losin' t' rocket with a C t' C motor combination because it is so light. Avast, me proud beauty! (Semroc projects 1650 feet on a pair o' C motors!)

T' Texas Firefly buzzed off t' pad on t' C6-0 booster. Avast, me proud beauty! Boost be absolutely straight and stable. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! With a loud pop t' booster separated. Stagin' be perfect and t' flight path continued straight with t' sustainer. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' sustainer absolutely ripped through t' sky on its B4. Avast! Begad! Blimey!

Recovery:
I took me deadlights off t' sustainer for a moment t' check on t' booster. Aye aye! Avast! It was tumblin' downward with t' most amazing tumble action I had ever seen. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' booster be spinnin' blurringly fast and gently settled t' t' ground without even a scratch. What a fabulous design!

By t' time I scanned upward with t' binoculars again, arrr, matey, t' chute had opened. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! I think ejection be about right, perhaps a bit early. Begad! Arrr! In t' warm prairie air, me hearties, t' sustainer drifted around for several minutes before touchin' down in the grass next t' a cactus in bloom. No damage. Ahoy! T' rocket and booster were in mint condition and ready t' launch again. Blimey!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This kit would be an excellent choice for anyone tryin' their first 2-stage kit. It is easy t' build and introduces the gap-stagin' concept. Well, blow me down! T' parts are high quality and fit together seamlessly. Ahoy! It is also easy t' fly on almost any 18mm motor combination with t' motors poppin' easily in and out o' separate tubes with motor hooks. Aye aye! For skilled builders who think they've done and seen it all, shiver me timbers, me bucko, t' Texas Firefly is also a great choice, because you can admire a kit so clean and elegant in its concept and execution that it is a real joy t' build and fly. Ya scallywag! Begad! A classic!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5