Semroc Lune R-1

Semroc - Lune R-1 {Kit} (KB-8) [1970-1971]

Contributed by Chan Stevens

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Semroc
Style: Sport
Semroc Lune-R1

Brief:
This kit be originally produced by Semroc in 1969 as competition t' the Centuri Arcon and has been faithfully reproduced today. It's a simple 4-fin construction and with t' payload bay, ya bilge rat, it could be a nice means o' venturing out o' t' basic intro rocket kits.

Construction:
Ben's review covered t' parts fairly well. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! I'll add that t' body tubes are the original dimensions, nay approximated BT-50 equivalents and t' balsa quality on t' nose cone be superb.

This is a very simple construction project, me hearties, certainly no higher than a skill level 2 and arguably is a decent cub scout den project. Arrr! T' instructions are clearly written with good notes on techniques.

T' motor mount is standard 18mm tube with a couple o' centerin' rings and a motor block. T' kit also includes a metal engine hook, shiver me timbers, although the introduction made reference t' a version o' t' original that had a paper shroud instead, me bucko, which did nay use a metal hook. Begad! Ahoy! Bein' a sucker for a nice boat tail, I am intrigued by how this design would look with an aft shroud...

T' motor mount also anchors t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord attachment, me bucko, which is a great technique t' be sharin' with inexperienced builders.

Tube markin' is done usin' a markin' guide in t' instructions. I prefer a wraparound guide but t' each his own.

T' keep t' construction pace brisk, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I tacked me fins on usin' CA then let wood glue fillets cure overnight.

I cheated on t' lug placement. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' instructions say mount 2" from the aft end, but I generally prefer t' stick closer t' t' CG so I went a bit more forward.

T' payload bay consists o' a body tube and a balsa bulkhead capped off by the nose cone. Arrr! Blimey! I went ahead and glued on t' nose cone, as I'm nay interested in flyin' payloads although I did confirm I could fit me Perfect Flite altimeter inside if needed.

Finishing:
I used me normal technique o' diluted Elmer's Wood Filler on t' grains and spirals, me bucko, which were minimal. Begad! Begad! Then I followed t' standard paint scheme, going with gloss white and trimmin' t' fins in an alternatin' red and blue.

I also wound up usin' t' waterslide decal, matey, ya bilge rat, which fit very nicely with just a bit o' overlap. T' stripe pattern be very nice, me bucko, me hearties, but I'd also have liked to see somethin' else t' break up t' long white body. At least a Lune R-1 name tag or a little spaceship on t' way t' t' moon?

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, I decided t' burn up some o' me less popular motors and went with an A8-3. Blimey! Aye aye! I expected a very low flight but this actually took it up a few hundred feet. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Ejection be perfectly timed and it recovered without damage. Nothin' wrong with that.

I'll probably prefer B6-4s for a little more altitude, switching occasionally t' t' C6 for more "show off" flights for t' kids.

Recovery:
T' plastic chute held performed fine on this and it came down in soft grass without any damage.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Very nice and easy t' build payloader. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Heck, with a slightly bigger diameter, this kit could serve as an NARRRRR competition payloader.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Semroc Lune R-1 By Ben Shetler

    Brief: Single stage 18mm payloader. Single 12" parachute recovery. 6" long payload section. Construction: The kit contains two sections of body tube: one for the booster and one for the payload section, four laser cut balsa fins, balsa nose cone, balsa tube coupler, motor tube, two centering rings, thrust ring, motor retaining hook, launch lug, screw eye, Kevlar ® ...

Flights

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