Brief:
T' Thunderbee is one o' t' latest kits from Semroc. It's t' first and smallest rocket in t' "Thunder" family. Each rocket in t' family is around 1.5 times larger than t' rocket before it! T' Thunderbee is a minimum diameter 3FNC rocket. Begad! Blimey! It comes down on an orange crepe streamer.

Construction:
T' Thunderbee comes with t' followin' parts:

• 1 14.7" length o' BT-5
• 1 Balsa sheet o' laser cut fins
• 1 Balsa nose cone
• 1 Cardboard thrust ring
• 1 Launch lug
• 1 Screw eye
• 1 Elastic cord
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® thread
• 1 Crepe streamer
• 1 Tape disc
• 1 Empty engine casing
• 1 Glue applicator
• 1 Decal sheet

T' instructions included with t' kit are in a logical order and easy t' follow. Well, blow me down! Each step is accompanied by a clear diagram, and templates are included by t' diagram of the step they are needed in.

Assembly is easy, shiver me timbers, with no real problems. Blimey! Blimey! Everythin' fit perfectly! Blimey! The whole rocket is quite sturdy and would survive a recovery failure. Arrr! Blimey! I built mine with Medium CyA but t' instructions suggest white/yellow glue. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey!

I didn't really do anythin' different from t' instructions, arrr, ya bilge rat, but on a rocket this simple thar isn't really anythin' you can do differently.

Finishing:
Finishin' this bird can be as simple as you want it t' be! Blimey! There are two decals supplied with no set place t' put them. I decided t' paint mine Florescent Orange all over--I want t' find this thin' again!--with 3 coats o' white primer, 3 coats o' orange, matey, and then 3 coats o' clear lacquer on t' top to maximize t' effect o' t' paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are any 13mm motor from 1/4A3-3T t' a full on A10-3T.

Preppin' consists o' insertin' t' igniter in t' motor, friction fitting the motor, shiver me timbers, then pushin' 3-4 sheets o' recovery waddin' down t' tube. Blimey! I found it quite difficult t' roll up t' streamer small enough t' fit in t' tube but managed it on me second try.

First flight was on a A10-3T with light winds (3-6mph). Ya scallywag! This rocket is very quick off t' pad! After ignition, shiver me timbers, thar was a neck snappin' fast boost and ejection be just before apogee.

Second flight was on a A3-4T with light winds (3-6mph) again. This time the boost was slightly slower but longer. Blimey! Begad! I almost lost it on t' way up but the trackin' smoke started up. Arrr! Ejection be almost spot on apogee but t' tape disc holdin' t' streamer on came loose. Arrr! Begad! T' rocket tumbled down from 700ft, however, it landed with no damage. Begad! T' streamer took about 10 minutes t' come down although it landed surprisingly close t' t' pad. I've now fixed it back on with some maskin' tape.

Recovery:
PROs:

• Nice long shock cord
• Effective crepe streamer
• Good descent rate
• Rocket survived comin' down with no streamer without damage!

CONS:

• Streamer attachment method

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
I think this is a great rocket from Semroc!

PROs:

• Easy t' build
• Great flights
• Amazin' quality materials

CONs:

• Streamer attachment method

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5