Brief:
This be t' long, ya bilge rat, me bucko, sleek "middle brother" o' t' Centuri Thunder family, shiver me timbers, first introduced in 1980. Well, me bucko, blow me down! (T' others are t' Thunder Roc and Thunder Hawk.)

Construction:
Parts list:

• 2 18" lengths o' ST-10 tubin' (Semroc part #: ST-10180)
• 1 3.9" long ogive balsa cone (Semroc part #: BC-1039)
• 1 coupler for ST-10 (Semroc part #: BTC-10)
• 1 1/8" x 2.25" launch lug (Semroc part #: LL-122)
• 1 #7 t' #10 engine mount (Semroc part #: EM-710)
• 1 laser-cut fin set (Semroc part #: FV-47)
• 1 1/8" x 60" flat elastic
• 1 decal set (from Excelsior)
• 1 18" plastic parachute

Havin' built a clone o' t' Centuri Thunder Roc (See Bill Eichelberger's review here), ya bilge rat, I recently moved on t' t' next largest o' the Centuri Thunder family, matey, t' Thunder Bird. Begad! A search o' Jim Z's plan site turned up zip, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but I be able t' find a set on me next search, shiver me timbers, at Ye Olde Rocket Plans. Begad! Discernin' t' parts was, me bucko, for t' most part, matey, easily done by lookin' at t' rocket dimensions and recommended engines, however, arrr, shiver me timbers, t' length of t' nose cone was a bit o' a problem. Avast, me proud beauty! After studyin' t' catalog picture, I finally settled on t' Semroc 3.9" ogive, arrr, me hearties, even though I later discovered that t' Semroc version o' t' Thunder Bird (yet t' be released) uses a cone 5.1" in length. Well, blow me down! My version o' t' Thunder Bird is slightly shorter than the catalog spec and t' Semroc version is slightly longer.

Havin' put together a parts list, arrr, I ordered them from Semroc. I had noticed that Semroc also offered a laser-cut set o' Thunder Bird fins and wishin' t' avoid some balsa cutting, included them in me order as well. T' parachute was an 18" plastic chute filched from an old Estes kit and a 60" shock cord was part o' a purchase from t' local fabric store. Arrr! In a very kind gesture, Carl included a set o' Thunder Bird decals with me parts order--Semroc is a class act!

T' build was a pretty straightforward 3FNC construction with no gotchas. Arrr! I strengthened t' fins by laminatin' them with computer paper, arrr, which also cut down on t' finishin' time. T' extremely nice Semroc nose cone needed very little sanding, me hearties, just a light coat o' thinned Fill 'n' Finish sealed it nicely.

Finishing:
After applyin' two coats o' Krylon primer (with sandin' in between), I painted the rocket per t' 1980 Centuri catalog: gloss white with t' fins and bottom 12" orange. I did nay apply t' decals I received from Semroc (I will need them for this bird's successor), shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, optin' t' use a set that made up part o' an recent order t' Fred at Excelsior. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! They went on without a hitch after I had put on a couple o' coats o' Microsol liquid decal film.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
First flight occurred on September 16, me bucko, 2005, on an Estes B6-4. Blimey! Conditions were a bit breezy so I swapped t' 18" parachute for a 12" Semroc parachute. Well, blow me down! T' flight be picture perfect straight with no wind cockin' and ejection occurrin' right after apogee. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down!

Recovery:
T' 12" chute be a good choice as it brought t' Thunder Bird down undamaged in t' soft grass just east o' t' pad.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
An easy t' build blast from t' past, this is one o' t' few rockets intentionally designed as a member o' a rocket family. Avast! Well, blow me down! After buildin' this one, you should build its brothers, t' Thunder Roc and Thunder Hawk, arrr, and the "new" Semroc addition, me bucko, t' ThunderBee.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5