Brief:
T' Mark II is a single stage Retro-Repro kit o' Orville Carlisle's Rock-A-Chute Mark II model rocket. Avast! It is, me bucko, ya bilge rat, as noted by t' history sheet that came with t' kit, nay a clone kit, but rather a reproduction o' a classic kit updated with t' latest technology and buildin' components.

Construction:
Openin' t' packagin' and layin' out t' contents revealed what would be an easy build, me bucko, shiver me timbers, usin' t' high quality components that Semroc is known for. Blimey! T' package contents included:

• 1 Precision turned balsa nose cone
• 1 Series 10 body tube
• 1 Series 7 t' 10 engine mount kit (engine tube, me hearties, engine hook, me bucko, thrust ring, me bucko, 2 centerin' rings
• 1 BT-3 launch lug
• 1 Recovery kit (Keelhaul®©™® and elastic shock cords, screw eye, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 12" parachute kit)
• Extremely clean laser cut balsa fins.
• Instructions and history o' t' Rock-A-Chute
• No decorative decals, however thar be a name plate decal, which includes t' name o' t' kit, shiver me timbers, and a production number.

I got t' Mark II as part o' me purchase from a Hobby Lobby sale at t' end o' December 2005, matey, so what better way t' rin' in t' new year than hangin' in T' Rocketry Forum chat room and buildin' this kit at me desk.

Yeah. Blimey! Blimey! I know. Begad! Get a life...

Anyway, ya bilge rat, t' instructions are straightforward, arrr, me bucko, startin' with assemblin' t' EM-710 motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! T' engine tube even comes pre-slotted, so thar be no question about where t' motor hook goes. Begad! Arrr! Semroc does have a better trick for attachin' t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord attachment than what I usually use and it's a real forehead slapper. Begad! (You know...you smack yourself in t' forehead and say "Now why didn't I think o' that?") I usually loop t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine tube and notch t' centerin' rin' t' allow t' Keelhaul®©™ t' exit t' body tube. Avast! Semroc has you just tie t' Keelhaul®©™ around t' engine block itself and glue that into place. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! It is much less work and as long as you use a good grade o' glue (because o' t' attachment point, arrr, I glued t' block in with wood glue and reinforced with a dab o' 5 minute epoxy), it isn't goin' anywhere.

While that assembly is drying, I put t' #10 body tube on t' fin markin' guide that was printed on t' instructions. Ya scallywag! I personally prefer t' wraparound type, but t' way Semroc does it maintains t' integrity o' t' instructions (which are printed on a good grade o' cardstock, interestingly enough...) for filin' away for future use and perhaps allowin' them t' be preserved for a generation o' yet t' be born BARs? T' three fins themselves are extremely clean laser cut and pretty much fell away from t' surroundin' balsa. Well, blow me down! I sanded all edges except for t' root edges round and used me handy yellow plastic Estes fin attachment tool t' attach t' fins with wood glue. Ya scallywag! After those were set, t' engine mount was installed (again with wood glue) and t' Keelhaul®©™ shock cord is fed through t' front o' t' body tube, me hearties, attached t' t' generous length o' elastic shock cord, and then t' t' beautifully turned balsa nosecone via t' included screw eye. Arrr! Finally, t' oversized launch lug (accurately reflectin' Carlisle's original) is attached t' t' body tube.

Finishing:
I gave t' nose one and fins a coat o' thinned Elmer's Fill 'n' Finish. Begad! Blimey! T' next morning, I sanded them smooth and hit t' rocket with a shot o' sandable primer just t' make sure t' grain wasn't too obnoxious. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! That was then followed by a couple o' coats o' red spray paint, me bucko, then one fin and t' nose cone were masked for a shot o' black. With that it was called finished, and I assembled and installed t' 12" plastic Semroc parachute. T' rocket was then ready for t' January 8th Sky Buster launch!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Well, me hearties, t' January 8th launch be canceled for poor field conditions and since most o' t' flyers are HPR guys, arrr, a lack o' a waiver due t' changin' o' t' officers, me bucko, so thar be no big launch that day. Avast! However, me bucko, nay bein' one t' let a mid-winter 45 degree day go by, me bucko, arrr, I packed me rockets, arrr, me daughter, me hearties, and myself up for a launch at Lakewood park.

Semroc recommends t' followin' engines: A8-5, B6-6, C6-7. Aye aye! T' only one's I had out o' those 3 were t' C6-7s, ya bilge rat, but t' park wasn't big enough for those motors in that rocket. Begad! I did, matey, however, have some Quest A6-4s and thought that would be even better that riskin' too short a delay with t' A8-3s I did have. Begad! Since t' park is also surrounded by trees, I swapped out t' chute for a streamer for t' first flight. Aye aye! My daughter hit t' launch button and t' Mark II shot arrow straight into t' sky, ya bilge rat, poppin' t' streamer at apogee, which I estimate t' be possibly 200 feet. As thar be virtually no wind, matey, t' rocket landed maybe 30 feet away from t' pad with t' streamer recovery resultin' in no damage. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! For t' second flight I put t' chute back in t' rocket in place o' t' streamer, me hearties, and launched again with me last A6-4. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Once again, me hearties, arrow straight flight, arrr, poppin' t' chute right at apogee or maybe just a breath thereafter. Aye aye! This time, thar was a little drift but nothin' serious. T' 12" chute is just t' right size for a rocket this weight. Arrr! Recovery was right next t' but nay quite in a mud puddle. Begad! A few swipes with a baby wipe cleaned t' crud off t' gloss paint. Arrr! This little bad boy is lookin' t' cut loose on a real field this spring!

Recovery:
There was no damage at all. I used dog barf for waddin' and it proved t' be adequate protection for t' recovery system. Begad! T' chute be t' right size for a rocket this size and weight, but t' rocket is small, shiver me timbers, me bucko, light, and sturdy enough that a streamer can also be used easily.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Very simple, inexpensive replica o' a historic model rocket that can be put together in an hour or so (dependin' on how slow settin' your glue is) at one sitting. Avast! Good performer. Well, blow me down! Good beginner kit without bein' insultingly simple (i.e., Rip t' package open and launch).

CONs: I can't think o' any.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5