Brief:
Clone of historic 1966 single stage, streamer recovery kit for Rocket Development Corporation. RDC was started in 1961 by Irving Wait, an employee of Thiokol. His major contribution to rocketry was the development of high power composite engines, known as Enerjet. These were later sold through Centuri and shaped all of high power rocketry.

Construction:
The parts list:

• 1 body tube
• 1 balsa nose cone (the original used hardwood)
• 3 laser cut fins
• 1 1/8" launch lug
• 1 engine block
• 1 empty casing
• 1 screw eye
• 1 Kevlar® thread
• 1 elastic shock cord
• 1 crepe paper streamer
• 1 tape dot

As with all Semroc kits, the instructions are professional grade and made for the first timer. Follow them and nothing can go wrong. Follow the pictures and you hardly need to read. The fins are precut in the way Semroc does, which is better than most other kit makers. Everything goes just where it should and fits perfectly. Although the components are very light weight in keeping with the original, they are well made. Only the most common LPR materials and tools are needed. Using CyA to tack fins on and the fillet with wood glue, I built this in an hour.

Finishing:
Finishing is up to the builder. I primed and then painted with Rustoleum black appliance epoxy, which I was enjoying way too much at the time. Bad idea, since Semroc gives a black colored water slide decal with the original logo and rocket dimensions with the kit.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
Long delay A, B, and C motors are recommended since this light thing will coast forever if you let it. My flights were with B6-4s. I also replaced the crepe paper streamer with a mylar streamer. Boost was straight and super fast, coast was straight up and ejection was at or just before apogee. Recovery was fine.

Recovery:
This is my main beef with Semroc kits: Kevlar® thread tied directly to the thrust ring. It's exposed to ejection gasses and can burn through. After 3, mine is showing wear. An alternate anchor would be better.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
Once again Semroc offers an excellent build of an historic model, a real boon to BARs like me. It's a good little rocket that's worthy of being a show piece. Thanks Semroc for letting me relive memories!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5