Brief:
This is the long, sleek "middle brother" of the Centuri Thunder family, first introduced in 1980. (The others are the Thunder Roc and Thunder Hawk.)

Construction:
Parts list:

• 2 18" lengths of ST-10 tubing (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 to #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

Having built a clone of the Centuri Thunder Roc (See Bill Eichelberger's review here), I recently moved on to the next largest of the Centuri Thunder family, the Thunder Bird. A search of Jim Z's plan site turned up zip, but I was able to find a set on my next search, at Ye Olde Rocket Plans. Discerning the parts was, for the most part, easily done by looking at the rocket dimensions and recommended engines, however, the length of the nose cone was a bit of a problem. After studying the catalog picture, I finally settled on the Semroc 3.9" ogive, even though I later discovered that the Semroc version of the Thunder Bird (yet to be released) uses a cone 5.1" in length. My version of the Thunder Bird is slightly shorter than the catalog spec and the Semroc version is slightly longer.

Having put together a parts list, I ordered them from Semroc. I had noticed that Semroc also offered a laser-cut set of Thunder Bird fins and wishing to avoid some balsa cutting, included them in my order as well. The parachute was an 18" plastic chute filched from an old Estes kit and a 60" shock cord was part of a purchase from the local fabric store. In a very kind gesture, Carl included a set of Thunder Bird decals with my parts order--Semroc is a class act!

The build was a pretty straightforward 3FNC construction with no gotchas. I strengthened the fins by laminating them with computer paper, which also cut down on the finishing time. The extremely nice Semroc nose cone needed very little sanding, just a light coat of thinned Fill 'n' Finish sealed it nicely.

Finishing:
After applying two coats of Krylon primer (with sanding in between), I painted the rocket per the 1980 Centuri catalog: gloss white with the fins and bottom 12" orange. I did not apply the decals I received from Semroc (I will need them for this bird's successor), opting to use a set that made up part of an recent order to Fred at Excelsior. They went on without a hitch after I had put on a couple of coats of Microsol liquid decal film.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
First flight occurred on September 16, 2005, on an Estes B6-4. Conditions were a bit breezy so I swapped the 18" parachute for a 12" Semroc parachute. The flight was picture perfect straight with no wind cocking and ejection occurring right after apogee.

Recovery:
The 12" chute was a good choice as it brought the Thunder Bird down undamaged in the soft grass just east of the pad.

Flight Rating: 4 out of 5

Summary:
An easy to build blast from the past, this is one of the few rockets intentionally designed as a member of a rocket family. After building this one, you should build its brothers, the Thunder Roc and Thunder Hawk, and the "new" Semroc addition, the ThunderBee.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5