This kit is a member of the Semroc RetroRepro family. These kits are based on out of production flying model rocket kits. In case of the Lil' Hercules, the original kit was released by Centuri Engineering in 1965 and, at the time, cost a mere 85 cents. This RetroRepro version still has a very low $3.50 price tag and has been updated with laser-cut fins. The recovery method was also changed from featherweight to tumble. Washer weights are attached to the fins to move the center of gravity to the back once the motor ejects. This should in turn make the rocket tumble rather than dive down, nose first. The cover of the instructions booklet indicates the Lil' Hercules can be launched many times, obviously this is true only if it can be recovered after each launch.

Parts List

This model rocket kit comes in a clear plastic bag. The color-printed cover of the instructions booklet also serves as a face card.

- body tube
- balsa nose cone
- 4 laser cut balsa fins
- launch lug
- 8 washer weights
- instructions booklet and ID card

Hobby supplies required to build the kit include (white or wood) glue, pencil and finishing supplies.

Construction

The cover of the instuctions booklet indicates the kit is easy to build. This is no exaggeration, the model kit is very easy to assemble. Start by sanding the fins and rounding their edges (except the root edge). Mark the fin positions on the body tube and glue the fins into place. Once the glue dries, add glue fin fillets. Once the glue fillets dry, the launch lug is glued against a fin. The nose cone is checked for fit and glued into the airframe tube. Finally, two washer weights are glued to the bottom of each fin, as seen in the picture on the right. The Lil' Hercules is now ready for finishing.

Finishing

In my personal experience, the odds of recovery for "tumble recovery" type rockets hasn't been very good. Due to this, I didn't try to match the color scheme on the face card (which is nice).

In the hopes of actually recovering this rocket, it was painted competition orange all over. Other high visibility colors haven't helped, so we'll see if competition orange works better.

Measurements

This Semroc rocket is 6.5" (16.5 cm) long and has a body diameter of 0.759 (1.9cm) with a fin span of 3.4" (8.6cm).

Flight Data

Recommended rocket engines are : A8-5, B6-6, C6-7. The C motor should push it up to 1,600 feet, according to the Semroc specifications.

Launched it on a C6-5. In hindsight, this is not a recommended motor. It wasn't stable at all. Jumped off the launch pad, flipped over once or twice and shot off near horizontally. Very spectacular flight. Its near horizontal (slightly upward) flight took it into some woods were it could not be recovered.