Brief:
This is #8 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' Mini Hustler is based upon t' Lee Piester/Centuri large scale series design but downscaled t' fly on 18mm motors. Aye aye! This could also be considered t' little brother o' Semroc's SLS Hustler and Lil' Hustler models.

Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, and t' sealed bag contained:

• Balsa nose cone
• Series 10 slotted body tube (1" ID)
• Series 13 payload bay (tube, balsa transition)
• Series 10 booster tube
• 18mm booster motor mount (tube, metal hook, matey, centerin' rings)
• TC-10 coupler
• Series 9 stuffer tube (1" OD)
• 18mm motor mount (tube, matey, metal hook, arrr, centerin' rings)
• Laser-cut balsa fins (2 sets o' 4)
• Elastic shock cord
• 12" plastic chute
• Waterslide decals

T' "ready t' build" series is Semroc's answer t' numerous requests for "ready t' fly" rockets. Aye aye! Blimey! In t' RTB series, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, matey, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, ya bilge rat, an alignment jig, ya bilge rat, arrr, and a stuffer tube t' serve as shock cord anchor and reinforce t' body tube.

T' RTB series are all fairly easy t' build, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Ya scallywag! Begad! This is definitely a skill level 1 model, and aside from paint and surface prep, t' total build is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, matey, metal hook, shiver me timbers, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Avast! Unlike t' typical mount, though, arrr, ya bilge rat, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Avast! This is critical later in t' process. Well, blow me down! Surprisingly, shiver me timbers, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Well, matey, blow me down! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, arrr, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.

T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, arrr, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, shiver me timbers, servin' as an anchor. Ya scallywag! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, arrr, it's ready for t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, ya bilge rat, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Begad! Begad! Blimey! Do nay slide t' motor tube any further--the aft/brown rin' is too large for t' stuffer tube and instead is used t' align inside t' large series 10 body tube. Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, matey, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Ahoy! Blimey! Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, shiver me timbers, it can then be glued inside t' body tube (though be careful t' make sure t' metal engine hook does nay line up under a fin slot).

Usin' t' same two-piece fin lock technology as t' larger Hustlers, these fins need t' be bonded together first, carefully linin' up t' matchin' groove patterns. Well, blow me down! As noted, ya bilge rat, matey, fins are thru-wall, me bucko, arrr, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jog, matey, me bucko, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. T' fixture fits well for most fins in t' RTB series, ya bilge rat, though for fins that have a significant span and are nay swept back very far, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Begad! Begad! That wound up nay bein' an issue on this model.

T' payload bay is a simple extension, matey, consistin' o' a 4.6" length o' body tube and a balsa transition, into which a screw eye anchor is inserted. Blimey! I also drilled a couple vent holes in mine for altimeter use down t' road.

Tack on a pair o' launch lugs with standoffs , me bucko, make t' chute and construction's done.

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, startin' with two coats o' primer, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, me bucko, then maskin' off t' hit t' fins, transition and nose cone gloss black, arrr, and t' payload bay gloss red.

T' waterslide decals add t' name and a roll pattern.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight on this turned out t' be a bit o' an adventure, me bucko, more me fault than that o' t' model. Begad! Avast! I loaded up a C6-5, me hearties, and has intended t' load an altimeter in t' payload bay, but wound up skippin' that due t' issues with t' battery holder on me altimeter. Well, blow me down! As a result, arrr, t' nose cone was only secured with a light friction fit.

T' model flew perfectly straight off t' rod, arrr, and t' -5 was t' right delay, deployin' just over apogee. Unfortunately, t' elastic shock cord resulted in a snap-back effect on t' nose cone/payload, matey, and t' nose cone picked up one o' those common smiles/dings when it struck t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! That was also enough force t' knock t' nose cone off t' bay. Avast, me proud beauty! I was able t' track t' tumblin' cone along with t' rocket, me bucko, so I manage a full recovery.

Recovery:
Other than t' nose cone issue, t' recovery was fine. Arrr! T' 12" chute is adequate for this weight.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This Mini Hustler is a neat little payloader, arrr, and makes a nice addition t' t' Hustler family (SLS Hustler, me hearties, me hearties, Lil' Hustler).

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5