Brief:
This is #1 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. T' design is a Semroc original, though inspired by a Bill Simon/Estes design intended t' introduce new modelers t' rocketry with a relatively easy t' build kit.

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

• Balsa nose cone
• Series 10 slotted body tube (1" ID)
• Series 9 stuffer tube (1" OD)
• 18mm motor mount (tube, metal hook, arrr, centerin' rings)
• Laser-cut balsa fins (3)
• 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. In t' RTB series, me bucko, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, me bucko, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, me bucko, an alignment jig, and a stuffer tube t' serve as shock cord anchor and reinforce t' body tube.

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

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Aye aye! Aye aye! Unlike t' typical mount, though, 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. Begad! Begad! This is critical later in t' process. Well, blow me down! Surprisingly, me bucko, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, arrr, ya bilge rat, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Ahoy! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, me bucko, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.

T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, matey, arrr, shiver me timbers, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, shiver me timbers, matey, servin' as an anchor. Begad! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, me hearties, it's ready for t' motor mount. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Begad! Avast! 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. Ahoy! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, matey, arrr, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Begad! Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, 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).

As noted, fins are thru-wall, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jig, 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, matey, though for fins that have a significant span and are nay swept back very far, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Arrr! That was nay t' case with this model, though.

Tack on a launch lug, make t' chute and construction's done, matey, though be careful about t' lug placement (see finishin' notes).

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, startin' with two coats o' primer, shiver me timbers, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins gloss red and t' nose cone royal blue.

T' waterslide decals add t' name and vertical blue stripes. T' stripes wound up bein' a bit too long and needed t' be cut down. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Also, with 3 stripes/names, t' default alignment would be centered betwixt each fin, arrr, though this will likely run over t' top o' t' launch lug unless you think ahead and place t' lug in t' fin/root joint.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' first flight, arrr, I be workin' on t' short end o' a field overrun by soccer games, ya bilge rat, so wimped out with an A8-3. It boosted very well on that low impulse motor, shiver me timbers, though, and t' -3 delay was just about right. Aye aye! No sign o' roll, dead straight boost in winds around 5 mph.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute is plenty for this model, and you could certainly go with a spill hole or even reefin' it a bit. Aye aye! Begad! I recovered mine on dry/hard grass with no signs o' damage.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
As with all t' RTB series, this one's a good flyer, quick and easy build, and a solid beginner-type kit. Begad! Sure, it's a basic 3FNC, but for t' price and under an hour's construction time, it serves its purpose, and t' simplification tools/techniques incorporated in these RTB models are effective.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5