Brief:
This is #1 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. Aye aye! 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, arrr, metal hook, 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. Ya scallywag! In t' RTB series, ya bilge rat, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, shiver me timbers, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, an alignment jig, me hearties, and a stuffer tube t' serve as shock cord anchor and reinforce t' body tube.

T' RTB series are all fairly easy t' build, me hearties, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Blimey! 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, me bucko, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Avast! Unlike t' typical mount, though, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Begad! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. This is critical later in t' process. Blimey! Surprisingly, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Avast, me proud beauty! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, 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, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, servin' as an anchor. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, it's ready for t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Avast! 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. 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. Begad! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, me bucko, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Ya scallywag! 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 be very good. Ahoy! Blimey! 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, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! That was nay t' case with this model, though.

Tack on a launch lug, matey, make t' chute and construction's done, arrr, 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, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! Also, with 3 stripes/names, matey, shiver me timbers, t' default alignment would be centered betwixt each fin, ya bilge rat, 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I be workin' on t' short end o' a field overrun by soccer games, so wimped out with an A8-3. Begad! It boosted very well on that low impulse motor, though, and t' -3 delay be just about right. Aye aye! No sign o' roll, shiver me timbers, dead straight boost in winds around 5 mph.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute is plenty for this model, me bucko, arrr, and you could certainly go with a spill hole or even reefin' it a bit. Avast! Aye aye! 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, me bucko, this one's a good flyer, quick and easy build, matey, and a solid beginner-type kit. Aye aye! Sure, me bucko, it's a basic 3FNC, but for t' price and under an hour's construction time, me bucko, it serves its purpose, matey, matey, and t' simplification tools/techniques incorporated in these RTB models are effective.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5