Brief:
This is #4 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. T' original Aphelion was Semroc's 4th production kit, introduced in 1968 and included in their version o' a starter set (with launch pad, shiver me timbers, controller, me bucko, and engines).

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, 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, 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, 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. This is clearly a skill level 1 introductory type kit, and excludin' finish/surface prep total construction is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Begad! Begad! 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! This is critical later in t' process. Well, blow me down! Surprisingly, ya bilge rat, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, matey, 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, arrr, me hearties, 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, me bucko, me bucko, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, servin' as an anchor. Avast! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, it's ready for t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, arrr, matey, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Blimey! 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. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 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, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. 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. Aye aye! 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, me hearties, me bucko, arrr, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Avast! Blimey! That be nay t' case with this model, me hearties, though.

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, startin' with two coats o' primer, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins and forward section o' t' body tube yellow. Ya scallywag! Note that t' cover art depicts a yellow/black roll pattern, matey, but t' decal itself is only clear and black. Begad! If you want t' yellow (which does look nicer), you must carefully measure t' decal length and paint about 1/16-1/8" less than from t' tube top yellow.

T' nose cone got gloss black.

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

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I went with a conservative A8-3 for t' first flight, arrr, pinned into t' corner o' a crowded group o' soccer fields. Aye aye! T' flight was straight up and perfect, shiver me timbers, no roll, shiver me timbers, matey, deployment right at apogee. T' kit recommends a -5 delay, but I found t' -3 t' be just about right on this one.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute performed fine, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and in fact I used t' same chute for most o' t' 8 flights for t' day on various Semroc models, usin' only dog barf for protection.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
As a beginner's kit, I wouldn't expect interestin' styling, and t' 3FNC design is certainly nothin' special, but it's a simple, quick build and will certainly provide quick, easy and reliable first flight experience that's sure t' be positive. In fact, thar was a steady flow o' young soccer players walkin' past me pad area all day, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and I'd often offer t' let them launch these RTB models. Blimey! Each one drew that wide-eyed "wow, that was cool" response from them, me bucko, so t' mission was surely accomplished.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5