Brief:
This is #3 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. Blimey! T' original was one o' Semroc's best-sellin' kits (released in 1970). Avast! T' original kit introduced an ejection baffle, arrr, me bucko, matey, eliminatin' t' need for waddin' and simplifyin' flight prep. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! For this kit, t' baffle is nay included.

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. 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, arrr, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, me bucko, ya bilge rat, an alignment jig, me bucko, and a stuffer tube t' serve as shock cord anchor and reinforce t' body tube.

T' RTB series are all fairly easy t' build, matey, me bucko, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Begad! Ahoy! This is clearly a skill level 1 introductory type kit, me bucko, and excludin' finish/surface prep total construction is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, matey, ya bilge rat, metal hook, me bucko, arrr, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Arrr! Unlike t' typical mount, though, shiver me timbers, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Blimey! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Begad! This is critical later in t' process. Surprisingly, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, shiver me timbers, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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, shiver me timbers, servin' as an anchor. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, me bucko, it's ready for t' motor mount. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, arrr, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Ahoy! 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. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, shiver me timbers, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Avast! 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, me bucko, fins are thru-wall, arrr, shiver me timbers, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. Blimey! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jig, arrr, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' fixture fits well for most fins in t' RTB series, shiver me timbers, though for fins that have a significant span and are nay swept back very far, arrr, me hearties, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! That was nay t' case with this model, though.

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, startin' with two coats o' primer, arrr, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, shiver me timbers, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins red and nose cone plus about an inch o' body tube gloss black.

T' waterslide decals add t' name and roll pattern, me bucko, and also include a neat little "powered by Semroc" decal that can go betwixt t' fins if you want that NASCAR-like look or just want t' promote this great vendor.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I opted for a B6-4 for t' first flight, finishin' off a flight pack motor assortment (kit recommendation is for a -6 delay). T' boost was straight, shiver me timbers, very fast, and respectable altitude, though probably closer t' 300-400 feet than t' header card's suggested 550. Avast! Well, blow me down! Part o' that difference was surely me choice o' delay, ya bilge rat, since t' -4 clearly deployed early, me bucko, matey, me hearties, leavin' some potential coast altitude unfulfilled.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute worked like a charm, as t' model was recovered with no damage on dry/hard grass.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
T' 3FNC stylin' isn't exactly attention grabbin' on t' pad, me bucko, but in terms o' a simple t' build, reliable flyer for an introductory model, this fits t' bill. It's a bit pricey for t' typical cub scout build/fly market, ya bilge rat, but as a kit t' give t' t' kid who just bought one o' those starter sets with models featurin' plastic parts, this is a great way t' introduce a young modeler t' t' wonders o' balsa and glue construction.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5