Brief:
This is one o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. T' Mini Explorer is based upon t' Centuri larger scale Explorer, but downscaled t' fly on 18mm motors.

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
• 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! In t' RTB series, shiver me timbers, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, shiver me timbers, arrr, 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, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. This is definitely a skill level 1 model, me hearties, arrr, and aside from paint and surface prep, t' total build is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, me hearties, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Unlike t' typical mount, matey, though, me bucko, arrr, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Aye aye! 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. Surprisingly, me hearties, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Blimey! Begad! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, me hearties, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, ya bilge rat, 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, arrr, servin' as an anchor. Ahoy! Begad! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, shiver me timbers, it's ready for t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, matey, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. 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. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, arrr, matey, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Blimey! 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, me hearties, and t' fit against t' motor tube be very good. Avast! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jog, 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, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. That be nay t' case with this model, me hearties, though.

Tack on a launch lug, shiver me timbers, make t' chute, shiver me timbers, and add a screw eye anchor t' t' nose cone and construction's done.

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

T' waterslide decals add t' name, a roll pattern, and a blue stripe towards t' top and were great t' work with.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' first flight on this one be usin' a C6-5, shiver me timbers, and on a day where just about all t' RTB series were zippin' off t' pad, this one stood out as among t' highest flying, me hearties, which kind o' surprised me. Begad! It was absolutely straight, no sign o' a roll, shiver me timbers, and t' -5 wound up bein' just a bit early.

Recovery:
T' chute worked fine, shiver me timbers, me bucko, no damage t' t' model on hard, dry grass.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I think t' steps Semroc has taken t' simplify t' build process in their RTB series are helpful. Aye aye! With this bein' such a solid flyer, this is certainly a fine candidate for a first build.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5