Brief:
This kit looks very retro. Begad! Arrr! I'm expectin' Bugs Bunny and Marvin t' Martian to come crawlin' out o' t' hatch at any moment. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It be t' first kit from a brand new company called Pemberton Technologies. Although it's called 3FNC, it's not your ordinary 3 fins and a nose cone rocket.

Construction:
I don't usually list t' components o' a kit in a review, me bucko, but thar are so many good ones in this kit I had t' list them.

T' kit includes:

• 3" PML Nose Cone
• PML BT
• PML 29mm MMT
• Ejection baffle ring
• Card stock transitions
• Wire motor retainer
• Centerin' rings
• Basswood fin stock
• Fin pods
• 18" nylon chute
• Brass launch lugs
• Nose weight
• Eye screw and hardware
• Tubular nylon shock cord
• Fin pattern sheet
• Fin alignment guide
• Fully pre-assembled steel lead cable
• Waterslide decals
• Nomex® chute heat shield
• Bod wad recovery waddin' (Bag o' dog barf)
• A set o' instructions in full color

T' instructions are very impressive t' say t' least. Arrr! T' pictures are so detailed that you could almost build t' rocket without readin' a word! They are written with great care and detail but are lighthearted and fun t' read. Don't get ahead o' t' directions when you are buildin' it. Avast! Arrr! There are steps that need t' be done in specific order. Begad! Since this rocket is different from any other rocket, I recommend readin' them start t' finish before starting. Avast, me proud beauty! You'll get a good sense o' how it goes together and you have fun readin' them. In fact, me bucko, me bucko, shiver me timbers, I've never laughed so much readin' directions!

They give you two shroud templates in case you screw one up.

With t' Nomex® heat shield, me bucko, arrr, Top Flight parachute, arrr, me hearties, and even motor retention, this kit has everythin' you could possibly need t' launch except for a motor. Arrr! Blimey! T' nylon chute and t' Nomex® chute protector are a sweet touch t' t' recovery system, but t' chute is on the small side for this rocket. Fin pods are a nice touch and really add t' the retro look.

T' instructions explain that you absolutely must coat t' basswood fins in thinned epoxy or it will shred. Aye aye! This is a difficult and time consumin' process. I opted t' take me chances and soak t' fins in thin CA glue. Arrr! I can't say for sure that it is just as strong but it should be. Aye aye! What I can say for sure is that its ready t' sand within an hour, matey, me hearties, t' sandin' goes much quicker and it ends up bein' lighter. Blimey! A word o' caution: These are large fins and will take quite a bit o' CA. Well, blow me down! I strongly advise doin' this outside if you choose t' go this route.

T' kit comes with brass launch lugs. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! A lot o' people like these and I have used them in t' past, ya bilge rat, arrr, but I decided t' use regular cardboard ones because it reduces t' weight and they provide a strong bond. Avast! Brass needs t' be roughed up to get a good bond and even with that, matey, adhesives just don't stick t' brass. This is nay a problem with t' kit, just a personal preference.

I added an extra 50 grams o' nose weight so I could fly bigger motors. Mine came in at 490 grams completed.

Finishing:
After sandin' t' fins smooth, t' kit be a breeze t' finish. Since thar was only a few inches o' body tube, arrr, I opted t' fill t' spirals with spot putty. Ya scallywag! Begad! A few coats o' primer sealed it up. Aye aye! I used Rustoleum Metallic Silver t' paint the whole rocket. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I then applied t' decals and she was complete. Ahoy! Arrr! T' decals are nice quality and went on nicely but don't keep them in t' water longer than necessary because t' colors will run.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' whole recovery system concept on this rocket is as innovative as I have ever seen. Arrr! Begad! I found t' recovery assembly difficult t' pack. Begad! T' steel leader kept gettin' in t' way o' t' motor tube durin' assembly, but this is somethin' I'm sure I'll get used t' doing. Ya scallywag! T' first flight was on an F25 to about 1,900 feet and straight as an arrow. Avast! Arrr!

Recovery:
T' recovery went flawless, matey, me bucko, but it landed a bit hard and one o' t' fins stuck in t' ground. Avast, me proud beauty! T' CA must have done its job because thar was no damage at all. Ya scallywag! I received several complements on t' kit and t' flight. Ahoy! Since I usually design odd things like this, everyone assumed I designed it. Begad! A few people had to know where I got it when I told them it was a kit. I did nay use ant wadding in it, but thar was no burn marks on t' chute. Begad! You have t' see t' ejection design t' appreciate it.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' quality o' this kit and it parts is as good as it gets. Add t' that the uniqueness o' t' design and t' extras like t' Nomex® chute protector, and you got yourself a top shelf product. Arrr! Blimey! (And imagine, arrr, this is only their first kit!)

CONs: I don't like paper transitions. I didn't feel that this would detract from me ratin' because it's only a personal preference. Ya scallywag! A balsa transition would have been better, me bucko, me bucko, but you can't have everything.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5