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

Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, metal hook, arrr, 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. In t' RTB series, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, arrr, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, matey, 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, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Aye aye! Blimey! This is definitely a skill level 1 model, shiver me timbers, and aside from paint and surface prep, me bucko, shiver me timbers, t' total build is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Aye aye! Unlike t' typical mount, arrr, me hearties, though, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Ya scallywag! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Surprisingly, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, me bucko, ya bilge rat, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.

T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, ya bilge rat, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, servin' as an anchor. After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, matey, it's ready for t' motor mount. Ya scallywag! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, me hearties, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Aye aye! 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. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, matey, 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, matey, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. Avast, me proud beauty! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jog, matey, arrr, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. Arrr! Avast! 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 bucko, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Aye aye! That be nay t' case with this model, ya bilge rat, me hearties, though.

Tack on a launch lug, ya bilge rat, make t' chute, and add a screw eye anchor t' t' nose cone and construction's done.

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, shiver me timbers, arrr, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins blue and t' nose cone black.

T' waterslide decals add t' name, a roll pattern, me hearties, 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 was usin' a C6-5, 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 bucko, shiver me timbers, which kind o' surprised me. It was absolutely straight, me hearties, no sign o' a roll, and t' -5 wound up bein' just a bit early.

Recovery:
T' chute worked fine, 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. With this bein' such a solid flyer, arrr, matey, this is certainly a fine candidate for a first build.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5