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

Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, ya bilge rat, me hearties, me hearties, 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, shiver me timbers, metal hook, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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, 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, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Begad! 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, me hearties, matey, metal hook, me bucko, arrr, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Unlike t' typical mount, though, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Ahoy! Blimey! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Well, blow me down! Begad! This is critical later in t' process. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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, matey, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, me hearties, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.

T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, shiver me timbers, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, arrr, servin' as an anchor. Avast! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it's ready for t' motor mount. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! 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. 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! 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, me bucko, 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, arrr, fins are thru-wall, arrr, ya bilge rat, and t' fit against t' motor tube be very good. Begad! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jig, matey, 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, 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! That was nay t' case with this model, shiver me timbers, though.

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, arrr, startin' with two coats o' primer, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, arrr, 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, 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). Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' boost was straight, matey, very fast, and respectable altitude, arrr, shiver me timbers, though probably closer t' 300-400 feet than t' header card's suggested 550. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Part o' that difference was surely me choice o' delay, since t' -4 clearly deployed early, shiver me timbers, leavin' some potential coast altitude unfulfilled.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute worked like a charm, as t' model be 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, ya bilge rat, but in terms o' a simple t' build, shiver me timbers, reliable flyer for an introductory model, this fits t' bill. Begad! It's a bit pricey for t' typical cub scout build/fly market, arrr, but as a kit t' give t' t' kid who just bought one o' those starter sets with models featurin' plastic parts, arrr, matey, this is a great way t' introduce a young modeler t' t' wonders o' balsa and glue construction.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5