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, 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, me hearties, 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! In t' RTB series, shiver me timbers, 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, 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, with almost all o' t' construction process usin' t' same standardized steps. Aye aye! This is definitely a skill level 1 model, and aside from paint and surface prep, matey, matey, t' total build is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, matey, metal hook, me bucko, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Aye aye! Unlike t' typical mount, me bucko, though, me bucko, matey, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Ya scallywag! This is critical later in t' process. Well, blow me down! Surprisingly, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, matey, matey, ya bilge rat, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Arrr! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, plus one layer o' paper from t' outside o' t' white ring.

T' stuffer tube contains a couple slits, me bucko, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, shiver me timbers, servin' as an anchor. Blimey! Ahoy! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, it's ready for t' motor mount. Avast! T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Arrr! Well, blow me down! 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. Begad! Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, matey, shiver me timbers, matey, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Aye aye! 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, shiver me timbers, me bucko, fins are thru-wall, arrr, and t' fit against t' motor tube be very good. Arrr! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jog, matey, me bucko, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. Avast, me proud beauty! 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 hearties, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Avast, me proud beauty! That was nay t' case with this model, though.

Tack on a launch lug, make t' chute, ya bilge rat, 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, me hearties, me bucko, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins blue and t' nose cone black.

T' waterslide decals add t' name, arrr, a roll pattern, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, and on a day where just about all t' RTB series were zippin' off t' pad, matey, this one stood out as among t' highest flying, ya bilge rat, matey, which kind o' surprised me. Well, blow me down! It was absolutely straight, me bucko, shiver me timbers, no sign o' a roll, and t' -5 wound up bein' just a bit early.

Recovery:
T' chute worked fine, me hearties, 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! With this bein' such a solid flyer, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, this is certainly a fine candidate for a first build.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5