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

Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, me bucko, 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, ya bilge rat, metal hook, me bucko, 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. Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! In t' RTB series, arrr, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, me hearties, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, matey, 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. Arrr! This is clearly a skill level 1 introductory type kit, and excludin' finish/surface prep total construction is well under an hour.

T' motor mount is a standard BT-20 tube, metal hook, matey, matey, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Ahoy! Begad! Unlike t' typical mount, me hearties, though, matey, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, matey, me bucko, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! This is critical later in t' process. Avast, me proud beauty! Surprisingly, ya bilge rat, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, shiver me timbers, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Begad! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, shiver me timbers, 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, which are used t' slip t' elastic shock cord through, me bucko, servin' as an anchor. Avast! Ya scallywag! After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, it's ready for t' motor mount. T' motor mount slides just a tiny bit into t' stuffer tube, me hearties, ya bilge rat, enough that t' forward (white) centerin' rin' is flush with t' aft end o' t' stuffer tube. Arrr! 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. Slidin' t' assembly into t' body tube t' dry fit is a good idea at this point, matey, me hearties, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Ahoy! 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, fins are thru-wall, and t' fit against t' motor tube was very good. Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jig, me bucko, 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, ya bilge rat, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. Avast, me proud beauty! That be nay t' case with this model, shiver me timbers, though.

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

Recovery:
T' 12" chute worked like a charm, as t' model was 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, matey, but in terms o' a simple t' build, reliable flyer for an introductory model, this fits t' bill. 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, me hearties, this is a great way t' introduce a young modeler t' t' wonders o' balsa and glue construction.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5