Brief:
This is #4 o' 10 "ready t' build" models released by Semroc at NARAM-52. Avast! T' original Aphelion was Semroc's 4th production kit, introduced in 1968 and included in their version o' a starter set (with launch pad, ya bilge rat, controller, and engines).

Construction:
Parts were excellent quality, ya bilge rat, arrr, 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, metal hook, matey, 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. Arrr! Blimey! In t' RTB series, t' modeler still has t' actually do work t' build and fly t' model, ya bilge rat, but t' design includes a number o' features that simplify t' build process, includin' slotted body tubes for thru-wall fin mounting, matey, me bucko, 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. 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, me bucko, metal hook, and a pair o' centerin' rings. Arrr! Unlike t' typical mount, though, me hearties, thar are two different centerin' rings involved with slightly different diameters. Well, blow me down! Pay careful attention t' t' instructions, as t' white rin' goes forward and t' brown rin' goes aft. Begad! Ya scallywag! This is critical later in t' process. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Surprisingly, arrr, t' mount does nay include an inner motor block, so t' metal hook will have t' hold for t' life o' t' model. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I found t' centerin' rings a bit too snug, matey, and had t' peel off a layer o' paper from t' inside o' each, ya bilge rat, 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, servin' as an anchor. After knottin' t' cord and reinforcin' with a drop o' glue, me bucko, it's ready for t' motor mount. Begad! Arrr! 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. 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, arrr, matey, t' make sure t' forward centerin' rin' is aligned properly inside t' stuffer tube. Begad! Once t' motor mount/stuffer tube assembly has completely dried, arrr, 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, arrr, arrr, and t' fit against t' motor tube be very good. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Included in t' kit is a nifty little cardboard fin alignment jig, which fits smoothly on t' series 10 body tube and has notches t' accept 3 and 4 fin patterns. Aye aye! 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, matey, t' slots in t' jig are nay long enough t' be o' much use. That was nay t' case with this model, shiver me timbers, though.

Finishing:
I went with t' stock paint scheme on this, ya bilge rat, startin' with two coats o' primer, followin' up with a couple thin coats o' gloss white, matey, then maskin' off t' paint t' fins and forward section o' t' body tube yellow. Note that t' cover art depicts a yellow/black roll pattern, but t' decal itself is only clear and black. Avast! If you want t' yellow (which does look nicer), you must carefully measure t' decal length and paint about 1/16-1/8" less than from t' tube top yellow.

T' nose cone got gloss black.

T' waterslide decals add t' name and roll pattern.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I went with a conservative A8-3 for t' first flight, pinned into t' corner o' a crowded group o' soccer fields. Begad! T' flight was straight up and perfect, no roll, deployment right at apogee. Arrr! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Blimey! T' kit recommends a -5 delay, ya bilge rat, matey, but I found t' -3 t' be just about right on this one.

Recovery:
T' 12" chute performed fine, arrr, and in fact I used t' same chute for most o' t' 8 flights for t' day on various Semroc models, usin' only dog barf for protection.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
As a beginner's kit, me bucko, I wouldn't expect interestin' styling, arrr, and t' 3FNC design is certainly nothin' special, me bucko, but it's a simple, me bucko, me bucko, quick build and will certainly provide quick, me hearties, arrr, easy and reliable first flight experience that's sure t' be positive. Ya scallywag! In fact, ya bilge rat, thar was a steady flow o' young soccer players walkin' past me pad area all day, and I'd often offer t' let them launch these RTB models. Ahoy! Each one drew that wide-eyed "wow, shiver me timbers, that was cool" response from them, me hearties, shiver me timbers, arrr, so t' mission was surely accomplished.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5