Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. My wife's favorite, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, arrr, ya bilge rat, igniter, matey, shiver me timbers, and igniter plug in, arrr, me bucko, and t' rocket is ready for another go!

Components:

• Body tube: BT-20D (7")
• Nose cone: BNC-20B (balsa) (any blunt one will do)
• Fins: 2 large, 2 hinged, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, just an engine block
• No shock cord, me bucko, parachute, or streamer
• Short length o' elastic string
• Short length (2") o' hardwood (popsicle stick works well)
• Launch lug 1"
• Hinge material (unscented bounce sheets work well)
• Other materials you will need (as usual): pencil or pen, me hearties, hobby cutlass t' cut t' fins, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a sewin' needle, ya bilge rat, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. There are relatively few steps, shiver me timbers, due t' t' simple design. Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Avast! A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Blimey! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. Begad! Blimey! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, shiver me timbers, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, me bucko, I guess. Aye aye! Blimey! Finally, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me hearties, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, ya bilge rat, if needed. Begad! Blimey! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, arrr, they need t' be opposite o' each other, arrr, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Begad! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, me hearties, thar are nay any decals supplied. Avast, me proud beauty! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Begad! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Aye aye! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, so it really blurs when it comes down. Arrr! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Ya scallywag! Begad! Nay too many nooks and crannies, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, shiver me timbers, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, shiver me timbers, and you are good t' go. Avast! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, me bucko, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Begad! No waddin' t' forget. Begad! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Avast, me proud beauty! Man, matey, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, me bucko, ya bilge rat, but has a spin t' it while boosting. I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, arrr, me bucko, arrr, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. However, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

Recovery:
T' only CON here is that t' elastic and hinge material wear out after a while. Avast! Ahoy! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Begad! However, shiver me timbers, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, me hearties, and maybe t' hinge material too. Avast! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, shiver me timbers, arrr, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, matey, better than most o' me rockets ... Well, blow me down! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, me hearties, very little t' go wrong on this baby. A great rocket. Well, blow me down! Arrr! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, arrr, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5