Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Avast! Blimey! My wife's favorite, matey, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, and igniter plug in, 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, shiver me timbers, 2 hinged, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, just an engine block
• No shock cord, 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, me bucko, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, shiver me timbers, a sewin' needle, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

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

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Arrr! Arrr! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, shiver me timbers, me bucko, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, ya bilge rat, and you are good t' go. Ahoy! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, matey, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Avast, me proud beauty! No waddin' t' forget. Begad! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! No shock cord t' burn through, ya bilge rat, or cause a zipper. Begad! Man, shiver me timbers, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Begad! Blimey! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, ya bilge rat, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. Begad! 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, matey, me proud beauty! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Avast, me proud beauty! However, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Aye aye! Ahoy! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, arrr, and maybe t' hinge material too. Avast, me proud beauty! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Aye aye! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5