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

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! 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! 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. Blimey! A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. However, matey, while it looks like it is screamin' down, shiver me timbers, 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. You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, me hearties, if needed. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, me bucko, they need t' be opposite o' each other, matey, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, ya bilge rat, very simple t' prep, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A great rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5