Brief description:
Single staged, me bucko, arrr, arrr, 29mm motor rocket in all wood construction and retro lookin' design, matey, ya bilge rat, much like t' stout sci fi rocketships with huge swept back fins, seen in old movies.

Construction and finishing:
All t' parts arrived securely wrapped in liberal amounts o' bubble wrap. Aye aye! Arrr! Nothin' was broken or missing. Begad! T' actual number o' parts was few, as t' rocket is very simple t' make. Aye aye! Begad! T' instructions were simple and clear, with few drawings, but none were really needed.

T' nose cone was smooth, and was made o' alternatin' insets o' cherry and maple hardwoods. Avast! Blimey! it is precisely turned and symmetrical, arrr, me hearties, and t' grain o' t' wood is beautiful. Ahoy! Blimey! It has a shoulder o' a couple inches in length, allowin' a close and secure fit in t' body tube. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! No sandin' was needed. There is a metal screw eye already in place in t' nose cone for t' parachute and shock cord attachment.

T' parachute is rip stop nylon, me bucko, 24 inches in diameter, ya bilge rat, and bright orange. T' shroud lines are a strong braided nylon. Ahoy! Blimey! T' shock cord is 1/4 inch thick Keelhaul®©™® type cordin' that attaches t' a screw eye in t' forward centerin' rin' on t' engine mount.

T' body tube appears t' be mahogany and is sanded smooth with t' grain very evident and pretty.

T' 4 fins appear t' be basswood, with swirly grain patterns. Arrr! All t' fins were precut, as were t' centerin' rings, matey, me hearties, engine tube, me hearties, matey, matey, and body tube, arrr, and t' body tube was also preslotted for t' 4 fins. Well, blow me down! T' fins are designed with tabs that meet with t' motor tube for strong construction. Arrr! They were all cut alike, 3/8 inch thick, very precise, and also very smooth on t' edges. Blimey! They are rounded on t' continuous leadin' and trailin' edge. Blimey! T' edges show that t' inner ply is dark, shiver me timbers, mahogany-like. Aye aye! Ahoy! This stripin' o' color provides a nice accent. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' fins are also accented with a half-moon shape o' iron-on veneer that has a mahogany-like color.

I used epoxy, as recommended, me bucko, t' attach them through t' body tube and t' t' motor tube, which also is a pretty mahogany. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' two centerin' rings are plywood. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' 2 launch lugs are brass, me hearties, beveled t' reduce drag, and accept 1/4 inch rods.

T' model came out very sturdy and strong. Arrr! But I just couldn't brin' myself t' paint it or decal it. Blimey! T' wood is just too pretty. Begad! Aye aye! So I finished it with three coats o' polyurethane clear furniture varnish.

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 5 out o' 5, matey, ya bilge rat, but some might say 4 1/2 because o' t' need for t' vent hole. But this is somethin' we should do in high power anyway.

Flight and recovery:
T' Aerotech H180-M was used, shiver me timbers, arrr, and it's one o' t' engines t' manufacturer recommends. Aye aye! They also say that t' G64-4, G80-7, me bucko, H128-M, shiver me timbers, and H220-M are good too.

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. When t' chute ejected at apogee, it appeared t' be a tiny speck. Ahoy! I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. This was particularly an anxious moment, because this was a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. Aye aye! I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, matey, shiver me timbers, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Ahoy! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Blimey! Some even asked if it be real. Arrr! Avast! That is, is it a display or does it fly. Avast, me proud beauty! It amazed them when I popped off t' nose cone t' reveal a legitimate construction for flight. Arrr! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, me bucko, fearin' damage t' its looks. Even t' RSO worried about damage and destruction o' t' beauty, as he announced that everyone should look now while they still could. Arrr! Several people took photos o' it. Ahoy! T' way I saw it, metaphorically, me hearties, why breed a champion racehorse t' perfection and then nay let him run? Besides, half o' t' club was fixed on me and t' rocket, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

Everyone cheered when t' flight occurred. Ya scallywag! Begad! Nothin' was burnt or damaged, and t' engine stayed in, held with duct tape. Fellow club members teased me about t' tight loops o' duct tape, sayin' that I wanted t' hold t' engine hostage. Ahoy! Arrr! I'd seen too many other people lose motors t' ejections and be paranoid about mine.

T' rocket was prepped with one Nomexsquare and worm bed wadding. Avast, me proud beauty! I first thought that t' waddin' was overkill, but cert flights must be perfect. Well, matey, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I be glad I did this, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, because t' Nomexsquare was burnt in half!

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, near t' middle, on t' side opposite t' launch lugs t' relieve differences in air pressure and prevent ejection o' t' motor or premature separation o' t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Due t' t' precise fit o' t' parts, me bucko, air pressure be evident on t' ground when t' motor resisted bein' placed all t' way in until t' hole be drilled.

If thar was anythin' nay good about t' flight, shiver me timbers, it be that I had one hand on t' launcher and t' other on t' camera, and consequently, I didn't capture t' great moment o' takeoff on film.

Ratin' for flight and recovery: 5 out o' 5

Summary and tips:
Simple t' build, performs well. Blimey! A crowd pleaser. Aye aye! A bit expensive at $125, ya bilge rat, but worth it since I certified in style. Blimey! Avast! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

Don't paint it. Ya scallywag! Every club has a woodworker who would execute someone who'd mar such art as this. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I recommend this beauty t' anyone who wants t' show off with class. Blimey! In fact, I think that me level 2 project might be a scratch-build usin' t' parts that Retro Rocket Works makes. Blimey! I'm pricin' preslotted 4 inch mahogany tubes now. And they make lovely 4 inch nose cones. Begad! And 38mm motor tubes!!! I'm hooked.

Any tips I learned? T' vent hole in t' body tube was very important in preventin' premature separation o' t' nose cone. I don't remember seein' any mention o' such in t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5