Brief:
This rocket is a free download in .PDF format. You just have t' print on cardstock and build. Ahoy! (Some additional parts required.)

Construction:
This rocket prints on two pages. It has a hexagonal body tube and nose. Its 3 fins are cut from two layers o' cardstock and glued together. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Fins include attachment tabs that make it easier t' glue them t' t' body tube. Ahoy! T' directions recommend 110 lb cardstock. I've built several paper rockets in t' last couple o' years, me hearties, and have always found 67 lb Bristol Board entirely adequate. Well, blow me down! User supplies several other parts. Aye aye! (See list below.)

Instructions were simple and straightforward. Avast! I had no trouble understandin' or followin' them. Begad! I have built Fliskits' Caution Rocket, arrr, Midnight Express, and Nebula, arrr, and all o' Art Applewhite's free paper rockets, and found t' Tricarrow among o' t' simplest paper rockets t' build.

Model Minutes suggests t' followin' supplies:

• Use a transparent glue. Avast! Mod Podge Paper with a small brush works well.
• Non-Dryin' Modeler's Clay
• Small square o' 1/4" Foamboard
• Small eye-screw with 1/2" long threads
• Small plastic bag (or left over 8" plastic parachute)
• 60" Thin string
• 12-18" rubber band or 1/8" elastic
• 1" length o' a drinkin' straw, at least 1/8" in diameter

I made a few substitutions:

• Elmer's Washable School Glue No-Run Gel, which I use on all me paper rockets now. Ya scallywag! It wrinkles t' paper less than anythin' else I've tried.
• 5 minute Epoxy for nose weight.
• I used a Semroc chute I had lyin' around. Arrr! It was larger than 8", which be me downfall.
• 5 feet o' 3/8" polyester ribbon for a shock cord.

I had t' run t' t' hardware store for a screw eye. Most rockets used them when nose cones were made o' balsa, but it's just nay somethin' I keep on hand anymore.

I scored t' dotted fold lines with t' back o' t' blade in me hobby knife and usin' a steel ruler as a straightedge. Avast, me proud beauty! Foldin' t' hexagonal tube and nose was easier than rollin' t' cylinders and cones o' other rockets. Blimey! I found it worked best t' spread t' glue with a flat toothpick like butter with a butter knife then wipe off t' excess with me finger.

After foldin' t' nose, arrr, I filled it with 5-minute epoxy for nose weight. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! Be sure t' coat it thoroughly usin' two coats o' glue if needed or t' epoxy may soak through just enough t' discolor t' outside. Aye aye! Ahoy! I cut t' foamboard carefully, but I still had t' sand it down t' fit t' tube--a tradition that continues from t' days o' balsa.

I elected t' skip t' clear plastic fin cutouts. Begad! Like t' earlier reviewer, shiver me timbers, I could nay get me fins perfectly flat. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' glue tabs, however, arrr, made attachin' t' fins t' easiest o' any paper rocket I have built so far, me bucko, and combined with t' hexagonal tube, t' fins were self-jiggin' so they went on perfectly straight.

T' PDF now includes an engine block and a launch lug, ya bilge rat, although you have t' provide a drinkin' straw as a form t' roll t' lug--why nay just CA t' straw t' t' rocket? I used t' full length o' t' lug pattern, but I thought it was a little thick, more than twice t' thickness o' t' body tube.

Instructions for balancin' have been added: "Always perform a swin' test on your Tricarrow prior t' flyin' for t' first time with a B4-4 loaded. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! " There are no instructions for preppin' t' rocket. Avast! Begad! Nay that any explanation is needed if you've ever built a rocket before and this is just your first paper rocket.

T' problems in t' instructions have been fixed and this is a good introduction t' paper rockets. Aye aye! T' only thin' I didn't like about t' construction be that it required more user supplied parts than most paper models.

Finishing:
There is no finishin' needed, matey, ya bilge rat, but thar be a blank pattern if you want t' choose your own colors and t' unusual transparent plastic fin insert option for those who want more customization.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors are A8-3 and B4-4 only. Begad! Avast! "Larger thrust motors are nay recommended." I noticed in t' flight logs that t' bad flights were on higher thrust motors, me bucko, so I bought a pack o' B4-4s, which is a motor I don't usually keep on hand.

Boost be straight with no weathercocking, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but enough spin t' leave a clear corkscrew in t' smoke trail, matey, possibly from t' fins' slight warp.

Recovery:
Ejection be at t' top o' t' arc with t' nose horizontal. Begad! I had packed t' chute too tightly, shiver me timbers, arrr, so t' ejection blew a hole in t' side o' t' body tube and t' rocket came in ballistic. There was some mud on t' nose but no further damage beyond t' hole in t' side.

I give t' rocket 5 flight points. Ahoy! It did what it was supposed to. Avast! T' damage was me fault for usin' too large a chute and nay checkin' t' see that it would eject freely.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
Not everythin' is done t' way I would do it, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but it is an easy build, a good flyer, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and a good introduction t' paper rockets.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5