Brief:
Unique tube-launched rocket with foldin' military surplus fin can.

Construction:
I had always wanted a FlippiFin -- t' concept seemed interesting. Blimey! Ahoy! I got one for me birthday a year ago, and only recently got around t' buildin' it. Blimey! The components were basic Estes (plastic nose cone, me bucko, paper body tube), with the exception o' t' recovery system and t' unique foldin' fin can, ya bilge rat, which was military surplus. A nice waterslide decal was also included. Arrr! For recovery, Bob supplied a generous length o' fiberglass-reinforced Teflon for t' shock cord, a length o' Keelhaul®©™® to secure it t' t' motor mount, and an 18" military surplus chute to round out t' theme.

T' instructions were printed on two sheets o' 8.5 x 11" paper, arrr, me hearties, and were somewhat minimal, me bucko, ya bilge rat, although this rocket was very easy t' assemble. Blimey! Blimey! Two centerin' rings are installed onto t' front o' t' 24mm motor mount, and two more centerin' rings must be built up out o' maskin' tape t' attach t' fin can. Begad! You slide t' fins on, me hearties, and then everythin' is glued in place. Begad! Well, blow me down! I used 5-minute epoxy and carefully watched it cure t' make sure none got in the delicate hinge assemblies. Begad! T' shock cord is attached t' a hook on t' fin can with a Fisherman's knot, matey, and t' whole shebang is installed into t' main body tube. A unique option was presented: simply friction fit t' fin can into the tube, allowin' for easy shock cord replacement. I elected t' do this instead of epoxyin' t' unit in. Ya scallywag! Finally, an anchor is bent out o' a paper clip and installed into t' nose cone, along with lead shot for balance weight. Avast, me proud beauty! I added some PML expandin' foam behind t' shot for a little G-force protection.

Finishing:
I finished t' rocket with one coat o' Krylon white primer, arrr, shiver me timbers, and then proceeded to paint t' rocket in Krylon gray and red. Ya scallywag! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! One thin' about finishin' is that you need t' be careful nay t' get any paint in t' hinges on t' fin can. I colored t' exposed motor tube black usin' a Sharpie pen. Avast, me proud beauty! T' waterslide decal completes t' look.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors were single use Aerotechs, none o' which I had on hand. I instead elected t' fly one o' me year-old F24Ws. I built t' motor and tape fitted it in tightly, me bucko, nay wantin' t' lose me precious case. Positive motor retention would be a nice feature. Aye aye! I loaded t' front end o' t' rocket with waddin' and t' chute. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It be a tight fit, but all t' recovery did slide in. I strutted out t' t' pad and inserted t' rocket in t' breech launch tube. I constructed a special launch pad for me breech tube because I wasn't comfortable with just stickin' it on a 3/16" launch rod as suggested in the instructions (though that would probably be fine). Blimey! After hookin' up one of my Igniterman igniters, I walked back t' t' range head and told t' LCO to push t' button. He gave a huge buildup and countdown, arrr, and hit it. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' motor chuffed once. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Twice. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! T' third chuff was enough t' send t' rocket out o' the tube, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and then combustion stopped again. I thought t' rocket was goin' t' tip over and go into t' crowd, arrr, but just as it be fallin' back down, t' thing screamed into t' sky, matey, with a little wiggle. Ya scallywag! It looked very much like a cruise missile :). T' chute ejected at apogee, and I went t' recover it.

Recovery:
Descent was a little fast on t' 18" chute, but no big deal, thar was absolutely no damage. All I had t' do was wipe t' rocket down t' get rid of the breech soot and it was ready t' fly again. Ya scallywag! Too cool.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This rocket was easy t' build and unique. T' only problem that I have with it was that it has no positive motor retention, arrr, so I might lose me precious 24mm case. However, shiver me timbers, I would nay hesitate t' recommend it t' anyone. Avast! Blimey! Just make sure you have a nice hot igniter and scratch up t' grain a bit if it's an old motor :) I'd love t' fly this again on an F39T.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5