Brief:
T' FlippiFin is a unique design that uses a surplus spring-loaded military flare fincan. Avast! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! When loaded into its launch tube, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' curved fins are flat against t' body. Arrr! When t' rocket exits t' tube, arrr, t' springs pop t' fins out, providin' stabilization.

Picture courtesy o' Aerocon

Construction:
Most o' t' parts for t' FlippiFin are your standard rocket fare: a body tube, arrr, arrr, plastic nosecone, shock cord material, parachute and centerin' rings. In keepin' with Aerocon's large line o' surplus military equipment, arrr, matey, t' included parachute is a surplus olive drab X-form. Blimey! T' most important component, shiver me timbers, o' course, me bucko, me hearties, be t' spring-loaded fincan, arrr, which gives t' FlippiFin its name. Begad! Due t' t' weight o' t' fincan, t' necessary 2.6oz o' noseweight required t' keep t' rocket stable is also included. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Rather than t' elastic we see in some kits, t' FlippiFin's shock cord comes in two parts. Ya scallywag! T' first is a thin Keelhaul®©™® cord which is used t' provide an anchor t' a tab on t' fincan. Ya scallywag! This cord is small enough in diameter that, if used alone, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, it would easily zipper t' body tube. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' prevent this, matey, shiver me timbers, t' exposed portion o' t' shock cord is a much wider length o' different material which will help protect t' body tube.

Assembly o' t' FlippiFin is very straightforward, shiver me timbers, with no real surprises. Aye aye! Blimey! A bit o' trial and error is required in fittin' t' fincan, shiver me timbers, due t' its nonstandard dimensions. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! T' install t' fincan, maskin' tape is used t' create centerin' rings on t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! Since no two brands o' maskin' tape are exactly identical in thickness, t' instructions give an approximation on t' number o' wraps required. Well, blow me down! I found that I had t' remove some o' t' tape in order t' get a good fit. Arrr! Since t' actual mountin' rings on t' fincan are only about 1/8" wide, ya bilge rat, after achievin' t' proper thickness, ya bilge rat, I used an X-acto cutlass t' trim their width down so t' tape is completely hidden by t' fincan. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Once t' tape rings are properly sized, arrr, t' single most critical aspect o' t' construction is next -- gluin' t' fincan in place with thin CA. Arrr! Blimey! Here, me hearties, t' instructions state t' make sure t' fins still open after gluing. T' implied warnin' isn't nearly strong enough! Blimey! It took 3 seconds o' CA work t' render me fincan inoperative. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! It took 3 HOURS o' work t' clean t' CA out o' t' hingset. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Blimey! On me second attempt, shiver me timbers, I used a bottle o' CA with a small (approx 1mm) applicator extension tip, ya bilge rat, which allowed very fine control o' t' CA. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! With t' extension tip, matey, arrr, I got sufficient CA wicked into t' tape t' harden those, as well as enough t' form a good solid bond betwixt t' fincan and t' tape. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! And, matey, most importantly, ya bilge rat, me fincan works as it should! Blimey! I plan on suggestin' t' Aerocon that they recommend t' use o' an extension tip in their instructions.

Finishing:
T' metal fincan on t' FlippiFin introduces an extra challenge in painting. Applyin' paint t' t' fincan would have t' same effect as gettin' CA into t' hingset and springs -- t' fincan would no longer operate. Avast, me proud beauty! Because o' this, shiver me timbers, arrr, t' fincan is best masked off for spray-painting, arrr, and any finishin' o' t' fincan area should be done by hand. T' instructions recommend usin' a Sharpie-type black marker t' color in t' motor mount tube that is visible betwixt t' opened fins. Avast! Careful application o' paint with a small paintbrush would work as well, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and would allow for more color options.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Since sprin' flyin' season is just startin' here in Nebraska, me bucko, I've only had one opportunity t' launch me FlippiFin, me bucko, at our most recent high-power launch. Begad! Blimey! Launch opportunities for t' FlippiFin will be limited in general, due t' t' metal fincan. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' instructions explicitly state that this rocket is nay approved for use at NARRRRR launches, me hearties, so plan accordingly! Blimey! T' instructions list three motors, only two o' which I listed in this review. Aye aye! Blimey! T' D12 is listed as a "marginal" flight, ya bilge rat, due t' rocket weight. Arrr! Blimey! When t' vendor lists a motor as "marginal", t' me, that means "don't use it!" T' other two motors are single-use Aerotech motors, while all t' 24mm motors I buy are RMS, arrr, so I decided t' go that route, me bucko, instead, and made use o' an F39 I had available. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Preparation o' t' rocket is no different than most others. Arrr! Blimey! A small handful o' cellulose insulation, ya bilge rat, me bucko, followed by t' parachute and shock cord, shiver me timbers, then t' nosecone. Begad! Blimey! T' 24mm RMS motor be given a TIGHT friction fit with a bit o' maskin' tape, shiver me timbers, t' make sure I got me casin' back, and everythin' was just about ready t' go. Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Igniter installation gains a slightly different twist, ya bilge rat, due t' t' tube launcher. Ahoy! Blimey! T' igniter is installed in t' motor, matey, ya bilge rat, t' breech plug removed from t' tube, and t' rocket slid in. T' igniter leads must then pass out a small openin' right above t' breech plug, then t' plug can be reinstalled. Arrr! Blimey! T' tube launcher itself has a launch lug, t' allow a standard rod t' hold t' launcher vertical. Aye aye! Blimey! This is placed on t' pad, and t' exposed igniter leads hooked up. On t' F39 I've used thus far, ya bilge rat, t' rocket literally EXPLODES from t' tube. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' effect is incredibly, and everyone jumped, me hearties, due t' t' noise. Begad! Blimey! One club member who be about 150 yards off, recoverin' one o' his own rockets, though it be a CATO, instead o' a launch!

Recovery:
Havin' misplaced t' original parachute, matey, I substituted another parachute o' approximately t' same size. Recovery was perfect, with nary a din' on t' rocket. Well, blow me down! T' aft o' t' rocket, does have some minor black markings, ya bilge rat, due t' t' rocket exhaust bein' contained by t' tube launcher, arrr, somethin' t' instructions mention will happen.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' only true detraction t' t' FlippiFin be t' limit that some people will experience in launch opportunities for this rocket. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! If your local club is a NARRRRR club, and you only have opportunities t' fly under their rules, shiver me timbers, t' FlippiFin is nay for you. Avast! If you hold private launches, or have a local Tripoli prefect, then this is a fun little rocket! T' metal fincan and tube launcher makes for a unique, but safe, me bucko, addition t' a launch. While some may feel t' metal fincan makes t' rocket "unsafe", I feel it is no less safe than t' G10 fins we see on some similar-sized rockets.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5