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

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

T' nose cone was smooth, matey, and was made o' alternatin' insets o' cherry and maple hardwoods. Blimey! it is precisely turned and symmetrical, shiver me timbers, and t' grain o' t' wood is beautiful. Blimey! It has a shoulder o' a couple inches in length, allowin' a close and secure fit in t' body tube. Arrr! No sandin' be needed. Ya scallywag! 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, ya bilge rat, 24 inches in diameter, shiver me timbers, and bright orange. Avast! Ahoy! T' shroud lines are a strong braided nylon. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! All t' fins were precut, as were t' centerin' rings, arrr, arrr, engine tube, and body tube, and t' body tube was also preslotted for t' 4 fins. Ahoy! T' fins are designed with tabs that meet with t' motor tube for strong construction. Begad! They were all cut alike, 3/8 inch thick, arrr, very precise, arrr, arrr, and also very smooth on t' edges. Avast, me proud beauty! They are rounded on t' continuous leadin' and trailin' edge. Well, blow me down! T' edges show that t' inner ply is dark, mahogany-like. This stripin' o' color provides a nice accent. Ahoy! T' fins are also accented with a half-moon shape o' iron-on veneer that has a mahogany-like color.

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

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

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

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

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. Aye aye! When t' chute ejected at apogee, shiver me timbers, it appeared t' be a tiny speck. Well, blow me down! Begad! I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! This be particularly an anxious moment, ya bilge rat, because this be a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. Well, blow me down! I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. Begad! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Some even asked if it be real. Ya scallywag! That is, me hearties, is it a display or does it fly. It amazed them when I popped off t' nose cone t' reveal a legitimate construction for flight. Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, fearin' damage t' its looks. Ya scallywag! Begad! 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. T' way I saw it, metaphorically, why breed a champion racehorse t' perfection and then nay let him run? Besides, arrr, 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. Nothin' be burnt or damaged, me bucko, 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. Begad! Avast! I'd seen too many other people lose motors t' ejections and be paranoid about mine.

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

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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. Begad! Due t' t' precise fit o' t' parts, arrr, air pressure was 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, me bucko, it be that I had one hand on t' launcher and t' other on t' camera, arrr, and consequently, shiver me timbers, 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. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! A crowd pleaser. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! A bit expensive at $125, but worth it since I certified in style. Begad! Well, blow me down! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5