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

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

T' nose cone was smooth, arrr, and was made o' alternatin' insets o' cherry and maple hardwoods. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! it is precisely turned and symmetrical, and t' grain o' t' wood is beautiful. Arrr! It has a shoulder o' a couple inches in length, allowin' a close and secure fit in t' body tube. Well, matey, blow me down! No sandin' was needed. Blimey! 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, me hearties, 24 inches in diameter, me bucko, and bright orange. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! All t' fins were precut, me hearties, as were t' centerin' rings, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, engine tube, me hearties, and body tube, and t' body tube was also preslotted for t' 4 fins. Avast! T' fins are designed with tabs that meet with t' motor tube for strong construction. Blimey! Ahoy! They were all cut alike, 3/8 inch thick, arrr, very precise, ya bilge rat, arrr, and also very smooth on t' edges. Arrr! They are rounded on t' continuous leadin' and trailin' edge. T' edges show that t' inner ply is dark, mahogany-like. Avast, me proud beauty! This stripin' o' color provides a nice accent. Begad! 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, me bucko, as recommended, t' attach them through t' body tube and t' t' motor tube, me hearties, ya bilge rat, which also is a pretty mahogany. T' two centerin' rings are plywood. T' 2 launch lugs are brass, beveled t' reduce drag, and accept 1/4 inch rods.

T' model came out very sturdy and strong. Blimey! Arrr! But I just couldn't brin' myself t' paint it or decal it. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' wood is just too pretty. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! But this is somethin' we should do in high power anyway.

Flight and recovery:
T' Aerotech H180-M be used, ya bilge rat, and it's one o' t' engines t' manufacturer recommends. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! They also say that t' G64-4, G80-7, shiver me timbers, H128-M, 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. I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. Aye aye! This was particularly an anxious moment, because this was a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. Avast! Arrr! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Aye aye! Avast! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Some even asked if it was real. Ahoy! That is, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, fearin' damage t' its looks. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Even t' RSO worried about damage and destruction o' t' beauty, as he announced that everyone should look now while they still could. Several people took photos o' it. Arrr! Blimey! T' way I saw it, ya bilge rat, metaphorically, why breed a champion racehorse t' perfection and then nay let him run? Besides, half o' t' club be fixed on me and t' rocket, matey, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

Everyone cheered when t' flight occurred. Arrr! Nothin' be burnt or damaged, ya bilge rat, and t' engine stayed in, held with duct tape. Ya scallywag! Fellow club members teased me about t' tight loops o' duct tape, arrr, sayin' that I wanted t' hold t' engine hostage. Well, blow me down! 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. Ya scallywag! I first thought that t' waddin' was overkill, but cert flights must be perfect. Avast! Well, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I was glad I did this, because t' Nomexsquare be burnt in half!

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, near t' middle, ya bilge rat, 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. Arrr! Blimey! Due t' t' precise fit o' t' parts, air pressure was evident on t' ground when t' motor resisted bein' placed all t' way in until t' hole was drilled.

If thar was anythin' nay good about t' flight, me bucko, arrr, it be that I had one hand on t' launcher and t' other on t' camera, ya bilge rat, and consequently, me bucko, 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! A crowd pleaser. A bit expensive at $125, me bucko, arrr, but worth it since I certified in style. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

Don't paint it. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Every club has a woodworker who would execute someone who'd mar such art as this. Arrr! Blimey! I recommend this beauty t' anyone who wants t' show off with class. In fact, arrr, 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. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! And they make lovely 4 inch nose cones. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I don't remember seein' any mention o' such in t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5