Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. My wife's favorite, me hearties, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, me hearties, igniter, and igniter plug in, arrr, and t' rocket is ready for another go!

Components:

• Body tube: BT-20D (7")
• Nose cone: BNC-20B (balsa) (any blunt one will do)
• Fins: 2 large, 2 hinged, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, just an engine block
• No shock cord, parachute, or streamer
• Short length o' elastic string
• Short length (2") o' hardwood (popsicle stick works well)
• Launch lug 1"
• Hinge material (unscented bounce sheets work well)
• Other materials you will need (as usual): pencil or pen, me bucko, shiver me timbers, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, me bucko, a sewin' needle, shiver me timbers, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Begad! There are relatively few steps, matey, me hearties, due t' t' simple design. Begad! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Blimey! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Blimey! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Aye aye! Blimey! A sewin' needle is almost too big, me bucko, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Aye aye! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. Ahoy! However, ya bilge rat, while it looks like it is screamin' down, arrr, me bucko, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, shiver me timbers, arrr, I guess. Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, shiver me timbers, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, shiver me timbers, if needed. Arrr! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, matey, arrr, matey, they need t' be opposite o' each other, me hearties, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, ya bilge rat, thar are nay any decals supplied. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! So, me hearties, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Blimey! Ya scallywag! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Well, blow me down! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, so it really blurs when it comes down. Aye aye! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Nay too many nooks and crannies, matey, ya bilge rat, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, matey, arrr, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, shiver me timbers, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. No waddin' t' forget. Blimey! Avast! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Well, blow me down! No shock cord t' burn through, me bucko, matey, or cause a zipper. Arrr! Ahoy! Man, me bucko, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Ya scallywag! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, me bucko, ya bilge rat, or t' wind pushes it. Well, blow me down! However, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

Recovery:
T' only CON here is that t' elastic and hinge material wear out after a while. Mine has had about ten flights, me hearties, and one fin only pulls a little. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, arrr, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, me bucko, shiver me timbers, and maybe t' hinge material too. Arrr! Blimey! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, arrr, though! Blimey! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, shiver me timbers, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Avast! Aye aye! A great rocket. An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, me hearties, ya bilge rat, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5