Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Avast! Begad! My wife's favorite, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, matey, and igniter plug in, 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, ya bilge rat, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, shiver me timbers, just an engine block
• No shock cord, shiver me timbers, parachute, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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, ya bilge rat, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, matey, a sewin' needle, arrr, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Begad! There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Aye aye! Blimey! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! Begad! A sewin' needle is almost too big, matey, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

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

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Blimey! A great rocket. Arrr! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5