Brief description:
Single staged, shiver me timbers, 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, seen in old movies.

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

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

I used epoxy, as recommended, arrr, t' attach them through t' body tube and t' t' motor tube, which also is a pretty mahogany. Begad! Begad! Blimey! T' two centerin' rings are plywood. Ahoy! Blimey! T' 2 launch lugs are brass, matey, beveled t' reduce drag, and accept 1/4 inch rods.

T' model came out very sturdy and strong. Aye aye! Ahoy! But I just couldn't brin' myself t' paint it or decal it. Arrr! Well, blow me down! T' wood is just too pretty. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Begad! Ahoy! They also say that t' G64-4, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, G80-7, H128-M, matey, and H220-M are good too.

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. Avast! Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! Begad! This be particularly an anxious moment, because this be a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. Ya scallywag! Begad! I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. Blimey! Begad! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Aye aye! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Avast! Some even asked if it was real. Arrr! That is, shiver me timbers, 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, ya bilge rat, fearin' damage t' its looks. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Even t' RSO worried about damage and destruction o' t' beauty, me hearties, as he announced that everyone should look now while they still could. Several people took photos o' it. Begad! 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 was fixed on me and t' rocket, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

Everyone cheered when t' flight occurred. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Nothin' be burnt or damaged, and t' engine stayed in, me bucko, shiver me timbers, held with duct tape. Aye aye! Fellow club members teased me about t' tight loops o' duct tape, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, sayin' that I wanted t' hold t' engine hostage. Begad! Begad! I'd seen too many other people lose motors t' ejections and was paranoid about mine.

T' rocket be prepped with one Nomexsquare and worm bed wadding. Avast! Well, blow me down! I first thought that t' waddin' was overkill, me hearties, but cert flights must be perfect. Aye aye! Arrr! Well, I be glad I did this, arrr, because t' Nomexsquare be burnt in half!

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, arrr, 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. 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 be drilled.

If thar was anythin' nay good about t' flight, matey, it was 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, me bucko, performs well. Blimey! Ya scallywag! A crowd pleaser. Ya scallywag! A bit expensive at $125, but worth it since I certified in style. Begad! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

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

Any tips I learned? T' vent hole in t' body tube be 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