Brief description:
Single staged, 29mm motor rocket in all wood construction and retro lookin' design, 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. Aye aye! Nothin' was broken or missing. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' actual number o' parts was few, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, as t' rocket is very simple t' make. T' instructions were simple and clear, with few drawings, shiver me timbers, but none were really needed.

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

I used epoxy, matey, as recommended, me hearties, t' attach them through t' body tube and t' t' motor tube, which also is a pretty mahogany. T' two centerin' rings are plywood. T' 2 launch lugs are brass, beveled t' reduce drag, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' wood is just too pretty. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! But this is somethin' we should do in high power anyway.

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

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. Arrr! When t' chute ejected at apogee, arrr, 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. Begad! This was particularly an anxious moment, because this was a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, ya bilge rat, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. Arrr! Avast! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Begad! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Well, blow me down! Some even asked if it was real. That is, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, 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! Begad! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, fearin' damage t' its looks. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Several people took photos o' it. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' way I saw it, matey, metaphorically, me hearties, 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, arrr, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

Everyone cheered when t' flight occurred. Avast! Aye aye! Blimey! Nothin' was burnt or damaged, ya bilge rat, arrr, matey, 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! I'd seen too many other people lose motors t' ejections and was paranoid about mine.

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5