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, matey, seen in old movies.

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

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

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

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. Arrr! Ahoy! When t' chute ejected at apogee, matey, it appeared t' be a tiny speck. Arrr! I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. Avast! This was particularly an anxious moment, matey, because this be a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, me hearties, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Ya scallywag! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Begad! Aye aye! Some even asked if it was real. That is, is it a display or does it fly. Ahoy! It amazed them when I popped off t' nose cone t' reveal a legitimate construction for flight. Begad! Blimey! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, shiver me timbers, fearin' damage t' its looks. 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. Ahoy! Several people took photos o' it. Begad! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' way I saw it, metaphorically, why breed a champion racehorse t' perfection and then nay let him run? Besides, matey, ya bilge rat, 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. Ya scallywag! Nothin' be burnt or damaged, and t' engine stayed in, arrr, matey, held with duct tape. Arrr! Fellow club members teased me about t' tight loops o' duct tape, ya bilge rat, sayin' that I wanted t' hold t' engine hostage. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I first thought that t' waddin' was overkill, but cert flights must be perfect. Ya scallywag! Well, me bucko, I was glad I did this, me bucko, because t' Nomexsquare was burnt in half!

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, me bucko, near t' middle, matey, 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, arrr, air pressure was evident on t' ground when t' motor resisted bein' placed all t' way in until t' hole be drilled.

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

Don't paint it. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! In fact, I think that me level 2 project might be a scratch-build usin' t' parts that Retro Rocket Works makes. Avast! I'm pricin' preslotted 4 inch mahogany tubes now. And they make lovely 4 inch nose cones. And 38mm motor tubes!!! 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. I don't remember seein' any mention o' such in t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5