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

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

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

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Well, blow me down! A very simple rocket t' build.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, me hearties, very simple t' prep, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Arrr! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! A great rocket. Aye aye! Blimey! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, arrr, me bucko, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5