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

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

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Aye aye! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. Begad! However, ya bilge rat, while it looks like it is screamin' down, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, arrr, I guess. Blimey! Ahoy! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Aye aye! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, if needed. 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! Blimey! A very simple rocket t' build.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Arrr! Blimey! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. Aye aye! Blimey! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, me hearties, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Avast! Blimey! No waddin' t' forget. Avast! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Well, blow me down! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Avast, me proud beauty! Man, what a waste! Blimey! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Blimey! Blimey! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, ya bilge rat, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. Aye aye! Blimey! However, me bucko, 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! Avast, me proud beauty! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Ya scallywag! Begad! However, ya bilge rat, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Begad! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, and maybe t' hinge material too. Arrr! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, arrr, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, shiver me timbers, better than most o' me rockets ... but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, matey, me bucko, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! A great rocket. An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, ya bilge rat, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5