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

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

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

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Begad! A very simple rocket t' build.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5