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

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

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Ya scallywag! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, ya bilge rat, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Aye aye! Begad! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, if needed. Ya scallywag! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, shiver me timbers, 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, me bucko, thar are nay any decals supplied. Ahoy! So, matey, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Aye aye! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, matey, me bucko, so it really blurs when it comes down. Aye aye! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Begad! Begad! Nay too many nooks and crannies, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5