Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. My wife's favorite, me hearties, ya bilge rat, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, me bucko, arrr, igniter, ya bilge rat, 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, 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, shiver me timbers, a sewin' needle, arrr, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Avast! Begad! There are relatively few steps, shiver me timbers, me hearties, due t' t' simple design. Blimey! Begad! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Blimey! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Ya scallywag! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Arrr! Aye aye! A sewin' needle is almost too big, me bucko, matey, 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, or rip t' fins off. Avast, me proud beauty! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, shiver me timbers, me bucko, matey, if needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, they need t' be opposite o' each other, shiver me timbers, me hearties, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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