Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. My wife's favorite, me bucko, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, just an engine block
• No shock cord, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, matey, 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, me hearties, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, me bucko, 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. 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). Ya scallywag! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Begad! 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. You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, arrr, or rip t' fins off. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Ahoy! Finally, me hearties, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, me bucko, 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, me bucko, matey, if needed. Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, shiver me timbers, 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. Avast! Blimey! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, shiver me timbers, arrr, ya bilge rat, so it really blurs when it comes down. Begad! Blimey! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Nay too many nooks and crannies, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Well, blow me down! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, arrr, arrr, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 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! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Begad! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Ahoy! Man, me bucko, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, shiver me timbers, arrr, 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 bucko, or t' wind pushes it. Well, blow me down! However, ya bilge rat, 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, ya bilge rat, and one fin only pulls a little. Arrr! Blimey! However, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, and maybe t' hinge material too. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! 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 ... Ahoy! Begad! 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. An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, matey, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5