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, me hearties, igniter, me hearties, and igniter plug in, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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, shiver me timbers, 2 hinged, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, me hearties, just an engine block
• No shock cord, shiver me timbers, 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, me hearties, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, me bucko, a sewin' needle, me hearties, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! There are relatively few steps, matey, shiver me timbers, due t' t' simple design. 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. Aye aye! A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Avast! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, me hearties, ya bilge rat, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. Begad! 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! No waddin' t' forget. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Avast! No shock cord t' burn through, matey, or cause a zipper. Ya scallywag! Man, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 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, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. 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. Begad! Blimey! Mine has had about ten flights, arrr, and one fin only pulls a little. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! However, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, arrr, and maybe t' hinge material too. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, ya bilge rat, me hearties, though! Blimey! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Begad! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! A great rocket. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5