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

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. There are relatively few steps, me bucko, due t' t' simple design. Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Well, blow me down! 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. Begad! A sewin' needle is almost too big, arrr, 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. Begad! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, matey, me bucko, shiver me timbers, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Finally, me bucko, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, shiver me timbers, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Avast! Arrr! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, me hearties, if needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, they need t' be opposite o' each other, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Avast, me proud beauty! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, matey, shiver me timbers, me hearties, thar are nay any decals supplied. Avast! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Arrr! Well, blow me down! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, shiver me timbers, matey, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Arrr! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, so it really blurs when it comes down. This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Nay too many nooks and crannies, me hearties, 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), shiver me timbers, me bucko, add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. Well, blow me down! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. No waddin' t' forget. Aye aye! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Blimey! Arrr! No shock cord t' burn through, ya bilge rat, or cause a zipper. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! Man, me hearties, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, arrr, arrr, but has a spin t' it while boosting. I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, shiver me timbers, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, me hearties, or t' wind pushes it. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! 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. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Mine has had about ten flights, me bucko, and one fin only pulls a little. Well, me hearties, blow me down! However, 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, shiver me timbers, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, shiver me timbers, better than most o' me rockets ... Ya scallywag! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, me hearties, 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, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5