Brief:
T' FlippiFin is a unique design that uses a surplus spring-loaded military flare fincan. Well, blow me down! Begad! When loaded into its launch tube, t' curved fins are flat against t' body. Avast, me proud beauty! When t' rocket exits t' tube, t' springs pop t' fins out, shiver me timbers, providin' stabilization.

Picture courtesy o' Aerocon

Construction:
Most o' t' parts for t' FlippiFin are your standard rocket fare: a body tube, plastic nosecone, shock cord material, parachute and centerin' rings. Avast! Blimey! In keepin' with Aerocon's large line o' surplus military equipment, t' included parachute is a surplus olive drab X-form. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' most important component, o' course, be t' spring-loaded fincan, which gives t' FlippiFin its name. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Due t' t' weight o' t' fincan, ya bilge rat, t' necessary 2.6oz o' noseweight required t' keep t' rocket stable is also included. Avast! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Rather than t' elastic we see in some kits, t' FlippiFin's shock cord comes in two parts. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' first is a thin Keelhaul®©™® cord which is used t' provide an anchor t' a tab on t' fincan. Ya scallywag! This cord is small enough in diameter that, arrr, if used alone, ya bilge rat, it would easily zipper t' body tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' prevent this, t' exposed portion o' t' shock cord is a much wider length o' different material which will help protect t' body tube.

Assembly o' t' FlippiFin is very straightforward, with no real surprises. Begad! A bit o' trial and error is required in fittin' t' fincan, me bucko, ya bilge rat, due t' its nonstandard dimensions. Begad! T' install t' fincan, arrr, ya bilge rat, maskin' tape is used t' create centerin' rings on t' motor mount. Begad! Begad! Since no two brands o' maskin' tape are exactly identical in thickness, t' instructions give an approximation on t' number o' wraps required. Well, blow me down! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I found that I had t' remove some o' t' tape in order t' get a good fit. Begad! Arrr! Since t' actual mountin' rings on t' fincan are only about 1/8" wide, after achievin' t' proper thickness, ya bilge rat, I used an X-acto cutlass t' trim their width down so t' tape is completely hidden by t' fincan. Begad! Once t' tape rings are properly sized, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' single most critical aspect o' t' construction is next -- gluin' t' fincan in place with thin CA. Aye aye! Here, shiver me timbers, t' instructions state t' make sure t' fins still open after gluing. Ya scallywag! T' implied batten down t' hatches isn't nearly strong enough! It took 3 seconds o' CA work t' render me fincan inoperative. It took 3 HOURS o' work t' clean t' CA out o' t' hingset. On me second attempt, shiver me timbers, I used a bottle o' CA with a small (approx 1mm) applicator extension tip, which allowed very fine control o' t' CA. With t' extension tip, I got sufficient CA wicked into t' tape t' harden those, matey, as well as enough t' form a good solid bond betwixt t' fincan and t' tape. Begad! Begad! And, most importantly, shiver me timbers, me fincan works as it should! I plan on suggestin' t' Aerocon that they recommend t' use o' an extension tip in their instructions.

Finishing:
T' metal fincan on t' FlippiFin introduces an extra challenge in painting. Begad! Applyin' paint t' t' fincan would have t' same effect as gettin' CA into t' hingset and springs -- t' fincan would no longer operate. Begad! Avast! Because o' this, t' fincan is best masked off for spray-painting, me bucko, and any finishin' o' t' fincan area should be done by hand. Arrr! Begad! T' instructions recommend usin' a Sharpie-type black marker t' color in t' motor mount tube that is visible betwixt t' opened fins. Begad! Careful application o' paint with a small paintbrush would work as well, and would allow for more color options.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Since sprin' flyin' season is just startin' here in Nebraska, I've only had one opportunity t' launch me FlippiFin, at our most recent high-power launch. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Launch opportunities for t' FlippiFin will be limited in general, ya bilge rat, due t' t' metal fincan. Aye aye! Avast! T' instructions explicitly state that this rocket is nay approved for use at NARRRRR launches, so plan accordingly! T' instructions list three motors, ya bilge rat, only two o' which I listed in this review. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' D12 is listed as a "marginal" flight, arrr, due t' rocket weight. Begad! Avast! When t' vendor lists a motor as "marginal", t' me, that means "don't use it!" T' other two motors are single-use Aerotech motors, while all t' 24mm motors I buy are RMS, arrr, shiver me timbers, so I decided t' go that route, instead, and made use o' an F39 I had available. Preparation o' t' rocket is no different than most others. Avast! A small handful o' cellulose insulation, shiver me timbers, me bucko, followed by t' parachute and shock cord, then t' nosecone. T' 24mm RMS motor was given a TIGHT friction fit with a bit o' maskin' tape, t' make sure I got me casin' back, me bucko, and everythin' be just about ready t' go. Begad! Aye aye! Igniter installation gains a slightly different twist, arrr, me bucko, due t' t' tube launcher. Well, arrr, blow me down! T' igniter is installed in t' motor, t' breech plug removed from t' tube, shiver me timbers, and t' rocket slid in. T' igniter leads must then pass out a small openin' right above t' breech plug, me bucko, then t' plug can be reinstalled. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! T' tube launcher itself has a launch lug, t' allow a standard rod t' hold t' launcher vertical. Blimey! Begad! This is placed on t' pad, and t' exposed igniter leads hooked up. Begad! On t' F39 I've used thus far, shiver me timbers, t' rocket literally EXPLODES from t' tube. Ya scallywag! T' effect is incredibly, ya bilge rat, and everyone jumped, ya bilge rat, due t' t' noise. One club member who was about 150 yards off, ya bilge rat, recoverin' one o' his own rockets, me bucko, though it be a CATO, instead o' a launch!

Recovery:
Havin' misplaced t' original parachute, matey, I substituted another parachute o' approximately t' same size. Avast! Recovery was perfect, ya bilge rat, me hearties, with nary a din' on t' rocket. T' aft o' t' rocket, shiver me timbers, does have some minor black markings, arrr, due t' t' rocket exhaust bein' contained by t' tube launcher, somethin' t' instructions mention will happen.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' only true detraction t' t' FlippiFin be t' limit that some people will experience in launch opportunities for this rocket. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! If your local club is a NARRRRR club, and you only have opportunities t' fly under their rules, me hearties, t' FlippiFin is nay for you. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! If you hold private launches, arrr, or have a local Tripoli prefect, then this is a fun little rocket! T' metal fincan and tube launcher makes for a unique, but safe, ya bilge rat, addition t' a launch. While some may feel t' metal fincan makes t' rocket "unsafe", ya bilge rat, I feel it is no less safe than t' G10 fins we see on some similar-sized rockets.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5