Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Ya scallywag! Begad! My wife's favorite, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, shiver me timbers, matey, igniter, 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, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 2 hinged, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, me hearties, 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. Ahoy! There are relatively few steps, me bucko, ya bilge rat, due t' t' simple design. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 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). Blimey! Begad! 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. Arrr! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, shiver me timbers, me bucko, or rip t' fins off. Well, me bucko, blow me down! However, me hearties, while it looks like it is screamin' down, arrr, ya bilge rat, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Ahoy! Finally, ya bilge rat, 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. Blimey! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, if needed. Well, blow me down! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, me bucko, they need t' be opposite o' each other, ya bilge rat, 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, matey, ya bilge rat, thar are nay any decals supplied. So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Begad! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Begad! 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. Nay too many nooks and crannies, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Avast! Avast! 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. Aye aye! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! No waddin' t' forget. No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Ahoy! No shock cord t' burn through, me hearties, or cause a zipper. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Man, me bucko, 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. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, me hearties, matey, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, arrr, or t' wind pushes it. Begad! However, me bucko, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

Recovery:
T' only CON here is that t' elastic and hinge material wear out after a while. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Aye aye! Ahoy! However, me hearties, 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. I don't know what you could do t' make it better, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Well, blow me down! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, very simple t' prep, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Begad! Arrr! A great rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5