Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Avast! Begad! My wife's favorite, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, ya bilge rat, 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, ya bilge rat, 2 hinged, me hearties, 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, 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. Begad! There are relatively few steps, matey, matey, due t' t' simple design. Begad! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Arrr! Avast! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Ahoy! Begad! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Well, blow me down! A sewin' needle is almost too big, 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, me bucko, shiver me timbers, or rip t' fins off. Begad! Blimey! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, ya bilge rat, arrr, I guess. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Finally, me hearties, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, arrr, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Blimey! Blimey! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, shiver me timbers, if needed. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Blimey! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, matey, they need t' be opposite o' each other, me hearties, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Begad! Begad! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, thar are nay any decals supplied. So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Aye aye! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, matey, arrr, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, so it really blurs when it comes down. Begad! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Aye aye! Nay too many nooks and crannies, ya bilge rat, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Blimey! Avast! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, me bucko, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), ya bilge rat, add an igniter and its plug, shiver me timbers, and you are good t' go. Avast! 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. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! No shock cord t' burn through, shiver me timbers, or cause a zipper. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Man, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, me bucko, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Avast, me proud beauty! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, ya bilge rat, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, arrr, me bucko, me hearties, or t' wind pushes it. Ya scallywag! However, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, 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! Well, blow me down! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. However, arrr, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Ahoy! Arrr! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, and maybe t' hinge material too. Begad! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, shiver me timbers, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Begad! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, matey, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Aye aye! A great rocket. Begad! An added bonus: All t' old-timers get a real kick out o' seein' this one, shiver me timbers, too.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5