Brief description:
Single staged, ya bilge rat, 29mm motor rocket in all wood construction and retro lookin' design, arrr, matey, much like t' stout sci fi rocketships with huge swept back fins, me hearties, seen in old movies.

Construction and finishing:
All t' parts arrived securely wrapped in liberal amounts o' bubble wrap. Nothin' was broken or missing. Ya scallywag! T' actual number o' parts was few, as t' rocket is very simple t' make. Blimey! T' instructions were simple and clear, ya bilge rat, with few drawings, but none were really needed.

T' nose cone was smooth, and was made o' alternatin' insets o' cherry and maple hardwoods. Aye aye! Blimey! it is precisely turned and symmetrical, matey, arrr, and t' grain o' t' wood is beautiful. Avast! It has a shoulder o' a couple inches in length, allowin' a close and secure fit in t' body tube. Begad! No sandin' was needed. Begad! Well, blow me down! There is a metal screw eye already in place in t' nose cone for t' parachute and shock cord attachment.

T' parachute is rip stop nylon, ya bilge rat, 24 inches in diameter, and bright orange. Begad! T' shroud lines are a strong braided nylon. Arrr! Ahoy! T' shock cord is 1/4 inch thick Keelhaul®©™® type cordin' that attaches t' a screw eye in t' forward centerin' rin' on t' engine mount.

T' body tube appears t' be mahogany and is sanded smooth with t' grain very evident and pretty.

T' 4 fins appear t' be basswood, matey, with swirly grain patterns. Well, blow me down! Blimey! All t' fins were precut, ya bilge rat, as were t' centerin' rings, arrr, engine tube, and body tube, matey, and t' body tube be also preslotted for t' 4 fins. Ahoy! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' fins are designed with tabs that meet with t' motor tube for strong construction. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They were all cut alike, ya bilge rat, 3/8 inch thick, very precise, and also very smooth on t' edges. Blimey! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! They are rounded on t' continuous leadin' and trailin' edge. T' edges show that t' inner ply is dark, shiver me timbers, me hearties, mahogany-like. Aye aye! Blimey! This stripin' o' color provides a nice accent. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' fins are also accented with a half-moon shape o' iron-on veneer that has a mahogany-like color.

I used epoxy, arrr, as recommended, me bucko, t' attach them through t' body tube and t' t' motor tube, matey, arrr, which also is a pretty mahogany. Aye aye! T' two centerin' rings are plywood. Begad! T' 2 launch lugs are brass, matey, beveled t' reduce drag, arrr, shiver me timbers, and accept 1/4 inch rods.

T' model came out very sturdy and strong. But I just couldn't brin' myself t' paint it or decal it. Arrr! Begad! T' wood is just too pretty. Blimey! So I finished it with three coats o' polyurethane clear furniture varnish.

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 5 out o' 5, ya bilge rat, but some might say 4 1/2 because o' t' need for t' vent hole. But this is somethin' we should do in high power anyway.

Flight and recovery:
T' Aerotech H180-M was used, and it's one o' t' engines t' manufacturer recommends. Ahoy! Blimey! They also say that t' G64-4, G80-7, matey, H128-M, and H220-M are good too.

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. When t' chute ejected at apogee, me bucko, matey, it appeared t' be a tiny speck. Avast! I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! This be particularly an anxious moment, because this was a Tripoli level 1 certification attempt. I hadn't intended t' certify with this rocket, but everyone who saw it oohed and ahhed over it. People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Blimey! Arrr! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Ahoy! Ahoy! Some even asked if it was real. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! That is, is it a display or does it fly. Begad! It amazed them when I popped off t' nose cone t' reveal a legitimate construction for flight. Begad! Well, blow me down! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, fearin' damage t' its looks. Aye aye! Blimey! Even t' RSO worried about damage and destruction o' t' beauty, as he announced that everyone should look now while they still could. Several people took photos o' it. Well, matey, blow me down! T' way I saw it, ya bilge rat, metaphorically, shiver me timbers, why breed a champion racehorse t' perfection and then nay let him run? Besides, half o' t' club was fixed on me and t' rocket, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

Everyone cheered when t' flight occurred. Ya scallywag! Nothin' be burnt or damaged, and t' engine stayed in, ya bilge rat, held with duct tape. Aye aye! Fellow club members teased me about t' tight loops o' duct tape, me bucko, ya bilge rat, sayin' that I wanted t' hold t' engine hostage. Avast, me proud beauty! I'd seen too many other people lose motors t' ejections and was paranoid about mine.

T' rocket be prepped with one Nomexsquare and worm bed wadding. I first thought that t' waddin' was overkill, me bucko, but cert flights must be perfect. Aye aye! Blimey! Well, arrr, matey, shiver me timbers, I was glad I did this, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, because t' Nomexsquare was burnt in half!

A small vent hole be drilled in t' body, ya bilge rat, near t' middle, on t' side opposite t' launch lugs t' relieve differences in air pressure and prevent ejection o' t' motor or premature separation o' t' nose cone. Blimey! Due t' t' precise fit o' t' parts, shiver me timbers, air pressure was evident on t' ground when t' motor resisted bein' placed all t' way in until t' hole was drilled.

If thar be anythin' nay good about t' flight, it was that I had one hand on t' launcher and t' other on t' camera, and consequently, I didn't capture t' great moment o' takeoff on film.

Ratin' for flight and recovery: 5 out o' 5

Summary and tips:
Simple t' build, matey, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, performs well. A crowd pleaser. A bit expensive at $125, but worth it since I certified in style. Begad! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

Don't paint it. Avast, me proud beauty! Every club has a woodworker who would execute someone who'd mar such art as this. Begad! I recommend this beauty t' anyone who wants t' show off with class. Ahoy! In fact, I think that me level 2 project might be a scratch-build usin' t' parts that Retro Rocket Works makes. Avast! I'm pricin' preslotted 4 inch mahogany tubes now. Avast! And they make lovely 4 inch nose cones. Begad! And 38mm motor tubes!!! I'm hooked.

Any tips I learned? T' vent hole in t' body tube was very important in preventin' premature separation o' t' nose cone. I don't remember seein' any mention o' such in t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5