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

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Aye aye! There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Blimey! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Avast, me proud beauty! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Avast, me proud beauty! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, or rip t' fins off. Arrr! However, me hearties, while it looks like it is screamin' down, me bucko, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, me bucko, I guess. Begad! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, matey, if needed. Avast, me proud beauty! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, shiver me timbers, they need t' be opposite o' each other, 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, thar are nay any decals supplied. Begad! Ahoy! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Blimey! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Aye aye! I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, matey, me hearties, so it really blurs when it comes down. Ahoy! Begad! This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Nay too many nooks and crannies, shiver me timbers, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, matey, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), add an igniter and its plug, and you are good t' go. T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, me bucko, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Aye aye! Blimey! No waddin' t' forget. Arrr! Blimey! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! No shock cord t' burn through, matey, or cause a zipper. Blimey! Blimey! Man, shiver me timbers, what a waste! Blimey! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Ahoy! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. Ya scallywag! Blimey! However, shiver me timbers, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

Recovery:
T' only CON here is that t' elastic and hinge material wear out after a while. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Mine has had about ten flights, ya bilge rat, and one fin only pulls a little. Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Avast! I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, me hearties, and maybe t' hinge material too. Avast, me proud beauty! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, me hearties, though! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5