Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Arrr! Arrr! My wife's favorite, shiver me timbers, me bucko, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, and igniter plug in, shiver me timbers, arrr, me bucko, 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, me hearties, me hearties, matey, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, me hearties, just an engine block
• No shock cord, parachute, ya bilge rat, 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, shiver me timbers, matey, 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. Ya scallywag! There are relatively few steps, arrr, due t' t' simple design. Avast, me proud beauty! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Begad! 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. Ahoy! Ahoy! A sewin' needle is almost too big, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Ahoy! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, arrr, arrr, or rip t' fins off. Aye aye! Arrr! However, shiver me timbers, while it looks like it is screamin' down, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Well, blow me down! Finally, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, arrr, arrr, 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, matey, if needed. Well, blow me down! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, me hearties, me hearties, they need t' be opposite o' each other, arrr, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Well, blow me down! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, thar are nay any decals supplied. Ahoy! So, me bucko, matey, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Avast, me proud beauty! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, shiver me timbers, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! 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. Well, blow me down! Avast! Nay too many nooks and crannies, me bucko, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Aye aye! Aye aye! 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. Blimey! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, ya bilge rat, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Begad! No waddin' t' forget. No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Blimey! Avast! No shock cord t' burn through, ya bilge rat, me bucko, or cause a zipper. Arrr! Man, me hearties, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, matey, me bucko, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, ya bilge rat, arrr, or t' wind pushes it. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! However, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5