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

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. Well, blow me down! Blimey! There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Arrr! Begad! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Blimey! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Well, blow me down! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Avast, me proud beauty! A sewin' needle is almost too big, me bucko, 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, or rip t' fins off. Begad! However, ya bilge rat, while it looks like it is screamin' down, shiver me timbers, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, me hearties, I guess. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Finally, 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. Ya scallywag! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, matey, if needed. Blimey! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, they need t' be opposite o' each other, me hearties, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

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

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. 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. Blimey! Avast! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, me hearties, me bucko, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Aye aye! No waddin' t' forget. Well, blow me down! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Well, blow me down! Man, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, me hearties, me hearties, me hearties, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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! Ya scallywag! However, 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. I'll bet I have t' replace both elastic strings, me bucko, and maybe t' hinge material too. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I don't know what you could do t' make it better, matey, though! Blimey! Ten flights and still goin' strong, me hearties, matey, better than most o' me rockets ... Avast! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5