Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Aye aye! My wife's favorite, matey, shiver me timbers, matey, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, igniter, matey, and igniter plug in, 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, ya bilge rat, arrr, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, ya bilge rat, just an engine block
• No shock cord, parachute, matey, 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, me bucko, hobby cutlass t' cut t' fins, ya bilge rat, a sewin' needle, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, 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, matey, due t' t' simple design. Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). 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. You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, me hearties, shiver me timbers, or rip t' fins off. Ahoy! Arrr! However, ya bilge rat, while it looks like it is screamin' down, matey, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, I guess. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Finally, me bucko, arrr, thar are only two fins t' glue onto t' body tube, me bucko, so it is much easier t' align than 3 or 4. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, if needed. Avast! Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, 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, arrr, arrr, matey, thar are nay any decals supplied. Ahoy! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, me bucko, shiver me timbers, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Nay too many nooks and crannies, so is easy t' spray paint.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Simple t' build, very simple t' prep, ya bilge rat, very little t' go wrong on this baby. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! A great rocket. 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