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

Construction and finishing:
All t' parts arrived securely wrapped in liberal amounts o' bubble wrap. Nothin' was broken or missing. Begad! T' actual number o' parts was few, as t' rocket is very simple t' make. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions were simple and clear, me hearties, with few drawings, arrr, but none were really needed.

T' nose cone be smooth, and be made o' alternatin' insets o' cherry and maple hardwoods. it is precisely turned and symmetrical, arrr, and t' grain o' t' wood is beautiful. It has a shoulder o' a couple inches in length, allowin' a close and secure fit in t' body tube. Avast! No sandin' was needed. Aye aye! 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, 24 inches in diameter, me bucko, and bright orange. Aye aye! Blimey! T' shroud lines are a strong braided nylon. Blimey! Blimey! 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, shiver me timbers, with swirly grain patterns. Ya scallywag! All t' fins were precut, as were t' centerin' rings, engine tube, and body tube, and t' body tube was also preslotted for t' 4 fins. Ya scallywag! T' fins are designed with tabs that meet with t' motor tube for strong construction. They were all cut alike, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 3/8 inch thick, very precise, arrr, and also very smooth on t' edges. Arrr! They are rounded on t' continuous leadin' and trailin' edge. Begad! T' edges show that t' inner ply is dark, mahogany-like. Begad! This stripin' o' color provides a nice accent. Well, blow me down! T' fins are also accented with a half-moon shape o' iron-on veneer that has a mahogany-like color.

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

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

Ratin' for construction and finishing: 5 out o' 5, me hearties, but some might say 4 1/2 because o' t' need for t' vent hole. Avast! 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. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! They also say that t' G64-4, shiver me timbers, me hearties, G80-7, H128-M, shiver me timbers, and H220-M are good too.

T' rocket roared off t' pad straight and high. Blimey! When t' chute ejected at apogee, it appeared t' be a tiny speck. Begad! I got t' rocket back about a half mile downrange because it caught a thermal and lingered high. This was particularly an anxious moment, because this be 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. Arrr! People kept pressin' me t' launch this beauty. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Nobody had ever seen a wooden rocket. Avast! Ahoy! Some even asked if it be real. Begad! That is, is it a display or does it fly. Aye aye! It amazed them when I popped off t' nose cone t' reveal a legitimate construction for flight. Arrr! Begad! Then some were sad that I'd actually fly it, shiver me timbers, fearin' damage t' its looks. Even t' RSO worried about damage and destruction o' t' beauty, as he announced that everyone should look now while they still could. Ahoy! Several people took photos o' it. Begad! T' way I saw it, arrr, metaphorically, 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, shiver me timbers, darin' me t' be bold and do it.

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

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

A small vent hole was drilled in t' body, 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. Aye aye! Due t' t' precise fit o' t' parts, air pressure was evident on t' ground when t' motor resisted bein' placed all t' way in until t' hole be drilled.

If thar was anythin' nay good about t' flight, arrr, it was that I had one hand on t' launcher and t' other on t' camera, ya bilge rat, 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, performs well. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A crowd pleaser. Avast! Blimey! A bit expensive at $125, me bucko, me bucko, but worth it since I certified in style. Ahoy! Blimey! And its manufacturer made all t' parts t' precision.

Don't paint it. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Every club has a woodworker who would execute someone who'd mar such art as this. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I recommend this beauty t' anyone who wants t' show off with class. Well, blow me down! In fact, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I think that me level 2 project might be a scratch-build usin' t' parts that Retro Rocket Works makes. Blimey! I'm pricin' preslotted 4 inch mahogany tubes now. Avast! And they make lovely 4 inch nose cones. Avast! 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. Blimey! I don't remember seein' any mention o' such in t' instructions.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5