Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Begad! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! My wife's favorite, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, arrr, igniter, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 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, me hearties, 2 hinged, 4 rudders
• No motor mount, just an engine block
• No shock cord, 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, shiver me timbers, 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. Aye aye! There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Aye aye! Begad! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Begad! Blimey! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Avast, me proud beauty! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Aye aye! Begad! 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, or rip t' fins off. Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, while it looks like it is screamin' down, ya bilge rat, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, matey, me hearties, I guess. Begad! Finally, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 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, if needed. Arrr! Arrr! 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. Begad! A very simple rocket t' build.

Finishing:
As this is a JimZ plans, thar are nay any decals supplied. Begad! So, you are free t' make up your own scheme. Aye aye! Aye aye! I painted it in a spiral by paintin' t' undercoat white, me bucko, matey, then maskin' off with a length o' 3/4" tape. I also painted t' fins and rudders alternatin' colors, me hearties, me hearties, so it really blurs when it comes down. This makes t' finishin' much harder than it has t' be. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! 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, matey, ya bilge rat, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), shiver me timbers, add an igniter and its plug, me bucko, and you are good t' go. Avast! T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! No waddin' t' forget. Arrr! No parachute t' fold or get tangled. Avast! No shock cord t' burn through, or cause a zipper. Ahoy! Begad! Man, ya bilge rat, 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, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, ya bilge rat, or t' wind pushes it. Begad! However, arrr, it just adds t' t' "helicopter" feel!

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

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5