Brief:
A helicopter recovery rocket. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! My wife's favorite, because t' prep time after a recovery is about 2 minutes -- put t' engine, ya bilge rat, igniter, and igniter plug in, arrr, 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 bucko, 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, hobby knife t' cut t' fins, a sewin' needle, me bucko, and some white glue (no plastic parts).

Construction:
Construction PROs: This rocket is pretty simple t' build. There are relatively few steps, due t' t' simple design. Ahoy! Aye aye! Typical Estes picture-heavy instructions make everythin' go together well. Ahoy! Most o' t' "gotcha's" were spelled out in t' instructions (gluin' t' fins together where t' hinge goes). Ya scallywag! T' only hard part o' this whole "kit" is gettin' t' elastic into t' fins without destroyin' them. Arrr! A sewin' needle is almost too big, shiver me timbers, but t' elastic is too thick for most everythin' else.

Another PRO be t' sturdiness. Begad! You would think that t' rocket repeatedly landin' on t' nose would dent it, me hearties, or rip t' fins off. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! However, while it looks like it is screamin' down, me hearties, it is really floatin' -- an optical illusion because it is spinning, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I guess. Begad! Blimey! Finally, 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. Aye aye! You could probably use a ruler or other straight-edge t' help also, matey, me hearties, if needed. Gluin' t' rudders is pretty easy, they need t' be opposite o' each other, arrr, which you can tell by sightin' down t' fin.

Construction CONs: Nothin' really. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! A very simple rocket t' build.

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

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Flights are great. Ahoy! Put an A engine in (a B engine is almost too much, a C is out o' sight for a LONG time), matey, add an igniter and its plug, matey, and you are good t' go. T' engine holds t' fins straight until it ejects, me bucko, which lets t' elastic pull t' bottom part o' t' fins into t' helicopter configuration. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! No waddin' t' forget. No parachute t' fold or get tangled. No shock cord t' burn through, me hearties, or cause a zipper. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Man, arrr, what a waste! How are you supposed t' CATO this? ;-) Mine flies pretty straight, but has a spin t' it while boosting. Well, blow me down! I can't tell if I didn't position t' hardwood against t' engine right, me hearties, shiver me timbers, or got t' fins cocked while gluin' them on, or t' wind pushes it. Aye aye! However, matey, 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. Mine has had about ten flights, and one fin only pulls a little. Avast! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! However, me hearties, me bucko, it doesn't seem t' affect t' spin much. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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, ya bilge rat, matey, though! Blimey! Ten flights and still goin' strong, better than most o' me rockets ... Well, blow me down! Blimey! but that's another story.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5