Brief:
A single-staged D-powered scale representation o' t' Space Transportation Corporation's entry in t' competition for t' Ansari X-Prize.

Construction:
T' rocket kit consisted o' a 24mm motor mount tube, a motor block ring, a motor retainer hook, matey, a thick stage coupler-like hook retainer ring, me bucko, six tank tubes, me hearties, a large main body tube, a truly massive blow molded plastic nose cone, me bucko, a set o' six plastic fins, a plastic fin canister, ya bilge rat, a plastic bulkhead, arrr, matey, an assembled plastic 18" parachute, a set o' six plastic nozzles, a big die-cut cardstock centerin' ring, me hearties, a sheet o' pressure sensitive decals, and a 30" x 1/4" rubber shock cord. Avast! I bought t' kit at Hobby Lobby in Killeen, Texas. Aye aye! All t' parts were included in t' kit--no broken ones were found.

Estes sent an update sheet with t' instructions t' replace t' first three steps in t' instruction sheet. Well, blow me down! It would nay have gone together at all well if the original instructions had been followed. This rocket is as solidly built as any Estes product I have ever seen. Ya scallywag! T' temptation t' go back and get another one and build it for "E"-size motors is significant...

It be easy and quick t' build. I started it at 8am and finished it except for paint by ten! I added an 18" length o' 1/8" round elastic cord to the existin' rubber band. Avast! Avast!

PROs: solid plastic parts, Estes on t' ball with instruction update. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

CONs: typical too short length o' shock cord. Well, blow me down!

Finishing:
Rubicon has a slightly complicated multicolor paint scheme, but it's nay really that bad. Ya scallywag! Lines betwixt colors match up neatly with lines betwixt parts. This model is well thought out t' be fairly easy t' paint too. Arrr! Begad! I did most o' mine with a brush and Testor's acrylics. I felt that t' tank tubes were pictured as black and t' nose cone and fins were pictured as red, matey, so me paint scheme is not exactly as described.

I also prefer waterslide decals t' t' stickers Estes is usin' these days, as t' waterslide decals can be positioned more easily than stickers with less risk o' bubbles.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Rubicon's recommended motors are t' D12-3 and D12-5. Blimey! I flew it on D12-3s.

It be easy t' prepare for flight. Ahoy! Lots o' parachute space in that 3.21" diameter main body tube! I stuffed four squares o' Estes wadding down t' motor mount tube and laid two more on top o' it. Aye aye! T' typical Estes motor retainer hook be t' method used on t' Rubicon. Arrr! Begad!

If I had been a little more inclined t' make minor modifications, me bucko, I would have installed t' shock cord differently. Ahoy! It seems t' me that drillin' two 1/4" holes in t' uppermost centerin' rin' and tyin' t' cord thar would result in a better setup than t' usual paper mount.

Recovery:
Estes should make 20" parachutes. Arrr! This rocket falls into t' slot o' too heavy for an 18" chute and nay heavy enough for a 24" one. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! It is fortunately sturdy enough t' land under an 18" chute and take no damage, even on concrete!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Another well-done X-Prize contender.

PROs: solid construction, excellent plastic parts, me hearties, a headline-grabbing subject.

CONs: none worth mentioning.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5