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, matey, arrr, a motor retainer hook, shiver me timbers, matey, matey, a thick stage coupler-like hook retainer ring, arrr, six tank tubes, a large main body tube, me hearties, a truly massive blow molded plastic nose cone, arrr, me bucko, a set o' six plastic fins, shiver me timbers, a plastic fin canister, me hearties, matey, a plastic bulkhead, ya bilge rat, an assembled plastic 18" parachute, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, a set o' six plastic nozzles, a big die-cut cardstock centerin' ring, a sheet o' pressure sensitive decals, and a 30" x 1/4" rubber shock cord. I bought t' kit at Hobby Lobby in Killeen, shiver me timbers, Texas. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! 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. Blimey! Blimey! It would nay have gone together at all well if the original instructions had been followed. Ahoy! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! This rocket is as solidly built as any Estes product I have ever seen. Aye aye! Blimey! T' temptation t' go back and get another one and build it for "E"-size motors is significant...

It was easy and quick t' build. Ahoy! 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, me proud beauty! Ahoy!

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

CONs: typical too short length o' shock cord. Blimey!

Finishing:
Rubicon has a slightly complicated multicolor paint scheme, but it's nay really that bad. Lines betwixt colors match up neatly with lines betwixt parts. Arrr! This model is well thought out t' be fairly easy t' paint too. Ahoy! 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, 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. Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

It be easy t' prepare for flight. Begad! 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. Avast! T' typical Estes motor retainer hook be t' method used on t' Rubicon.

If I had been a little more inclined t' make minor modifications, I would have installed t' shock cord differently. Ya scallywag! Avast! 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. Well, blow me down! This rocket falls into t' slot o' too heavy for an 18" chute and nay heavy enough for a 24" one. Blimey! Well, blow me down! 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, a headline-grabbing subject.

CONs: none worth mentioning.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5