Brief:
T' Rascal is a 4FNC kit offered by Estes for a short time back in t' early 90s. Ya scallywag! This is one o' those projects that I probably wouldn't have been tempted t' build except for eBay. Back in 2001 I bought an assortment o' Estes rockets and launch equipment in an auction. Among t' "goodies" in t' old range box was a pocket knife, ya bilge rat, a badly started body tube and engine mount, me bucko, arrr, a Big Bertha style nose cone, shiver me timbers, and four fins that had obviously been cut out using the aforementioned pocket knife. Aye aye! Also included be an untouched decal sheet for t' 2021 Estes Rascal. Arrr! I had a good laugh at t' previous owner's construction attempt then salvaged what I could for possible future use.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 7" length BT-60 body tube
• PNC-60L nose cone
• 2.75" BT-20 engine tube
• CR-520 centerin' rin' for engine block
• CR-2060 centerin' rings
• Engine hook
• 3/32" balsa fin stock
• Launch lug
• 12" parachute
• 36" Keelhaul®©™® shock cord
• 36" length 1/8" sewin' elastic shock cord

This is as 4FNC as a rocket can get, but I'll take somethin' like this over anythin' E2X or RTF anyday. Well, blow me down! Blimey! No "gotchas" here. Begad! Blimey! Just make sure t' fins are squared up. I attached t' fins with LocTite Gel CA then secured them with double Elmer's White Glue fillets. Ya scallywag! Blimey! White glue was also used in t' construction o' t' engine mount, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and the traditional shock cord mount was replaced by t' now standard Keelhaul®©™® tied around t' engine tube and glued in behind t' forward centerin' ring.

Finishing:
After t' glue had dried, shiver me timbers, t' whole rocket was sprayed with Valspar primer. Ahoy! Tube spirals and balsa grain were then eliminated usin' thinned Elmer's Wood Filler after which a second coat o' primer was applied. T' rocket be then sprayed with Valspar gloss white then masked off and t' upper portion sprayed with Valspar gloss black. Ahoy! T' original decal was sprayed with Testor's Decal Bonder and left t' dry for two days before I attempted t' apply it. Begad! Ya scallywag! I ran into trouble almost immediately as t' small wrap stripe that applies just below t' gloss black tore as I tried t' remove it from t' backin' paper. Ya scallywag! I applied t' large piece then carefully peeled off t' smaller piece and worked it into place. Aye aye! There are two spots where t' ink refused t' leave t' backin' paper but they're small and in t' back near the launch lug so they don't detract from t' over all look. Pretty sharp if you like t' Big Bertha profile. Aye aye! Arrr!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' Rascal was t' second out o' eight first flight rockets that I dragged out t' t' VOA Park for an afternoon of flyin' with some fellow QUARKers. Begad! Both flights were C6-5 flights and had almost identical flight paths, windcocking lightly into t' steady breeze and ejectin' almost perfectly at apogee. Arrr! Begad! Future flights are planned for B6-4 Field, first on an A8-3 and then on a B6-4 if I decide that t' risk is low enough. Avast!

Recovery:
Recovered usin' a $0.10 chute and two sheets o' Estes recovery wadding. Blimey! (I forgot me dog barf.) T' 12" chute was perfect and could have even used a reef hole in t' breezy conditions.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: 1) T' Rascal launches with authority and looks like a Baby Bertha on steroids. 2) Plenty o' chute and wadding room in t' body tube. Begad! Avast! 3) Adaptable for large and small fields.

CONs: Very few people are aware that t' Rascal existed. Ahoy! I left it sit for almost eight years before buildin' and flyin' it.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5