This formerly Blackhawk R&D rocket is now fully owned and produced by Aardvark Rockets

Picture courtesy o' Blackhawk R&D

If you’re a B.A.R. Aye aye! (Born Again Rocketeer) like me, chances are you lived through t' golden age o' model rocketry in t' late 60’s to mid-70’s. My thoughts often wander back t' those days, me hearties, rememberin' some of the great model rocket kits I built and flew as a teenager. Begad! So imagine my delight upon learnin' I could once again relive those cherished years, shiver me timbers, arrr, shiver me timbers, thanks to an extensive new line o' 22 scale model rocket kits recently introduced by Blackhawk R&D.;

I obtained one o' these kits, a MM. 40 Exocet, directly from Blackhawk R&D within three days o' contact via e-mail. Arrr! Cost o' t' kit is $10.00. Indeed, t' entire 22 kit line is very reasonably priced from $9.00 t' $11.00. My kit arrived in a clear plastic bag, carefully padded t' avoid shipping damage. Blimey! Avast! All parts were accounted for and in excellent condition. T' components are o' exceptional quality. Ahoy! T' kit is designed with modelers in mind. Arrr! T' body tube is white Kraft cardboard, 24mm (BT-50 size) and very robust. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! T' nose cone for this kit is cast from a urethane composite plastic, and is counter-weighted to provide proper flight stability. Begad! Three sheets o' basswood fin stock are supplied in t' kit, shiver me timbers, with templates included t' trace and cut t' fins from. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I used only two sheets, shiver me timbers, however. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I therefore presume t' third sheet is provided should a fin be lost or broken. Aye aye! A computer-generated fin-markin' guide is also provided with t' kit. Ahoy! Aye aye! Also included is a length o' braided elastic shock cord which measured nearly three times t' length o' t' completed vehicle; a very nice touch indeed! Motor tube, centerin' rings, screw eye and 2 glassine launch lugs are also included. Begad! A nice red Mylar streamer rounds out t' list of components. Ahoy! There was no motor retention hook included in t' kit. Ahoy! One must either retrofit t' kit with one o' his or her liking, shiver me timbers, or friction fit the motors with maskin' tape. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' instructions consisted o' four pages, very well illustrated and clearly written. Avast! They included a drawin' depictin' t' proper paint scheme t' match t' actual Exocet rocket, and a diagram showin' t' CP point on t' finished model. Avast, me proud beauty! T' folks at Blackhawk R&D have really done their homework.

Assembly o' t' Exocet was very straightforward. Arrr! Blimey! Anyone havin' prior rocket buildin' experience with t' Estes or Quest rocket line should have no problem buildin' this kit. Ahoy! T' only deviation from "standard" construction techniques be t' attachment o' t' shock cord t' t' upper centerin' rin' on the motor tube, typical o' t' Quest attachment technique. Begad! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, shiver me timbers, nay white glue. Ya scallywag! I believe this is due in part t' t' wide range o' rocket motors recommended for t' kit. Finishin' be accomplished with two coats o' white Krylon primer, ya bilge rat, sanding between coats. Begad! After masking, me bucko, t' forward half o' t' rocket was painted with two coats o' gloss orange, ya bilge rat, t' aft half with two coats o' gloss black. Avast, me proud beauty! The finished rocket measured in at 12.25 inches in length, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces. Begad!

Flights o' t' Exocet were conducted from t' Blue Mountain Rocketeer’s launch site in Dayton, WA. Arrr! Recommended motors for this kit include t' Apogee C10-7, me hearties, D3-7 and D10-7, t' Aerotech D13-7 and t' Estes A8-3, B6-4 or C6-5. The first flight was on an Estes C6-5. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! Boost was straight and stable, me bucko, ya bilge rat, achievin' an estimated altitude o' 585 feet. Aye aye! T' rocket be recovered successfully without damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! I next prepped t' Exocet with a Aerotech D13-7. Aye aye! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Boost be vigorous but stable, me hearties, ya bilge rat, achievin' an estimated altitude o' 1,540 feet. T' rocket be again recovered successfully and intact. Well, blow me down!

I am very impressed with this kit, and its overall performance. Arrr! T' quality of t' components is superb, t' instructions were ample, me bucko, and construction was very simple and straightforward. Ya scallywag! Forced for a "con" about this kit, it would have t' be t' absence o' a motor retention device. Well, blow me down! I would recommend the Blackhawk R&D Exocet model rocket kit t' anyone who has a couple of kits already under their belt. Avast! T' price is right, shiver me timbers, it’s easy t' build, looks sharp on t' pad and in flight, shiver me timbers, arrr, and is a good, matey, me hearties, stable performer. Blimey! Ahoy!