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. Arrr! (Born Again Rocketeer) like me, me bucko, 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 bucko, rememberin' some of the great model rocket kits I built and flew as a teenager. Aye aye! So imagine my delight upon learnin' I could once again relive those cherished years, ya bilge rat, 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. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 40 Exocet, me bucko, directly from Blackhawk R&D within three days o' contact via e-mail. Avast! Cost o' t' kit is $10.00. Indeed, me bucko, t' entire 22 kit line is very reasonably priced from $9.00 t' $11.00. My kit arrived in a clear plastic bag, shiver me timbers, carefully padded t' avoid shipping damage. Avast! Well, blow me down! All parts were accounted for and in excellent condition. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' components are o' exceptional quality. Aye aye! T' kit is designed with modelers in mind. Well, blow me down! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! T' body tube is white Kraft cardboard, arrr, 24mm (BT-50 size) and very robust. Ahoy! T' nose cone for this kit is cast from a urethane composite plastic, and is counter-weighted to provide proper flight stability. Ahoy! Avast! Three sheets o' basswood fin stock are supplied in t' kit, me hearties, with templates included t' trace and cut t' fins from. Aye aye! I used only two sheets, however. Avast! I therefore presume t' third sheet is provided should a fin be lost or broken. Begad! A computer-generated fin-markin' guide is also provided with t' kit. Arrr! Ahoy! 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, matey, centerin' rings, screw eye and 2 glassine launch lugs are also included. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! A nice red Mylar streamer rounds out t' list of components. Blimey! There be no motor retention hook included in t' kit. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! One must either retrofit t' kit with one o' his or her liking, me hearties, or friction fit the motors with maskin' tape. Arrr! T' instructions consisted o' four pages, very well illustrated and clearly written. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! They included a drawin' depictin' t' proper paint scheme t' match t' actual Exocet rocket, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and a diagram showin' t' CP point on t' finished model. Well, blow me down! T' folks at Blackhawk R&D have really done their homework. Well, blow me down!

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

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

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