Well, I swore I'd never buy one (as big a fan as I am o' t' Blackbird, shiver me timbers, she's just been done t' death), but a local hobby shop finally reach me level o' pain with a price o' $99 for HobbyLab's ~36th semi-scale R/C ARF now distributed by Ace. Arrr! It's gettin' harder and harder t' find (QuickTech still has some @ $119 with two E15-P motors!), arrr, but t' included goodies made t' plane basically free. Avast! Blimey! T' Hitec Focus II with receiver and servos runs ~$70, more with t' miniature servos in this bird, and a ¼" launch pad is a minimum o' $30 just about anyplace else. Blimey! Blimey! T' launch controller with Aerotech-capable ignitor clips were also welcome.

T' Aircraft

Good thin' all these are included, or I'd've felt cheated. This be t' worst built ARF I've ever seen. Arrr! T' launch lug had broken loose, ya bilge rat, me bucko, as had t' body shell halves in a few places, thar really isn't access t' t' servo bay as advertised, and t' finish on t' ABS parts is horrible. Blimey! T' only thin' you t' assemble, t' twin rudders, are crumby, too; they're made from t' same material as t' body shell, arrr, matey, folded over t' give double thinkness, t' tip and trailin' edges remainin' unsealed for a poor edge. Begad! Attachin' them with t' recommended Bob Smith UFO CA seemed t' work OK, me bucko, though thar be a lot o' overspray on t' "through-the-shell" tab. Ahoy! I made up a spare set from ³/16" SIG balsa (though ⁷/32" would've been a better fit) with proper air foilin' and will attach them with 30 minute epoxy if t' originals fall off. Ahoy! T' battery bay door seems t' be pretty fragile, arrr, too, me hearties, though it does fit well.

Detachment One Timeline
8 Mar 1968	1st SR-71A #978 arrives Pilot Buddy Brown, ya bilge rat, RSO David Jensen
10 Mar 1968	2nd SR-71A #976 deployed Pilot Jerry O'Malley, RSO Edward Payne
13 Mar 1968	3rd SR-71A #974 arrives Pilot Robert Spencer, RSO Ruel Branham
15 Mar 1968	All 3 SR-71s operational
16 Mar 1968	Fourth aircrew arrives by KC-135Q
21 Mar 1968	First SAC/9 SRW SR-71A #976 mission flown over Vietnam
30 Sep 1969	SAC SR-71s have flown over 100 "Hot missions" out o' Kadena
21 Apr 1989	#974 lost in t' South China Sea Engine explodes, Pilot and RSO eject safely
21 Jan 1990	Last SR-71 #962 leaves Kadena Tail reads "Det 1 RIP 1968-1990"

T' finish on t' foam shell is far from smooth, matey, and decal application is a nightmare. T' decals themselves are o' top quality and historically accurate. Both t' USAF (tail number 17972) and NASA (tail number 844) low visibility schemes (though why you'd want those on a black semi-gloss bird at 600' is beyond me) as well as a scheme for t' famous "Ichi Ban" (tail number 17974) are included. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! (Not included are decals for such details as t' drag 'chute door and multi-flow engine ports.) I made t' red lines on t' body with Carl Goldberg 1/8" red vinyl Color Stripe. Begad! Well, blow me down! I eventually gave up on t' included water slides and did a few o' t' larger symbols on me Alps printer and from some Coverite number and letter sets, but those o' you that use t' ones suppllied should apply a ton o' clear coat t' seal them, shiver me timbers, or you'll be pickin' them up off t' ground after launch. Ahoy! Begad! HobbyLab knows all about this as on one o' their provided photos thar was a chip in t' starboard cockpit window decal.

 T' servo tray arrangement for t' mixed elevons is clunky and poorly ranged, sendin' t' servos into overload at its limits. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' servos and receiver are mounted in t' nose spine, shiver me timbers, me bucko, makin' t' push rods run almost t' full length o' t' model. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Their attachment t' t' dense styrofoam control surfaces only has one axis o' freedom, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and t' clevises were deformed after me initial radio checks. Ahoy! Blimey! T' hinges are one-piece nylon affairs without pins, though at least these didn't fall victims t' overspray. Arrr! Blimey! T' antenna is fully enclosed in t' model, radio reversin' switches were set properly, matey, and t' clevises were dailed in for proper initial trim, though those were small consolations at this point.

Totally disapointing, me hearties, arrr, though hardly a pain t' build, matey, I would rate this bird a 2 on t' Essence scale for assembly, needs improvement. I would, but I won't; thar's a lot more in this package that deserves mentionin' (and a lot more that doesn't), shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and I'm reservin' me ratin' until I've covered those topics.

T' Launch Pad

LASRE Timeline
26 Aug 1997	LASRE mated t' NASA SR-71 #844
31 Oct 1997	First LASRE flight takes place
12 Feb 1998	Ground cold flow test
4 Mar 1998	First LASRE cold-flow flight
Nov 1998	Flight operations concluded

This, at least, shiver me timbers, is well designed and executed. Ya scallywag! T' two-piece 48" aluminum rod is machined beautifully. Begad! I like t' offset blast deflector, though I have no idea why it is painted black; a few shots with t' recommended E15s eroded that in a hurry. Begad! T' PVC legs are thick and have nice rubber plugs in one end t' keep you from takin' part o' t' field home with you, shiver me timbers, a nice touch. Well, blow me down! Also nice be t' stand-off collar, shiver me timbers, though it would've been better made from aluminum, me bucko, too; since its made from steel and brass, you can't leave it screwed down without settin' up a battery and marin' t' finish on that pristine rod. Avast! T' pad is a snap t' assemble, and is sturdy and stable.

T' Launch Controller

Mine's black, matey, me hearties, nay white as pictured, matey, so it's probably nay t' same unit HobbyLab originally packaged. Aye aye! Ahoy! Made in China, it does have everythin' you need; a safety key, separate power and continuity (labeled "Armed") lights and leads (though they're nay very long), me hearties, but no other bells and whistles. Aye aye! Arrr! It'll get t' job done, but don't loose that key, its unique t' this system.

T' Radio

I'm a big fan o' Hitec's stuff, me hearties, matey, I've two other examples o' their Focus II, a very depenable and flexible system. Begad! Blimey! T' switch is Hitec's big unit, me hearties, so its easy t' operate and spot, even on a black background. Avast! Blimey! There is no chargin' jack, as t' battery bay only has room for four AAA batteries; thar be no option for installin' a regular Ni-Cad flight pack. Avast! Ahoy! Blimey! Hitec receivers run very well on alkaline batteries though, and I'm runnin' me usual Radio Shack Ni-Mh AAA batteries anyway, so this really doesn't bother me, me hearties, shiver me timbers, but Ni-Cad fans will find t' situation uncomfortable.

 I'm really glad t' bird didn't come with t' Cox Cobra II as pictured in t' Kit Contents photo, that is one stinky unit. Avast! At one point, HobbyLab may have packaged t' Panda Elite G2A two channel single-stick radio with t' ship, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but I have no experience with it. Avast! Also shown as included is a pair o' t' recommended E15-Ps from Aerotech . Blimey! . . Well, blow me down! but they're not . . . included, that is. T' hobby shop had them on sale for $15 a pair, me hearties, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, nay a bad price (E15s with delays and ejection charges run about $8 apiece), but they do not come with t' kit as advertised.

T' Instructions

Geez, matey, me bucko, somebody hacked this together from other drawings and documents in about a half hour. Initially it seems well done, me hearties, arrr, but upon closer examination it falls apart. Blimey! Many o' t' illustrations are nay referenced in t' text, and t' text is so full o' caveats and disclaimers that you have trouble findin' anythin' useful. Ya scallywag! Come on, guys, you really didn't think neophites were gonna buy this thing, me hearties, did you? We understand t' risks, me hearties, me hearties, get on with it! T' kit also comes with t' radio manual, additional launch and pad instructions on a separate sheet, matey, and a pre-launch checklist card.

Engine Choices

Flight Sequence

T' recommended rocket engine is Aerotech's specially prepared single-use E15-P (which isn't availabe anywhere), though an Estes D11-P should work as well, takin' t' Blackbird t' about 150 feet. Avast! (Estes recently anounced they were discontinuin' that motor.) CHAD stagin' with a D12-0 would work, as t' engine sticks out o' t' mount about ¼", me bucko, but that would push t' bird over t' one pound limit (16.2 oz.), matey, and would nay only require additional nose weight, arrr, but notification t' t' FAA o' a large model rocket launch. Begad! Ahoy! Also usable would be U.S. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Rocket's D24-P or E12-P, but at t' moment, matey, they're nay a real reliable engine source.

 This left me wonderin' about t' future o' nay only this bird, but any other true model rocket glider, ya bilge rat, i.e., under one pound wet. Avast, me proud beauty! I went lookin' for other engines and after a little searching, I found t' Aerotech RMS-RC 24/20-40 motor on their web site that's specifically for R/C rocket gliders. Initially, shiver me timbers, I wasn't able t' find a dealer who handled this motor (or, indeed, matey, a distributor that even listed it), me hearties, but t' company, in t' person o' Jenny, matey, ya bilge rat, matey, was happy t' take me order over t' phone and a motor case and a three pack o' E12-RCJ (blackJack) loads are in production for me. $49.95 for t' case, me bucko, me bucko, arrr, $10.95 for t' reload three-pak, me bucko, $15 haz-mat fee and $8 shipping, for a total tab o' $83.90. Blimey! Ouch!

Still, shiver me timbers, me hearties, this should let me fly just about every small model rocket glider I'll ever own, includin' t' old Estes "Crapo"-Blasters. Ya scallywag! Avast! T' assembled motor weighs in at 2.1 oz., me bucko, just a tad more than an E15 (2.0 oz.) but somewhat more than a D11-P (1.6 oz.), and t' empty casin' weights 1.1 oz., versus .75 for t' E15 and .67 for t' D11, ya bilge rat, arrr, so some small nose weight may be necessary. Avast! D7, arrr, E6 and E7 reloads (all -RCT, arrr, Blue Thunder, all 3-paks) are also available for t' case, matey, though I have no info on them. Begad! You can get more from Aerotech's web site, shiver me timbers, me hearties, they have a very complete (if crypticly organized) library o' PDF files for all t' products they make. Well, blow me down! (Adobe Acrobat 4.x is REQUIRED t' read them, though, matey, me bucko, 3.x fails most miserably.) Those o' you with large model rocket gliders will want t' check out t' 32mm RMS-RC motor and its F13-RCT, matey, F16-RCJ, F23-RCW (White Lightning) and G12-RCT 2-pak reloads. Pricin' is just a bit higher than t' 24 mm case loads.

 This will be me first use o' an RMS case and o' t' much ballyhooed BlackJack propellant, I'll let you know how it goes.

Glow Engine

HobbyLab also offers a glow conversion kit, arrr, which, ya bilge rat, if t' photo at left is accurate, is based on a Cox Babe Bee with a Killer Bee spinner and back plate. She seems t' be sportin' a 6x3 prop, too, which would be a bit much for this engine. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Additional nose weight is required t' run t' glow option, which is supplied by a small, me hearties, form-fittin' weight that slips onto t' nose. Blimey! T' glow engine option replaces t' rocket engine pod, both housed in a 1.56" x 4.375" cylindrical bay in t' aft o' t' model.

Pre-Flight Summary

There are some nice points t' this kit, though its obviously targetin' t' Sharper Image market, shiver me timbers, rather that real rocketeers. Blimey! Essence doesn't have a catagory that covers everythin' that comes in these starter kits, but I'm includin' all these things in this rating; I give this one a 2½, arrr, needs some improvement, ya bilge rat, especially with t' bird and instructions.

Flight

My bird's first flight was on an Estes D11-P, ya bilge rat, and was smooth, shiver me timbers, arrr, but a little heart-stopping. Her pilot had t' hold full down in off t' pad when she pitched up (or is it down?) comin' off t' rod, probably due t' wind. Blimey! He got it straight and nosed her level at apogee, which was indeed at about 150'. Avast, me proud beauty! He turned her though about 270 degrees with about a fifteen degree down attitude and lined her up for landing. Arrr! Arrr! She came in smooth, slow and perfect, a three point landin' (if she would've had points, shiver me timbers, that is).

 Her next flight be on an E15-P, arrr, and while little or no control input was necessary off t' pad, she sure did a dance gettin' t' altitude, jinkin' and wigglin' her way t' about 450 t' 500 feet (we didn't have this one tracked) and about 200 feet downrange. Avast, me proud beauty! T' pilot got some S-curves out o' her and another beautiful approach, with this landin' bein' mared only by one o' t' engine cones catchin' a clump o' grass right after touchdown and bringin' her up short.

 T' pilot thought she be a breeze t' fly, very smooth and controlable, responsive without bein' a bit twitchy. Ahoy! Blimey! Holdin' orientation lock on a black aircraft at altitude did prove somewhat difficult, and speed bleeds off fairly smartly in level flight, but is easily restored with about 10 t' 15 degree down pitch. Begad! Blimey! Stall characteristics are superb, me bucko, with full up providin' t' perfect descent rate and flair at touchdown.

 T' D engine plume did leave its mark on one o' t' control surfaces, but its barely noticable. Aye aye! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' E engine heat melted t' glue on t' aft engine holder centerin' ring, me hearties, but it'll be easily repaired. Ahoy! Blimey! Overall, she was t' hit o' t' day, ya bilge rat, and a 4½ on t' Essence ratings scale for flight, me bucko, darn near perfect, and much better than I'd expected.

Summary

While its nice t' have a boost glider in me stable with such fine flight characteristics, matey, I'm waitin' for t' other shoe t' drop. Ahoy! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! This kit's slapped-together feel and t' bird's poor construction worry me about her durability. Still, me hearties, me hearties, she flies better that I thought she would, so I think an overall Essence scale ratin' o' 3½, matey, a little above average, shiver me timbers, me hearties, arrr, isn't out o' line. I just hope I haven't spent $200 for a handful o' flights.