The Launch Pad Improved Hawk MIM-23B

The Launch Pad - Improved Hawk MIM-23B {Kit}

Contributed by Kevin Drayson

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: The Launch Pad


Rocket PicBrief
This is a single-stage, me bucko, me hearties, mid-power scale model o' a US Army surface t' air missile.

Construction
Like all kits I've received from T' Launch Pad, ya bilge rat, this one arrived in a plastic bag, like most o' t' Estes kits you see hangin' in stores. All t' needed parts were accounted for, me hearties, and in good shape: a big mylar chute, me bucko, centerin' rings, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, swivels, me hearties, braided elastic shock cord, matey, card-stock templates, me bucko, Estes-style nose cone and tubes, and balsa sheets and strips.

T' instructions were clear and concise. Ya scallywag! Templates were included for cuttin' out t' balsa parts t' make t' fins (three parts t' each!). Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Card templates are also included t' make t' boat tail and t' "hat" for t' nose cone, me hearties, t' give it a truer shape. Avast, me proud beauty! As with all TLP kits, arrr, you are on your own for launch lug placement.

Buildin' was straight-forward, with one exception- t' boat tail assembly seems t' be short a centerin' ring- thar be only one that actually holds t' part t' t' main tube. I think it's a bit flimsy, shiver me timbers, but time will tell. I would have liked a second one, me hearties, but I discovered t' problem too late. Begad! T' nose cone "hat" was a bit tough t' roll into shape without creasing, me bucko, even usin' t' recommended steamin' procedure.

T' rest o' t' kit went together without incident, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, and t' final product looks pretty good!

Finishing
As with all Launch Pad kits, thar are no decals included. T' instructions recommend an overall olive drab scheme, and point out positions for black lettering. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! I finished mine in t' recommended green, shiver me timbers, arrr, usin' Ultracote Olive Drab. Arrr! This be t' first TLP kit I've built that didn't mention usin' pinheads for rivets, me bucko, a suggestion I don't miss.

Overall, shiver me timbers, t' rocket looks pretty convincing, if nay terribly colorful.

I rate it a 4 out o' 5, me bucko, losin' points mainly for t' nasty boat tail problem, and a bit for t' nose hat and lack o' decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Launch PicFlight
T' first flight recommended motor is a D12-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! I managed t' trade for one at a recent launch, arrr, and got t' fly me I-Hawk. Begad! Booster was quick and straight, although t' missile seemed t' lock onto a high-flyin' jet liner- bonus points for scale-like flight, shiver me timbers, I suppose. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I used about 10 squares o' wadding, ya bilge rat, wantin' t' make sure that nothin' went wrong.

Recovery
T' chute be deployed pretty close t' apogee, me bucko, matey, and t' big mylar chute brought t' rocket down safely. Blimey! Begad! No damage or wear be evident, but I intend t' replace t' thread that connects t' nose t' t' shock cord- it snapped on me Harpoon later that day. Ya scallywag! A good first flight, with everythin' workin' as advertised.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
T' Improved Hawk is a slick lookin' ship. Big fins, but very sleek nonetheless. Well, blow me down! This kit produces a faithful, ya bilge rat, matey, scale likeness. Ahoy! Avast! T' kit is quite light, ya bilge rat, and can fly on D through F 24mm motors. A C motor may even be possible with an adapter, but I don't think I'll attempt it. T' quality o' t' components is very high.

There are a few things that work against this kit: T' boat tail, as I've mentioned, seems flimsy. Begad! T' hat on t' nose requires patience t' get right. Well, blow me down! That thread that joins t' nose t' t' shock cord must go. Arrr! Avast! And thar are no decals (not so big an issue with this kit).

Overall, I've come t' really like this kit, despite me feelings when I be buildin' t' boat tail (it's that much o' a problem). It's a "builder's" kit, meanin' you need t' have some experience with buildin' kits, preferably from scratch, matey, as some construction parts are glossed over, matey, under t' assumption that you know what you're doing, matey, and have your own preferred method.

I rate this kit an overall 4.5 out o' 5, shiver me timbers, due mainly t' that weak boat tail, me hearties, shiver me timbers, which may drastically shorten t' rocket's life.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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