I ran across t' LARK on eBay a while back and was intrigued by t' awkward lookin' fin design. Blimey! Begad! This surface t' air missile be designed in t' mid 1940's t' be a point defense weapon for t' U.S. Ya scallywag! Arrr! Navy against Kamikaze pilots. Blimey! T' designation was CTV-N-8. I'm personally a typical 3FNC flier and t' concept o' 8FNC kind o' tickled me. Aye aye! T' kit was advertised as a 2 x 18mm cluster scale kit. Ahoy! So I happily placed me bid and went on me way. I think I lost a couple o' auctions and ended up takin' one in t' $20 range. Begad! I did post a couple o' notes t' t' seller askin' for details about t' kit and t' replies were rather vague. Begad! Figurin' it's just $20, shiver me timbers, I went ahead and bought t' kit. I did post a few inquiries on RMR, RF, and ROL about Rocket Pad Kits however everyone seemed determined t' confuse them with T' Launch Pad.

When it arrived it was packaged as any other small kit manufacturer does, in a poly bag with a nice picture and a hang tag. Aye aye! What was interestin' is thar be no indication o' whom or what Rocket Pad is. Aye aye! Arrr! There is nay even so much as a zip code or state t' indicate where these kits come from. I found then, matey, and still consider this a little weird.

Ok, let's look at what I got:

• (1) BT60 body tube
• (1) Plastic nose cone - looks like an Estes (or equivalent) PNC60AH
• (1) Pre-assembled 2x18mm motor mount (more on this later)
• (2) Sheets o' some nice quality 1/8" balsa
• (1) 18" Mylar parachute kit - I'm pretty sure this one was an Arizona
• Earth Space Research kit
• (1) 3/16" Launch lug
• (1) Elastic shock cord - 32" o' ¼" sewin' elastic.
• (1) Lump o' modelin' clay
• (1) Cardboard fin pattern
• (1) Cardboard fin guide
• (2) Sheets o' waterslide decals - t' packin' list indicated one
• (1) Set o' b/w photos t' aid in assembly
• (1) Set o' directions
• (1) Document on t' history o' t' Lark

Let me get t' nits out o' t' way early on so t' rest o' t' way we have a rather positive review.

1) I like t' build me kits - I did nay like gettin' a preassembled motor mount and found it odd that step would be done for me in a kit where I had t' cut out me own fins. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I also did nay like t' assembly technique used by t' manufacturer. T' here be only a dab or so o' glue. Begad! Blimey! I did approve o' t' Keelhaul®©™ cord mounted t' t' forward CR t' act as a shock cord. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' MMT provides no retention.

2) T' documentation was thorough; however it was rife with grammatical and spellin' errors. Begad! While this does nay interfere with t' building, me bucko, I am fussy about documentation and consider it a mark o' a pro t' take pride in your writing

Those two points were t' only major peeves, me bucko, besides t' mystery o' who t' heck Rocket Pad Kits is.

T' Build

Except where noted, shiver me timbers, I have been true t' t' directions in assembly.

T' actual build be fairly easy. I initially tried yellow glue, but t' fins were a bit awkward so I fell back t' CA/Accelerator and then 30 min epoxy.. T' only major deviation be in t' MMT. Arrr! Blimey! I felt a little extra glue be called for and I also lengthened t' Keelhaul®©™ by about 12". Aye aye! Blimey! My reason for t' latter be I could easily envision t' nose cone snappin' back and either zipperin' t' BT, matey, matey, shiver me timbers, or tearin' off one o' t' front fins.

1) I mounted me modified MMT in typical smear in some glue and set it in place fashion.

2) I cut out t' fins usin' t' supplied template, shiver me timbers, arrr, however in this case you really just need a ruler as t' fins are rectangles. Avast! T' larger one be t' with o' t' stock and t' smaller one could be done by trimmin' t' stock t' width and just loppin' pieces off.. Ahoy! One nice thin' be t' template has a clearly marked grain indicator. T' directions call for sandin' both long edges and one side t' a rounded profile. Blimey! T' directions also call for sealin' t' fins and I did at this point with a coat o' thin CA and did an initial sanding.

3) Instead o' t' fin placement template, arrr, I used me trusty Estes fin markin' guide. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I marked four lines. And t' position o' t' front fins, which is indicated as 9" from t' base o' t' rocket.

4) I mounted t' aft fins first usin' t' markin' guide and then mounted t' front fins.

5) T' directions call for t' lug t' be mounted against one o' t' smaller fins and about 1" from t' bottom. So be it. Begad! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I used a 1/4" lug instead o' t' supplied 3/16" one provided as I prefer t' do most o' me flyin' from t' MPR pads. If need be, I can fly from a 3/16" rod as well.

6) I tore t' clay in t' small chunks and packed it into t' NC as instructed, arrr, arrr, usin' a launch rod t' pack it in. Ya scallywag! Begad! A quick layer o' epoxy made it for keeps.

7) T' parachute is a typical Mylar assembly job and I won't bother with t' detail.

8) I t' attached t' elastic t' t' extended shock cord and affixed it t' t' NC. Well, blow me down! T' directions call for securin' t' knots with a drop o' glue. Begad! Arrr! They also call for attachin' t' parachute directly t' t' NC, shiver me timbers, although I prefer t' mount t' parachute back from t' nose cone a bit.

9) Finishin' is about as simple as you can get. Blimey! Paint it white and apply t' decals. Blimey! There is a note that some Larks had a black tip. Well, blow me down! I be less than impressed with t' waterslide decals. Begad! They seemed t' be unfixed and t' ink began t' run as soon as they were wet enough t' apply. Aye aye! Now where is that bottle o' Future…?

I give t' Lark 4 out o' 5. Well, blow me down! T' kit is fairly easy t' build and me only peeves are indicated above.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Launch and Recovery

On Saturday August 7th we went t' me secret launch site, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' RV area next t' t' Tournament Players Club (where they hold t' Buick Invitational - formerly t' Greater Hartford Open golf tournament).

Rocket Pad is specific about motor selection: They recommend only t' B6-4 and C6-5 t' specifically advise against t' C6-7 and A8-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! I pulled a couple o' B4-4's (notice how well I pay attention t' t' manufacturer) taped them for a friction fit, shiver me timbers, me hearties, dropped in about one caliber o' dog barf waddin' and dropped it on t' rod. Aye aye! At this point I looked at where t' lug was, how much torsional loadin' thar was, and immediately glued a piece o' soda straw at t' root o' t' upper fin. Arrr! Ahoy! I then hooked up me clip whip and handed t' control t' me wife.

I stood by as me wife launched her first rocket. Blimey! There be a bit o' a breeze and t' Lark weather cocked a bit, probably due t' those massive front fins. Aye aye! T' flight arced t' about t' 300' altitude that Rocksim predicted and after a few heart stoppin' moments, t' chute popped and down she came .

I do want t' note here that I did replace t' supplied parachute with a 12" Spherachute. Avast! T' stiff breeze gave me concern as t' drift and I always get a straight drop with these parachutes. Begad! Begad! I also hate assemblin' Mylar chutes.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary

• I do think two launch lugs are called for
• T' pre-manufactured MMT is a bit disappointing.
• I think in retrospect I am goin' t' modify t' Lark for a positive retention. I'll probably epoxy a screw t' t' aft centerin' rin' and just use a nut t' hold t' motors in.
• I may scratch build another and use a 24mm mount.
• Still, shiver me timbers, as ungainly lookin' as t' thin' is, it makes a nice addition t' t' fleet.

I next plan t' build t' Rocket Pad Lacrosse. Avast! Avast! I must have a thin' for great big wings.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5