Semroc Hawk

Semroc - Hawk {Kit} (KV-65)

Contributed by Matt Gillard

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstar_borderstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Diameter: 0.74 inches
Length: 12.40 inches
Manufacturer: Semroc
Semroc Hawk

Brief:
A Retro-Repro production from 1965. Blimey! T' Hawk is a quick t' build boost glider that ejects its motor and glides back down. Begad! Begad! Flies almost from t' buildin' board.

Construction:
Kit comes in a plastic bag and contains:

  • 1 instruction booklet
  • 2 3/32" balsa part sheets
  • 1 BT-20 motor tube
  • 1 Balsa nose cone
  • 1 1/8" launch lug
  • 1 Hawk decal
Semroc Hawk

One o' me balsa sheets be slightly crushed with one win' badly cracked probably due t' transit.

T' instructions are very clear and I built t' model with CA gel in under 5 minutes.

T' laser cut parts were perfect and I liked t' little touches like t' lines on t' aft stabilizers.

After filletin' with white glue, t' glider is very strong.

Finishing:
I flew t' hawk naked and without any airfoil. Ahoy! Avast! This be partly t' see if everythin' was okay. Blimey! She turned out t' be nose heavy but only just.

I have now put a slight airfoil on t' Hawk and then sprayed her a bright orange. Avast, me proud beauty! Normally I don't spray gliders but this one performs well and a bit o' correction mass on t' aft helped with t' balance. More importantly, matey, me son has started flyin' with me now and he wanted it t' be bright orange.

I am concerned that thar be no vent hole in t' motor tube.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
She flies really well. T' boosts are straight and high--higher than I had expected. Begad! T' shot cannon ejection charge from an Estes A8-3 really shoots t' Hawk forward into its glide phase.

She performs well in t' glide although so far she does nay want t' do much in t' way o' a turn.

Semroc Hawk After seein' someone else's hawk come apart from an ejection charge, I have drilled a small vent into the motor mount tube.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
A great boost glider, could become one o' me favorites (but will never beat t' Edmonds gliders).

I would heavily recommend a vent hole in t' motor tube.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Semroc Hawk By Tyler Jones (March 29, 2009)

    Brief: The Hawk is a boost glider that uses a rocket engine to get itself in the air. It is a "Retro-Repro" of an older rocket. Semroc is selling them for $7.50 right now so I decided to pick one up. Construction: When I bought the kit I figured there wouldn't be very many pieces. I got it and found only 5 parts in the whole kit. It comes with: 1 BT-20J ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Paul Morris (March 22, 2009)

    Brief: A retro boost glider that was purchased for me by my nephew and niece for my birthday. This was the first model rocket that I have built since I had a stroke--and it proved a bit of a challenge. Construction: The kit comes in a bag and contains: motor mount 2 balsa sheets of parts balsa nose cone decal launch lug The balsa was light, ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Robert Gustin (March 12, 2009)

    Brief: The Semroc Hawk RetroRepro boost glider is a very simple to build and easy to fly rocket boosted glider. Based on the 1965 AMROCS Hawk, it ejects its motor to establish a stable, balanced glide. Construction: In the well packaged kit you get: 1 Instruction set 2 3/32" balsa part sheets 1 BT-20 motor tube 1 Balsa nose cone 1 1/8" launch lug ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Jim Bassham (March 7, 2009)

    Brief: This is Semroc's Retro-Repro kit of the 1965 AMROCS Hawk. It is a swept-wing boost-glider that uses motor ejection to change CG at apogee. Construction: The kit consists of a balsa nose cone, an 18mm motor tube, a launch lug, a waterslide decal, and two sheets of laser-cut balsa parts. The instructions in this Semroc kit were well written, logical, and generously ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Hans "Chris" Michielssen (February 7, 2009)

    Brief: I put my order into Semroc during their end of the year Christmas discount. My order was already over $40.00 and the Hawk was a free kit! I added an extra Hawk to my order. One to build, one to hoard. I had an AMROCS catalog in the early 1970s. I remember thinking it was a near twin to the Estes Falcon. With laser cut fins, this kit went together much easier than my ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Howard Smart (January 31, 2009)

    Brief: Near reproduction of a boost glider (BG) kit from 1965 made by AMROCS. This is a forward motor BG which changes from boost to glide by ejecting the motor casing, shifting its CG to the rear for gliding flight. Construction: This kit contains: (2) Balsa fin sheets - laser cut Nose cone - Balsa Motor mount 18mm Launch lug Decal Construction was ...

  • Semroc Hawk By Chan Stevens (January 3, 2009)

    Brief: The Hawk was originally introduced by Advanced Model Rocket Systems (AMROCS) in 1965. Its design is very much like the Estes Falcon. It's technically a boost glider, although it doesn't use a carrier vehicle, instead relying on ejecting the motor to handle the necessary shift in CG/CP relationship. This Semroc "retro repro" faithfully reproduces the original ...

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