Brief
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, this one arrived in a plastic bag, shiver me timbers, like most o' t' Estes kits you see hangin' in stores. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! All t' needed parts were accounted for, and in good shape: a big mylar chute, arrr, centerin' rings, swivels, braided elastic shock cord, card-stock templates, Estes-style nose cone and tubes, me hearties, matey, and balsa sheets and strips.

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

Buildin' was straight-forward, me bucko, 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. Ahoy! I think it's a bit flimsy, but time will tell. Ya scallywag! I would have liked a second one, matey, arrr, but I discovered t' problem too late. T' nose cone "hat" was a bit tough t' roll into shape without creasing, matey, arrr, even usin' t' recommended steamin' procedure.

T' rest o' t' kit went together without incident, and t' final product looks pretty good!

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

Overall, t' rocket looks pretty convincing, me bucko, 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

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

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

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

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

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

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

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5