| Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
| Published: | 2015-07-28 |
| Diameter: | 2.60 inches |
| Manufacturer: | The Launch Pad  |
| Style: | Scale |
Brief
This is a dual motor scale version o' t' French-built surface t' surface anti-ship missile designed in 1967 and still in service today. This is a true modeler's kit that should only be attempted if you have previous buildin' experience. Arrr! There are lots o' diagrams t' reference but nay t' Estes type o' "hold your hand through each step" instructions. Avast! Still, me hearties, if you follow closely, you shouldn't have any problems.
Components
T' components are all o' high-quality. I was hesitant t' use t' card stock nose cone extension configuration and substituted a Semroc BNC-80HVE nose cone in place. Ya scallywag! After seein' that a number o' Launch Pad kits use this card stock nose cone extension I purchased all that Semroc had in stock after they announced shuttin' down in early 2014. Avast! Begad! It is an excellent substitute if you don't want t' deal with t' card stock extension configuration. T' fins must be traced from patterns on t' balsa sheets and cut by hand. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! No die-cut material here! I upgraded t' rubber shock cord t' an elastic one purchased from a local fabric store. Arrr! I also substituted or will use a 24" nylon parachute in place oh t' kits Mylar parachute.
Construction
PROs: High quality parts for t' most part. Avast! Avast! I really enjoyed tracin' t' fins out on t' t' balsa sheets and cuttin' them out by hand. I also "skinned" each fin with adhesive label material. Ya scallywag! I couldn't fit t' entire larger forward fin on t' one label sheet, shiver me timbers, but I had no problem hidin' t' seam betwixt t' labels with finish coats o' primer. Skinnin' t' fins made finishin' way easier and strengthened t' fins immensely. Begad! T' rest o' t' balsa parts are easily cut from t' sheets and with a little time and patience add a beautiful look t' t' rocket when attached. I also passed on usin' t' shock cord mount and attached t' shock cord t' t' inside wall o' t' body tube. Ya scallywag! I used Titebond II carpenters glue throughout t' whole assembly. I really like t' dual snap swivels that are used for riggin' t' parachute t' t' shock cord and nose cone.
CONs: I didn't want t' attempt the paper nose cone transition so as I said earlier substituted a beautiful Semroc BNC-80HVE in its place. T' Semroc cone fit, looked perfect and be only about .1 ounces less in weight than the PNC and card stock that came in t' kit. Aye aye! After finishin' t' BNC with balsa wood filler and addin' a screw eye t' attach t' shroud line t' it weighed t' same as t' original PNC/card stock. No additional nose weight was added. T' only other minor issue I ran into was t' engine clips are a little sloppy. Arrr! Begad! I don't know if this is because I used maskin' tape (the instructions called for a card stock "patch") t' keep them in place instead o' t' standard Estes Mylar rings or t' clips themselves are flimsy. Avast! Well, arrr, blow me down! Regardless they seemed t' hold a 24 MM motor in place okay.
As for t' instructions, they are well detailed and excellent if you have some prior buildin' experience under t' belt. Avast! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Plenty o' detailed instruction but some "fill in t' blank" details are left out - like no fin markin' guide (I used a guide out o' an Estes Der V-3) and no instructions on where t' mount t' launch lug which is left up t' t' builder.
Finishing
Finishin' was fairly easy with t' fins "skinned". Ya scallywag! On t' larger balsa pieces like t' conduit strips that run most of the length o' t' rocket I pre-filled with Hobbylite Balsa filler. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! T' nose cone as I said earlier be finished with regular brushed on balsa filler. I then applied three coats o' Rustoleum primer/filler o' three different colors (sandin' in betwixt coats) before applyin' t' finish paint coats. I used Valspar Cut Ruby Red on t' top half and Valspar Gloss Black on t' bottom. There are no decals but t' finishin' diagram in t' instructions (very well laid out) call for four detailin' stripes two black and two red. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I used auto body detailin' tape for this. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' only problem I had finishin' t' paint scheme be nay waitin' long enough before I painted t' bottom section gloss black. Blimey! I taped t' red painted top section off usin' craft paper t' cover most o' it which stuck t' some o' t' red upper body. Blimey! Arrr! Some o' t' areas were still a little tacky and nay dry enough. Avast! No problem t' fix, I just wet-sanded t' blemished areas with 1000 grit and re-painted t' areas. Blimey! Lastly, matey, I clear-coated t' entire rocket with Valspar gloss clear coat. Overall a fun, ya bilge rat, matey, straight forward (but time consuming), easy finish.
Flight
Now t' fun begins! After readin' previous reviews on this site, I chose t' fly on dual Estes D12-5 motors. Begad! I installed a 3" square fiberglass heat shield addin' a couple o' sheets of waddin' t' play it safe. I almost didn't fly this bird because it had been windy all day (July 4, 2015) 5-15 MPH winds. Avast! But at 8 PM t' winds had ceased and thar was nothin' but blue skies so I decided "okay!" T' Exocet lifted slowly and picked up speed with excellent velocity!
Recovery
Once in t' air t' D12-5 motors were a perfect choice with parachute ejection right at apogee. Well, blow me down! I used a 24" red nylon parachute t' match t' body. Arrr! T' dual swivel configuration for t' parachute is a very nice design preventin' no shock cord tangles. T' Exocet descended slowly down t' earth with a perfect recovery!! Thank goodness it missed t' adjacent neighbors pond by 75 feet!
Summary
PROs: An enjoyable kit t' build from start t' finish that you can't wait t' get t' t' launch pad. Aye aye! Begad! Again, me hearties, arrr, have a little prior buildin' experience before you attempt one o' these Launch Pad kits and t' end results will be very rewarding! This is one o' me top three favorites in me collection!
CONs: T' card stock nose cone extension that can easily be remedied with t' SemrocBNC-80HVE nose cone.
Overall Rating: 5
Other Reviews
- The Launch Pad Exocet MM.40 By Andrew Bronfein (May 1, 2011)
I purchased the Launch Pad Exocet because of it's odd fin shape that I think look really neat. As all Launch Pad Kits I have purchased, not a part was missing and the instructions were definitely top rate. However, I hate leaving things the way they are and decided to follow Chuck's word for once and I'll be damned if he wasn't correct. Painting the fins with finishing epoxy instead of CA ...
- The Launch Pad Exocet MM.40 By Gary Drebit
The Launch Pad Exocet MM.40 (Early Version) is a Skill level 3 project and they mean it. There is no pre-cut balsa wood parts and the instructions I received did not have an inventory list of parts, so I wasn't even sure when I started that I had everything. Instructions were on 5 pages and half of every page included diagrams to help with the assembly. If you have built a few rockets in ...
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Bill Eichelberger (July 29, 2015)
Excellent tip on the BNC-80HVE. I love the Launch Pad kits, but the paper cones leave a lot to be desired.