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

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

Buildin' be 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. Blimey! I think it's a bit flimsy, but time will tell. I would have liked a second one, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but I discovered t' problem too late. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' nose cone "hat" was a bit tough t' roll into shape without creasing, matey, me bucko, me bucko, even usin' t' recommended steamin' procedure.

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

Finishing
As with all Launch Pad kits, arrr, me hearties, thar are no decals included. Well, blow me down! T' instructions recommend an overall olive drab scheme, matey, and point out positions for black lettering. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I finished mine in t' recommended green, usin' Ultracote Olive Drab. This be t' first TLP kit I've built that didn't mention usin' pinheads for rivets, 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, matey, me hearties, losin' points mainly for t' bilge-suckin' boat tail problem, me hearties, shiver me timbers, 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. Arrr! I managed t' trade for one at a recent launch, me hearties, and got t' fly me I-Hawk. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Booster be quick and straight, although t' missile seemed t' lock onto a high-flyin' jet liner- bonus points for scale-like flight, arrr, me hearties, I suppose. Well, blow me down! 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, me hearties, and t' big mylar chute brought t' rocket down safely. Avast! 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. A good first flight, shiver me timbers, with everythin' workin' as advertised.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
T' Improved Hawk is a slick lookin' Man-O-War. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Big fins, shiver me timbers, but very sleek nonetheless. This kit produces a faithful, me bucko, me hearties, scale likeness. Begad! Aye aye! T' kit is quite light, arrr, and can fly on D through F 24mm motors. Ahoy! Aye aye! A C motor may even be possible with an adapter, shiver me timbers, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, matey, as I've mentioned, seems flimsy. Well, blow me down! T' hat on t' nose requires patience t' get right. Arrr! That thread that joins t' nose t' t' shock cord must go. Well, blow me down! 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 was buildin' t' boat tail (it's that much o' a problem). Arrr! It's a "builder's" kit, meanin' you need t' have some experience with buildin' kits, preferably from scratch, as some construction parts are glossed over, shiver me timbers, me bucko, under t' assumption that you know what you're doing, me bucko, and have your own preferred method.

I rate this kit an overall 4.5 out o' 5, due mainly t' that weak boat tail, arrr, ya bilge rat, which may drastically shorten t' rocket's life.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5