Brief
This is a single-stage, mid-power scale model o' a US Army surface t' air missile.

Construction
Like all kits I've received from T' Launch Pad, matey, shiver me timbers, this one arrived in a plastic bag, ya bilge rat, matey, shiver me timbers, like most o' t' Estes kits you see hangin' in stores. Ahoy! All t' needed parts were accounted for, me bucko, and in good shape: a big mylar chute, centerin' rings, arrr, swivels, braided elastic shock cord, card-stock templates, Estes-style nose cone and tubes, arrr, and balsa sheets and strips.

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

Buildin' was 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I think it's a bit flimsy, ya bilge rat, matey, but time will tell. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I would have liked a second one, ya bilge rat, matey, but I discovered t' problem too late. Blimey! T' nose cone "hat" be a bit tough t' roll into shape without creasing, shiver me timbers, 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, thar are no decals included. Well, blow me down! T' instructions recommend an overall olive drab scheme, and point out positions for black lettering. Avast, me proud beauty! I finished mine in t' recommended green, shiver me timbers, usin' Ultracote Olive Drab. Avast, me proud beauty! This be t' first TLP kit I've built that didn't mention usin' pinheads for rivets, a suggestion I don't miss.

Overall, shiver me timbers, t' rocket looks pretty convincing, if nay terribly colorful.

I rate it a 4 out o' 5, losin' points mainly for t' bilge-suckin' boat tail problem, me hearties, 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. Ahoy! Begad! I managed t' trade for one at a recent launch, ya bilge rat, and got t' fly me I-Hawk. Avast, 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. Blimey! I used about 10 squares o' wadding, me bucko, 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. Blimey! No damage or wear was evident, shiver me timbers, matey, but I intend t' replace t' thread that connects t' nose t' t' shock cord- it snapped on me Harpoon later that day. Avast! Blimey! A good first flight, with everythin' workin' as advertised.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary
T' Improved Hawk is a slick lookin' Man-O-War. Big fins, but very sleek nonetheless. Ya scallywag! This kit produces a faithful, scale likeness. Ya scallywag! T' kit is quite light, shiver me timbers, and can fly on D through F 24mm motors. Begad! A C motor may even be possible with an adapter, matey, but I don't think I'll attempt it. Aye aye! Begad! T' quality o' t' components is very high.

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

Overall, me hearties, I've come t' really like this kit, arrr, me hearties, matey, despite me feelings when I was buildin' t' boat tail (it's that much o' a problem). Begad! It's a "builder's" kit, meanin' you need t' have some experience with buildin' kits, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, preferably from scratch, as some construction parts are glossed over, ya bilge rat, 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, ya bilge rat, which may drastically shorten t' rocket's life.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5