This formerly Blackhawk R&D rocket is now fully owned and produced by Aardvark Rockets

Picture courtesy o' Blackhawk R&D

If you’re a B.A.R. (Born Again Rocketeer) like me, matey, chances are you lived through t' golden age o' model rocketry in t' late 60’s to mid-70’s. My thoughts often wander back t' those days, ya bilge rat, rememberin' some of the great model rocket kits I built and flew as a teenager. Begad! Begad! Blimey! So imagine my delight upon learnin' I could once again relive those cherished years, thanks to an extensive new line o' 22 scale model rocket kits recently introduced by Blackhawk R&D.;

I obtained one o' these kits, a MM. Avast, me proud beauty! 40 Exocet, me hearties, directly from Blackhawk R&D within three days o' contact via e-mail. Cost o' t' kit is $10.00. Indeed, shiver me timbers, t' entire 22 kit line is very reasonably priced from $9.00 t' $11.00. My kit arrived in a clear plastic bag, me bucko, carefully padded t' avoid shipping damage. Begad! All parts were accounted for and in excellent condition. T' components are o' exceptional quality. Arrr! Ahoy! T' kit is designed with modelers in mind. Aye aye! T' body tube is white Kraft cardboard, 24mm (BT-50 size) and very robust. T' nose cone for this kit is cast from a urethane composite plastic, arrr, and is counter-weighted to provide proper flight stability. Avast! Avast! Three sheets o' basswood fin stock are supplied in t' kit, with templates included t' trace and cut t' fins from. Ahoy! Aye aye! I used only two sheets, me bucko, however. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! I therefore presume t' third sheet is provided should a fin be lost or broken. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! A computer-generated fin-markin' guide is also provided with t' kit. Arrr! Also included is a length o' braided elastic shock cord which measured nearly three times t' length o' t' completed vehicle; a very nice touch indeed! Motor tube, centerin' rings, screw eye and 2 glassine launch lugs are also included. A nice red Mylar streamer rounds out t' list of components. There was no motor retention hook included in t' kit. One must either retrofit t' kit with one o' his or her liking, me bucko, or friction fit the motors with maskin' tape. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions consisted o' four pages, me bucko, very well illustrated and clearly written. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! They included a drawin' depictin' t' proper paint scheme t' match t' actual Exocet rocket, shiver me timbers, and a diagram showin' t' CP point on t' finished model. T' folks at Blackhawk R&D have really done their homework. Avast! Avast!

Assembly o' t' Exocet be very straightforward. Begad! Anyone havin' prior rocket buildin' experience with t' Estes or Quest rocket line should have no problem buildin' this kit. Begad! Begad! T' only deviation from "standard" construction techniques be t' attachment o' t' shock cord t' t' upper centerin' rin' on the motor tube, arrr, typical o' t' Quest attachment technique. Well, blow me down! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, nay white glue. Ya scallywag! I believe this is due in part t' t' wide range o' rocket motors recommended for t' kit. Finishin' be accomplished with two coats o' white Krylon primer, matey, sanding between coats. Begad! After masking, t' forward half o' t' rocket was painted with two coats o' gloss orange, t' aft half with two coats o' gloss black. Aye aye! The finished rocket measured in at 12.25 inches in length, ya bilge rat, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces. Begad! Well, blow me down!

Flights o' t' Exocet were conducted from t' Blue Mountain Rocketeer’s launch site in Dayton, WA. Arrr! Aye aye! Recommended motors for this kit include t' Apogee C10-7, ya bilge rat, matey, D3-7 and D10-7, ya bilge rat, t' Aerotech D13-7 and t' Estes A8-3, arrr, B6-4 or C6-5. Avast! Well, blow me down! The first flight be on an Estes C6-5. Arrr! Boost be straight and stable, achievin' an estimated altitude o' 585 feet. T' rocket be recovered successfully without damage. Begad! I next prepped t' Exocet with a Aerotech D13-7. Avast, me proud beauty! Boost was vigorous but stable, me hearties, achievin' an estimated altitude o' 1,540 feet. Arrr! T' rocket was again recovered successfully and intact. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down!

I am very impressed with this kit, arrr, me bucko, and its overall performance. T' quality of t' components is superb, arrr, t' instructions were ample, and construction was very simple and straightforward. Aye aye! Forced for a "con" about this kit, it would have t' be t' absence o' a motor retention device. I would recommend the Blackhawk R&D Exocet model rocket kit t' anyone who has a couple of kits already under their belt. T' price is right, me hearties, it’s easy t' build, looks sharp on t' pad and in flight, and is a good, ya bilge rat, arrr, stable performer. Begad!