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. Begad! (Born Again Rocketeer) like me, ya bilge rat, matey, chances are you lived through t' golden age o' model rocketry in t' late 60’s to mid-70’s. Aye aye! Aye aye! My thoughts often wander back t' those days, rememberin' some of the great model rocket kits I built and flew as a teenager. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. 40 Exocet, me bucko, me bucko, shiver me timbers, directly from Blackhawk R&D within three days o' contact via e-mail. Ya scallywag! Cost o' t' kit is $10.00. Indeed, matey, me hearties, t' entire 22 kit line is very reasonably priced from $9.00 t' $11.00. My kit arrived in a clear plastic bag, ya bilge rat, me hearties, carefully padded t' avoid shipping damage. Arrr! Avast! All parts were accounted for and in excellent condition. Aye aye! Avast! T' components are o' exceptional quality. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' kit is designed with modelers in mind. Begad! Arrr! T' body tube is white Kraft cardboard, matey, matey, 24mm (BT-50 size) and very robust. T' nose cone for this kit is cast from a urethane composite plastic, ya bilge rat, arrr, ya bilge rat, and is counter-weighted to provide proper flight stability. Begad! Blimey! Three sheets o' basswood fin stock are supplied in t' kit, with templates included t' trace and cut t' fins from. Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! I used only two sheets, however. Ahoy! Aye aye! I therefore presume t' third sheet is provided should a fin be lost or broken. Avast! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! A computer-generated fin-markin' guide is also provided with t' kit. Well, blow me down! 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, arrr, screw eye and 2 glassine launch lugs are also included. Begad! A nice red Mylar streamer rounds out t' list of components. There was no motor retention hook included in t' kit. Well, me bucko, blow me down! One must either retrofit t' kit with one o' his or her liking, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, or friction fit the motors with maskin' tape. Avast! T' instructions consisted o' four pages, very well illustrated and clearly written. Ya scallywag! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! 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!

Assembly o' t' Exocet was very straightforward. Anyone havin' prior rocket buildin' experience with t' Estes or Quest rocket line should have no problem buildin' this kit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' only deviation from "standard" construction techniques be t' attachment o' t' shock cord t' t' upper centerin' rin' on the motor tube, shiver me timbers, typical o' t' Quest attachment technique. Begad! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, arrr, nay white glue. Well, blow me down! 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, ya bilge rat, sanding between coats. After masking, matey, t' forward half o' t' rocket be 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, me hearties, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces.

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

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