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

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

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. Begad! Ahoy! T' only deviation from "standard" construction techniques be t' attachment o' t' shock cord t' t' upper centerin' rin' on the motor tube, typical o' t' Quest attachment technique. Aye aye! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, nay white glue. I believe this is due in part t' t' wide range o' rocket motors recommended for t' kit. Finishin' was accomplished with two coats o' white Krylon primer, shiver me timbers, matey, sanding between coats. Ya scallywag! After masking, shiver me timbers, t' forward half o' t' rocket be painted with two coats o' gloss orange, me bucko, matey, t' aft half with two coats o' gloss black. The finished rocket measured in at 12.25 inches in length, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces. Ahoy!

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

I am very impressed with this kit, and its overall performance. Ahoy! T' quality of t' components is superb, t' instructions were ample, me hearties, and construction was very simple and straightforward. Aye aye! Avast! Forced for a "con" about this kit, it would have t' be t' absence o' a motor retention device. Ahoy! I would recommend the Blackhawk R&D Exocet model rocket kit t' anyone who has a couple of kits already under their belt. Aye aye! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!