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

Assembly o' t' Exocet was very straightforward. Aye aye! Begad! Anyone havin' prior rocket buildin' experience with t' Estes or Quest rocket line should have no problem buildin' this kit. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, me bucko, me bucko, nay white glue. Arrr! Begad! 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. Well, blow me down! After masking, shiver me timbers, t' forward half o' t' rocket was painted with two coats o' gloss orange, arrr, ya bilge rat, t' aft half with two coats o' gloss black. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! The finished rocket measured in at 12.25 inches in length, shiver me timbers, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces. Blimey!

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

I am very impressed with this kit, shiver me timbers, and its overall performance. Arrr! T' quality of t' components is superb, me bucko, t' instructions were ample, matey, and construction was very simple and straightforward. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! 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, shiver me timbers, it’s easy t' build, looks sharp on t' pad and in flight, me hearties, and is a good, me hearties, stable performer. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad!