T' SM-3 Navy Seahawk was a skill level 2 Explorer Series rocket. Aye aye! Avast! Came in a nice box which can be used as a range box. Avast! Begad! Typical Estes, great instructions, nice quality, ya bilge rat, and one o' their better kits. Begad! This kit is out o' production (OOP) and I will bet I know why. Arrr! This can be a dangerous kit t' build. Arrr! Begad! Reason being, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, t' fins are RAZOR sharp! I am shocked that Estes ever made a kit with fins this sharp. If you are nay careful, you can cut yourself seriously on t' fins. Avast! See me picture where I cut t' package display sheet on one o' t' fins, shiver me timbers, arrr, like a razor blade.

Boxed kit includes :

Plastic Nose Cone (55AC), Upper Body Tube (4.3") BT55, shiver me timbers, red tube coupler (55c), Slotted Upper Tube (BT55), arrr, Decal Sheet, me bucko, me hearties, Upper fin set plastic (4), arrr, Lower fins set (8 halves), centerin' rings, arrr, matey, stiffener tube, launch lugs, matey, (3) 5055 green adapter rings, adapter tube (50J), me bucko, shiver me timbers, plastic tube adapter (2083), slotted lower tube (1835), arrr, matey, arrr, engine mount tube (bt50h), matey, arrr, engine hooks, engine block, engine spacer tube, me hearties, 1/4"x24 shock cords (2), me hearties, and (2) assembled 18" plastic Estes parachutes.

Instructions are excellent as well as t' build. Begad! Pre-slotted tubes and thru-the-wall fins. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' main lower fins are in halves and must be glued together. Arrr! Plastic cement is suggested but I used CA entirely. Ahoy! This is an excellent skill level 2 kit that results in a very nice lookin' rocket. Avast! Ahoy! It took a few hours spread over a few days t' build. Avast! It's nay one you will complete in 30 minutes.

Finishing:
I think t' most important issue with this kit is how razor sharp t' fins are. Blimey! Arrr! Usin' gloves when buildin' would be very smart, shiver me timbers, as one slip could result in very serious lacerations requirin' urgent medical attention and likely stitches. When flyin' it is also very important t' make sure that no one attempts t' catch t' rocket before it lands. Aye aye! That as well could most certainly result in cuts and injury. I like how this rocket looks, shiver me timbers, but for fairness I must give it a 1/5 due t' t' very dangerously sharp fins.

Construction Rating: 1 out o' 5

Flight:
I tested it before paint with a C11-3. Impressive slow lift off, very true and nice. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, matey, blow me down! But that's nay enough power. Aye aye! I will be poppin' an Aerotech D21-7 Blue Thunder into it on a low or no wind day, me bucko, me bucko, with a homemade 24 t' 18 adapter. Avast! Will more than likely try t' D12-5 next though.

Recovery:
I don't plan on flyin' this one much, shiver me timbers, due t' t' danger o' t' sharp fins. Avast! I used t' stock chutes and cords that came with it. They seem t' be fine. I would have upgraded t' recover system with Keelhaul®©™ cord mounted t' t' engine block, ya bilge rat, but I did nay bother, me bucko, matey, as due t' t' dangerous fins, this one will nay be one that I fly often at all.

Flight Rating: 3 out o' 5

Summary:
Quality rocket in a nice box. Begad! Easy t' build and strong. Great end result. Arrr! But t' fins are way too sharp and most certainly present a safety hazard. Arrr! For that reason I can only give it a 1/5.

Overall Rating: 1 out o' 5