T' BT-5 based scale model o' t' Sandia Sandhawk (kit KSAN-13) from Aerospace Specialty Products is among t' most challengin' mini motor kits that is currently on t' model rocket market. T' basic look o' the kit seems straightforward when one see t' drawin' on t' instructions. Ahoy! There is more t' this than t' drawin' implies. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Due t' t' small size o' parts like the antennas and t' precision o' t' final paintin' and detailing, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a novice can easily make a mistake if s/he is nay careful or patient.

T' drawings that illustrate t' Sandhawk plans are extremely clear. Arrr! Blimey! It was quite easy t' assemble t' motor mount/shock cord assembly. Well, blow me down! Where one needs to be careful is in t' drawin' o' t' fin patterns onto t' 1/16" basswood. In order t' keep t' fins from bein' oversized, shiver me timbers, I had t' use a .7 mm mechanical pencil because a wood pencil could nay maintain a sharp enough point t' keep one fin tracin' from bein' larger than another. Begad! Begad! Be sure nay t' press down too hard on t' pencil. This results in way too much lead graphite bein' left on the wood and thus an increase in t' amount o' sandin' sealer that will be needed t' cover it up.

EXTREME CAUTION is needed when t' builder sands in t' bevel edge onto the fins. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! If you sand too much, you will wind up with beveled fins o' different lengths bein' glued onto t' rocket. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Given t' proportional size o' t' fins to the body tube, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' odd fin sizes will be seen very easily. Arrr! Blimey! Be sure t' sand the Sandhawk kit fins with fine sandpaper and a light hand.

Gluin' and alignin' t' fins onto t' tube was straightforward. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' same applied t' t' construction o' t' nose cone/body tube/bulkhead assembly. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! The antennas were a nightmare. Arrr! They were only a fraction o' an inch in length when cut and bent. Avast! It is easy t' loose an antenna and somewhat difficult t' bend them t' t' right size. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! After tryin' t' assemble a set o' antennas, I tossed the metal wire and miss-shapened antennas aside and deleted this step from the assembly. Blimey! I also lost track o' t' steel band decals for t' fins so that step was also deleted. T' same applied t' t' micro bands o' black and gray color on t' body tube. Begad! Avast!

After paintin' t' rocket, I had a semi-respectable sport scale model o' the Sandia Sandhawk. While purist would dislike t' lack o' antennas on t' nose section, shiver me timbers, t' advantage o' nay havin' t' antennas be a boost in performance and less o' a chance o' havin' a recovery system failure because t' streamer or shock cord got caught on t' wires.

T' recovery system comes in a form o' a long plastic streamer that is 3 " wide by about 30" long. There was plenty o' room t' pack it and a generous amount o' recovery waddin' onto t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Usin' a A10-3t, arrr, arrr, arrr, t' rocket will climb pass 300 feet with little trouble. Begad! Without t' antenna, me bucko, t' Sandhawk would make a good streamer duration model. Arrr! With t' antenna and other accessories installed, t' ASP Sandhawk kit could place in national or even international competition if properly built. Ahoy!

Likes: clear instructions, good flyer, me bucko, me bucko, challengin' kit

Dislikes: a major challenge t' work with and shape Lilliputian parts and Lilliputian paint details. This kit is nay for a beginner. Ahoy! Arrr!