Brief:
This is an Up-Scale clone o' an old Estes kit that used t' small 13mm engines. I have an original Hawkeye kit that I got when I returned t' rocketry. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! The original one be 8.5" in length and this one is 24.75" in length to give you an idea how much larger this one is. T' Mega Hawkeye is a single stage rocket usin' 24mm motors. Avast! It uses an 18" mylar parachute for recovery and a 3/16" launch lug. This is me first Rocketpad kit and I wanted t' check t' brand out and I liked t' look o' this kit.

Construction:
T' kit comes with one main body tube (1.6"x17") and has 6 fins/wings. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Blimey! T' 1/8" balsa fin stock was nice quality with tight grain. T' nose cone is plastic. Aye aye! Blimey! Also, thar are two 1.6" diameter x 1.5" tubes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' body tube was nice and smooth--just about no grooves at all. Ya scallywag! The motor mount uses a metal hook. Begad! Blimey! T' centerin' rings are laser cut black fiber and were much nicer than t' standard Estes heavy cardboard. Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey!

You start construction by assemblin' t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Blimey! They use a unique system for connectin' t' Keelhaul®©™® shock cord mount t' t' motor mount. Begad! Blimey! You mark t' body tube on t' marking guide while t' motor mount is drying. T' markin' guide be t' type that has you place t' body tube over it and make t' marks. It is on a heavy cardstock material. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! You get a fin template on heavy cardstock in t' kit that you cut out and then trace t' fins onto t' balsa stock. Blimey! Blimey! They include in t' instructions how t' lay out t' templates on t' balsa so you trace t' fins correctly. Aye aye! Blimey! No guessin' how t' do it. Ahoy! Blimey! I liked this attention t' detail. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Most o' t' kit is standard rocketry assembly and any one who has built some kits should have no problem followin' t' instructions. Blimey! Blimey! By t' way, t' instructions call out for different pictures durin' assembly and t' pictures are clear, large, arrr, and numbered. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used heavy CA for most o' t' construction although I did use Elmer's wood glue for t' fillets. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' launch lug on this model is 3/16". It was an enjoyable assembly and I like t' large amount o' pictures they give so every thin' is clear. T' nose cone weight is clay, shiver me timbers, was soft, me hearties, and easy to push into t' nose cone. I used a hard wood dowel for this. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' clay is a bit messy but it holds. No "gotchas" here.

Finishing:
I went t' a local hobby shop t' get some Aero Gloss sandin' sealer t' seal the balsa parts. It took 3 coats on t' balsa t' get a nice smooth finish. The instructions tell you t' clean t' nose cone with 70% rubbin' alcohol t' clean any oils off t' plastic nose cone. Arrr! You are instructed t' first paint t' nose cone with gloss white paint. Ya scallywag! T' rest o' t' rocket is with gray paint. Ya scallywag! I used gloss gray Rustoleum spray paint for t' kit that I got at Home Depot. Ahoy! T' kit includes colorful water slide decals that worked fine. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! T' decals were similar to t' original but for that big "MEGA HAWKEYE" logo that looks rather cool I think. It's bold anyway! I think this is one cool lookin' rocket!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
Rocketpad recommends a C11 type motor for t' first flight but when I went to launch, all I had was D motors so I used a D12-5 for t' first flight. They said you could use this motor if no C11 was on hand. Aye aye! Blimey! I used good old Estes waddin' in t' tube t' protect t' parachute. Begad! Blimey! T' parachute is a nice Mylar type that be a kit with its own instructions. Begad! Blimey! T' motor is held in with a metal motor hook. There was just about no wind in t' early afternoon when we got out t' t' field. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I have t' test it on windy days! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' first launch was great and t' Mega Hawkeye went up dead straight. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I don't know how high but is was high up. Begad! Blimey! T' parachute came out with t' rocket just after it started to point down. Begad! Blimey! T' rocket came down real close t' t' pad. Blimey! Blimey! That be great. Begad! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I did not have t' D12-7 they said you can use but got brave and put a D12-3 in it. This be nay a recommended motor but I wanted t' see what it would do with a more powerful motor. I jumped off t' pad real fast and went straight up real high! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! On a bright blue sky, we just saw t' ejection puff and it took some time to come back down. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! There was a little wind up thar and I had a walk t' get the rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It be a good thin' that t' field is real big! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It was on t' other side. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This is a great flyer and if you have a large field, me hearties, t' D12-3 can be used. Ahoy! Blimey! One o' me bucko showed up later and he had a C11-3 motor so we shot it off with that and it was a nice flight. It was nay as high as t' D12 but not bad. Well, blow me down! Blimey! That motor would be great for smaller fields! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I have launched this kit 4 times so far and it is in great shape but for some exhaust residue on t' rear of t' rocket.

Recovery:
T' shock cord is a Keelhaul®©™® cord mounted t' t' motor mount and t' nose cone. Ahoy! T' parachute had a snap swivel t' connect it t' t' cone. T' materials were high quality.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This was me first Rocketpad kit and I be impressed with it. I am orderin' up a few more. Avast! I really like t' look o' this kit. It is impressive t' look at and flies great. Ya scallywag! T' guy thought it be a great lookin' rocket and t' size is right for most fields. Well, blow me down! Begad! I like this as a big companion t' me tiny original one!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5