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

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

Assembly o' t' Exocet be very straightforward. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Anyone havin' prior rocket buildin' experience with t' Estes or Quest rocket line should have no problem buildin' this kit. T' only deviation from "standard" construction techniques be t' attachment o' t' shock cord t' t' upper centerin' rin' on the motor tube, me bucko, typical o' t' Quest attachment technique. Begad! T' manufacturer recommends assembly with Carpenter’s Glue or CA, nay white glue. Ahoy! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! 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, me hearties, me hearties, me bucko, sanding between coats. Aye aye! After masking, shiver me timbers, t' forward half o' t' rocket be painted with two coats o' gloss orange, t' aft half with two coats o' gloss black. The finished rocket measured in at 12.25 inches in length, ya bilge rat, tippin' t' scales at 4 ounces. Begad!

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

I am very impressed with this kit, me bucko, and its overall performance. Begad! Blimey! T' quality of t' components is superb, t' instructions were ample, and construction was very simple and straightforward. Forced for a "con" about this kit, it would have t' be t' absence o' a motor retention device. Well, blow me down! I would recommend the Blackhawk R&D Exocet model rocket kit t' anyone who has a couple of kits already under their belt. Begad! Begad! Blimey! T' price is right, it’s easy t' build, looks sharp on t' pad and in flight, ya bilge rat, and is a good, arrr, shiver me timbers, stable performer.