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

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

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

I am very impressed with this kit, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and its overall performance. Well, blow me down! T' quality of t' components is superb, arrr, shiver me timbers, 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. Avast! 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, me bucko, it’s easy t' build, looks sharp on t' pad and in flight, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and is a good, arrr, stable performer. Well, blow me down!