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, me proud beauty! The original one was 8.5" in length and this one is 24.75" in length to give you an idea how much larger this one is. Well, blow me down! T' Mega Hawkeye is a single stage rocket usin' 24mm motors. It uses an 18" mylar parachute for recovery and a 3/16" launch lug. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Begad! Aye aye! T' 1/8" balsa fin stock was nice quality with tight grain. T' nose cone is plastic. Aye aye! Blimey! Also, me bucko, thar are two 1.6" diameter x 1.5" tubes. T' body tube be nice and smooth--just about no grooves at all. Begad! The motor mount uses a metal hook. Well, blow me down! T' centerin' rings are laser cut black fiber and were much nicer than t' standard Estes heavy cardboard. Aye aye! Aye aye!

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

Finishing:
I went t' a local hobby shop t' get some Aero Gloss sandin' sealer t' seal the balsa parts. Well, blow me down! It took 3 coats on t' balsa t' get a nice smooth finish. Begad! The instructions tell you t' clean t' nose cone with 70% rubbin' alcohol t' clean any oils off t' plastic nose cone. You are instructed t' first paint t' nose cone with gloss white paint. Begad! T' rest o' t' rocket is with gray paint. Well, blow me down! I used gloss gray Rustoleum spray paint for t' kit that I got at Home Depot. Blimey! Begad! T' kit includes colorful water slide decals that worked fine. Aye aye! Begad! T' decals were similar to t' original but for that big "MEGA HAWKEYE" logo that looks rather cool I think. Begad! 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, matey, all I had was D motors so I used a D12-5 for t' first flight. Avast! Begad! Blimey! They said you could use this motor if no C11 was on hand. I used good old Estes waddin' in t' tube t' protect t' parachute. Aye aye! T' parachute is a nice Mylar type that was a kit with its own instructions. Begad! Blimey! T' motor is held in with a metal motor hook. Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! There was just about no wind in t' early afternoon when we got out t' t' field. Blimey! Blimey! I have t' test it on windy days! Blimey! T' first launch was great and t' Mega Hawkeye went up dead straight. Ahoy! I don't know how high but is was high up. Well, blow me down! T' parachute came out with t' rocket just after it started to point down. T' rocket came down real close t' t' pad. Well, blow me down! Blimey! That was great. Begad! 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! On a bright blue sky, we just saw t' ejection puff and it took some time to come back down. Ya scallywag! Blimey! There was a little wind up thar and I had a walk t' get the rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! It was a good thin' that t' field is real big! Blimey! It was on t' other side. Avast, me proud beauty! This is a great flyer and if you have a large field, t' D12-3 can be used. Arrr! Blimey! One o' me bucko showed up later and he had a C11-3 motor so we shot it off with that and it be a nice flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Blimey! It be nay as high as t' D12 but not bad. Avast! Blimey! That motor would be great for smaller fields! 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. 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 be me first Rocketpad kit and I be impressed with it. Begad! Arrr! I am orderin' up a few more. I really like t' look o' this kit. Ya scallywag! It is impressive t' look at and flies great. Blimey! T' guy thought it be a great lookin' rocket and t' size is right for most fields. Avast! I like this as a big companion t' me tiny original one!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5