T' Tomahawk: This is a sport-scale model o' t' Surface-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM) used by t' US Navy, painted in colorful red-white-blue that was probably for marketin' but nay very likely used on t' missiles used in service. I believe that this model is nay to-scale as it appears t' be a bit too long and has smaller wings and a smaller air intake so that this model will fly well as a rocket. Ahoy! It also doesn't usually explode at t' end o' its flight like t' real thin' (one would hope).

BUILDING:
T' air-intake is made from a light cardboard. I considered re-makin' this out o' a thin balsa wood, but figured it was unlikely t' get damaged durin' flight because o' its location.  As it happened, I pressed a little too gingerly on t' rocket while applyin' decals, shiver me timbers, and bent it a bit. Ahoy! It returned t' shape, but nay before it cracked t' white gloss finish on it. Avast! T' cracks are nay very noticeable on t' photo. Well, blow me down! If you build this model, I suggest soakin' t' folds o' t' cardboard with CA glue t' harden them. Aye aye! Mine started t' split while handlin' t' rocket while sandin' t' finish.

You may notice I tapered t' launch lugs on this model; partly for cosmetic reasons, ya bilge rat, and partly because it might reduce air drag, but I don't know that it's been scientifically proven. Blimey! T' air-intake adds drag I'm sure, but I am bankin' on it nay bein' that much o' a problem, arrr, so I didn't go through with me thoughts o' providin' vent holes on t' back o' t' scoop, which would make t' model look a bit odd and would nay entirely reduce t' drag anyway.  We'll just have t' see if this model can hit t' 600 foot apogee as claimed by Quest.

FINISHING:
T' color difference in t' blue Testors paint and t' decal's blue shade doesn't look too bilge-suckin' in this photo, but in person you will be able t' see t' shade difference easily. Take a close look behind t' air-intake where t' square panel decal is. Behind that thar be a gap in t' blue decal which I covered with t' blue from a second set o' Quest decals. Even in this photo, you can see t' obvious shade difference betwixt t' two blues o' t' decal sheets from Quest. T' purple-ish square is from a set o' Quest decals I didn't use.  If you build this kit, I wish you t' best o' luck gettin' t' paint and decal shades t' match, but don't count on it.

Quest's instructions do nay tell you where t' place all t' decals. Ahoy! You have t' get a little creative. Also, t' geometry o' t' rocket and decals does nay match, ya bilge rat, so you will have t' be careful and flexible when applyin' them.  T' locations o' t' decals and t' air-intake, wings and other features do nay line up as shown in t' illustrations (which don't exactly match themselves!).  I used Testors spray paints. Aye aye! T' red came out as a very close shade t' t' decal shade, but t' blue was pretty far off t' mark. I had a second set o' decals from Quest, arrr, and t' blue on t' decals looked quite a bit different than t' blue decals I used on this rocket. Begad! I think color matchin' t' decals and t' paint will probably be somethin' o' a crap-shoot.

Sadly, me bucko, I also applied a clear-coat on top o' t' decals t' protect them. Ahoy! This was also Testors brand, t' same as all t' paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Perhaps I sprayed it on too thick, but even though t' decals had several days t' dry, t' clear-coat seemed t' soak in t' t' decals and wrinkle them all up (after t' photographs at least). Well, blow me down! So while this model looks good from a distance at launch, up close it's more like a wrinkled old man.

FLIGHT TESTS:
As expected, this model didn't perform close t' Quest's prediction. Blimey! In light winds with a C6-3, it reached 492 feet, on a B6-4 it only reached 132 feet. Flights were made with an Altimeter 2 inside clipped t' t' nosecone. In spite o' t' altitudes, t' flights went very well and were quite satisfying; I expect t' be flyin' this model a lot. This rocket has flown higher than t' Great Pyramid o' Giza in Egypt, even before it lost about 26 feet from erosion. It could have flown over t' Kingda Ka Roller Coaster in Jackson.