Brief: Scale model of the Hellfire AGM. Flies on D-F engines. Recovery by a mylar parachute. Very sturdy model.

Construction: The kit arrived intact, and all parts were present, and in great condition. The parts consisted of a main paper body tube, plastic nose cone, plenty of 3/32" balsa, pre-cut centering rings, launch lug, templates for the fins, and supplies for the mylar parachute, and shock cord.

The instructions were very easy to follow, with good illustrations. The assembly order was very logical. Templates were provided for the fins and tail cone. No decals are provided for this kit.

The assembly was very straight forward, with no surprises. Fins have to be cut out using the templates. The only concern was there was no mention of where to place the launch lug. After contacting The Launch Pad, they explained it was left to the modelers discretion where to place the launch lug. (see Special Note below) All the parts fit together very well, to provide a very sturdy and attractive kit.

Making paper tail cone was not as hard as I thought it would be. Instructions mention great advise on making paper stronger.

The Mylar parachute was pre-cut, and assembly was easy. Shock cord is standard, mounted inside the body tube.

Pros: Easy and fun to build, no special tools needed.

Cons: None!

Finishing: The fins are long and narrow, and are easy to seal No problems with priming and painting.

Although there are no decals, the instructions explain the markings, making it easy to make your own. The basic color of the rocket is olive drab, with either a black or white nose tip. Painting the tip may be tricky, but it doesn't reflect on the kit.

Pros: Easy rocket to finish and paint.

Cons: No decals.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight: I finally got out to launch my Hellfire AGM. Here are the results:

On the first flight (D12-5) the rocket lifted off slowly, and then the tail began to wobble. Eventually, the rocket appeared lean over and fly on its side. It gave the impression that the nose was much too heavy.

On the second flight (E15-7), the rocket took off, arced over and crashed at full thrust. Left a big crater too! Destroyed the rocket.

There are 3 problems I found, all of which are my fault:

Too much nose weight. According to Chuck at TLP, the nose weight should be 32 grams. The clay that was supplied with the kit was dry, so I substituted it with my own. The nose weight is mentioned in the instructions, and it is needed to have stable flights. I didn't weigh the supplied nose weight, and the actual amount of weight I put in the nose

Mis-aligned guidance fins. I attached the guidance fins according to the instructions. I checked the alignment with the rear fins and I used a common fin marking guide. I marked lines the full length of the body where the forward and aft fins are to be attached. After inquiring to Chuck, he said the this was the most unlikely cause of the rocket accident. The fins were not noticeably mis-aligned, but I thought of every possibility.

Too much wind to launch. The wind conditions on the launch day was between 15 and 20+ MPH. Other rockets flown that day were slightly affected by the weather. Larger rockets (Initiator, Mirage) displayed more effects due to the wind than the smaller ones (Big Dawg, Yellow Jacket). The launch rod was angled between 15 and 20 degrees from vertical.

I would conclude that the rockets demise was due to my impatience in construction (nose weight), and launching when the wind conditions were too strong for this specific rocket. I will take my time with my next Hellfire.

Flight Rating: 3 out of 5

Summary: This rocket is extremely fun and easy to build. It is one of the most attractive in my fleet. This rocket is great addition to any fleet.

Overall Rating: 3 ½ out of 5