Brief:
I was provided with my Super Javelin for beta testing. This upscale is of the early Javelin model that came in an Estes combo kit and is designed for 24mm motors. A spacer is included with the motor mount kit to allow the use of either Estes D or E motors. The rocket recovers on a very nice 24 inch rip-stop nylon parachute. The rocket is over 3 feet tall and weighs only 7 ounces. The highly aerodynamic design produces some outstanding flights.

Construction:
The main body tube is 1.59 inches in diameter. The three fins are laser cut basswood and surface mounted. The balsa nose cone is top quality and very smooth. A 5-inch long 24mm motor mount is installed with three light ply centering rings and includes a 3.75” engine hook for motor retention and a CR2050 kraft thrust ring. A Kevlar®/1/4” elastic shock cord combo is included along with two 3/16” launch lugs and a hefty eye screw. A two-color paint design and its name in a big black waterslide decal decorates the rocket.

The instructions are clear and include tons of helpful illustrations. I modified the construction of the motor mount to allow installation of the engine hook using my standard method. Here’s the link on EMRR’s tip page for the general idea.

This method allows positive motor retention while not having to worry about the hook getting in the way of the delay element when using the AeroTech reload motors. I didn't use one of the three centering rings and changed the position of the upper centering ring to accommodate the necessary position of the motor hook using a Dremel to trim the upper end of the motor hook to be level with the top edge of the centering ring. The instructions indicate to attach the Kevlar® cord by wrapping it around the motor tube and inserting the end through a small hole in the upper centering ring then attaching the elastic cord to a loop at the end. However, I used my standard tri-fold shock cord attachment to allow inspection of the shock cord. To minimize abrasion from the Kevlar® against the body tube, I soaked in CA around the top 1/2" of the body tube and tied a knot in the Kevlar® to meet the lip of the body tube.

I constructed the entire rocket with yellow glue, using JB Weld for the fin fillets. A marking guide is provided for alignment of the fins and launch lugs. Glue on the launch lugs, install the screw eye into the nose cone (adding weight first to compensate for the largest motor you plan to fly), and attach the shock cord and you’re done as the parachute is already assembled. The parachute is very nice with small grommets holding on the shroud lines.

Finishing:
The balsa nose cone required very little finishing. With only a very light coat of Elmer's Light Fill 'n' Finish, the nose cone was very smooth. Only a light coat of filler was also needed on the fins, as the basswood was very smooth after sanding with 400 grit sandpaper. The body tube was the only thing that required any significant effort-–darn spirals! After using Fill 'n' Finish to fill those and much sanding, I sprayed the entire model with a light coat of Kilz to seal off the glue and provide a solid base coat. Next, I lightly sanded the entire model with 240 grit sandpaper and then sprayed on a coat of primer. Then, sand and primer and sand and primer again with 400 grit sandpaper. The nose cone and upper end of the tube was painted black and the remainder was painted with Valspar’s Restoration Series Allis-Chalmers orange. The decals are large but applied relatively easily. I didn't try moving them around though, sliding them off just where I wanted them. I put a thick coat of Future Floor Finish on to protect everything.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight and Recovery:
First flight was on an Estes E9-6 with the wind speed steady at about 5-8 mph. The flight was perfect with ejection right at the top. The next flight was on an Estes D12-5, and again, the flight was perfect with ejection right at the top even though winds had increased to 8-12 mph. Recovery both times was perfect on the 24 inch chute. I flew it on both motors again the next day with the same results. It was a beautiful day for flying, with winds ranging from calm to 5 mph max.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
The Super Javelin is another fantastic rocket from Hawks Hobby. Parts quality is superb, and you can easily build the rocket in a few hours. The rocket really zooms so if you decide to go with higher impulse motors, you'd better get ready for a long walk!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5