Intro:
I have had this rocket for what seems a long time. It was getting a little ragged around the edges and looked like the perfect first clone. Once I found that the nose cones are in the BT-60 nose cone assortment, and same as the mean machine, I had to give it a try.

Component Description:
Once I found the nose cone the rest of the parts are easy. 3/32 balsa for the fins, and an 18" section of Bt-60 Body tube for the rocket. I cut the centering rings with a circle cutter that I found a "Michaels Craft Store" and it worked fairly well, as the edges were a little ragged.

Basically once you have the parts it is a straightforward 4FNC rocket. I used the same tri-fold shock cord anchor, but I did upgrade to a longer piece of sewing elastic instead of the origonal rubber band style shock cord.

I finished off the rocket with Testors Olive Drab paint for the body and Krylon Black on the nose cone. The black decals on the fins were done with auto pinstriping.

Flight Recovery:
Going back to an old catalog, the recommended motors for this rocket are: B4-2, B6-2, B6-4, B8-5, C5-3, C6-5. As you can tell some are no longer made. Preperation for flight is the same as a Big Bertha style Rocket, Wadding, Chute, Motor, time to launch. The BT-60 leaves plenty of room for the parachute so packing is relatively easy.

The Hawk flew like it normally does, except I forgot the recommended motor listing and installed an A8-3. The A8-3 does not have the push to fly this rocket. The flight was less than spectacular. The Hawk hit the ground just as the ejection charge went off. The plus was that it landed next to the launch pad, the downside was that one of the fins was broken off, just like the origional. The fin is repaired, and it is awaiting another day to launch.

Overall:
For my first clone, it was a rather easy build. However this kit suffers from the same weak fins as the original. If I were to build another clone, I would change the balsa fins into basswood for additional strength.