Brief:
T' UFO Invader represents me third attempt at clonin' one o' t' four available Centuri Super kits. Ya scallywag! Like all t' Super kits, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' UFO Invader is a single stage model rocket that recovers with a dual parachutes in a unique level configuration. Arrr! T' original kit was classified as a skill level three kit. (see Larry's other Centuri Super Kits)

As described by Centuri in their 1977 Catalog:
"T' year is 1980 and at last t' existence o' flyin' saucers is a proven fact. Avast, me proud beauty! First sighted in t' mysterious Bermuda Triangle, ya bilge rat, t' U.F.O. Well, matey, blow me down! Invader has been observed by countless eyewitnesses. Well, blow me down! T' Invader is a submarine as well as a deep space ship...able t' travel on t' briny deep surface, me bucko, buoyed by its wing pods. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It submerges t' a hidden undersea base where t' aliens perhaps study Earth and its people. Aye aye! Begad! Little is known about t' aliens, matey, but we know this: we are nay alone in t' universe!"

Imagine, all t' drama and a cool rocket for a mere nine bucks in 1977. Of course one can expect t' spend every bit o' that amount and a bit more in clonin' this kit

Construction:
Here be t' list o' parts need t' clone this great kit:

• 1 PNC-13X nose cone 6.4"
• 4 PNC-71 nose cones 1.0"
• 4 PNC-51 nose cones 1.0"
• 1 ST-13 Upper body tubes 3.0" (BT-56)
• 1 ST-13 Mid body tubes 8.0" (BT-56)
• 1 ST-13 Lower body tubes 12.0" (BT-56)
• 2 ST-7 Tank body tube 3.0" (BT-20)
• 2 ST-5 Pod body tubes 8.0" (BT-5)
• 1 Launch lug 8" long, 7/32" diameter
• 1 Coupler HTC-13 1.5" (BT-56 Coupler Semroc Corp.)
• 1 Die-cut fiber sheet 1.75"W 7.25"L .025"T (Trace from pattern)
• 1 TR-7 Thrust rin' .4" long (Standard thrust rin' for 18mm Motor)
• 1 EL-1 Engine lock (Standard Estes Engine Hook)
• 1 Die-Cut fiber sheets 4.25"W 10.25"L .055"T (picture mattin' board or 1/16" balsa)
• 1 Decal sheet (print own, or buy from decal vendor)
• 1 Shock cord .125" x 38"
• 2 20" Parachutes
• 128" Shroud line

As in previous clonin' projects, arrr, t' first stop is downloadin' t' very large instructions from JimZ's web site. Well, blow me down! All fin templates are included in the instructions. Like t' SSV Scorpion, this kit utilizes t' .055" card stock for all fin parts. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! Havin' already built me two previous Super Kits using this card stock, I had plenty card stock left over from previous projects. Avast, me proud beauty! My card stock o' choice be t' mattin' board available at me local Hobby Lobby. Ahoy! Begad!

With fin material acquired from Hobby Lobby, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me bucko, I need a source for t' tubes. Over t' years I have amassed a healthy stock o' tubes. Blimey! Blimey! None o' t' tubes in the UFO Invader are hard t' acquire, shiver me timbers, as all are available from several vendors. My vendor o' choice for price, shiver me timbers, service, me bucko, arrr, and quality be t' Semroc Aeronautics Corp. Avast! T' UFO Invader qualifies as bein' a nose cone intense kit. Avast, me proud beauty! In all, matey, nine nose cones and one special connector is needed t' build this kit. Ahoy! Blimey! Once again I turned t' Mike Schmidt o' Moldin Oldies. Mike sells t' main nose cone and special connector as a set for $7. Mike also sells t' other eight pod nose cones at one dollar each. Aye aye! Blimey! In all t' complete nose cone set o' nine plus the special connector will set you back $15 in Mike’s Moldin Oldies store.

Unlike me SSV Scorpion, I decided nay t' scratch build t' special connector. Aye aye! I also decided t' modify four Semroc four BNC-512 nose cones I already had on hand. Blimey! Lookin' back, I wish I had chosen t' scratch built the special connector (more on that later).

As in me past clone projects, ya bilge rat, I transferred fin patterns t' t' matting board usin' carbon paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Instructions are clear and easy t' follow. Begad! After transferrin' t' fin tracings, ya bilge rat, I free hand cut out two sets o' t' tracings with a very sharp pair o' scissors. Avast! I then soaked t' entire fin mattin' board parts in thin CA t' stiffen them. Avast, me proud beauty! After that I cleaned t' edges on a belt sander. T' instructions also suggest cuttin' these parts from 1/16 sheet balsa. Well, blow me down! Begad! I chose nay t' use balsa because o' its lack o' durability.

As in me previous attempts, I addressed t' need for an 8" launch lug by usin' another 3/16" x .014 seamless aluminum tube purchased in packs of three from Hobby Lobby. Ya scallywag! Care in cuttin' will provide an excellent substitute. Ahoy! Aye aye!

Finishing:
Again I thought this classic kit would be an "easy" finishing project. Arrr! T' all silver glossy coat will hide many small blemishes.

As in t' past, I first sprayed every thin' with three coats of primer/sealer paint. Blimey! My personal favorite is Kilz. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This is what helps the mattin' boards finishin' characteristics excel. I then sanded this before paintin' with a finishin' color. T' biggest problem I would encounter in the finishin' o' t' Invader was tryin' t' find a silver or chrome paint that wouldn't react adversely t' t' finishin' clear coat. Blimey! Ahoy! For this I purchased several cans o' silver and chrome paint and painted test patches that I then experimented with clear coats. Ahoy! Arrr! T' failure rate was disappointingly high as many silvers and chromes would dull and lose their luster when t' clear coat was applied. Blimey! I finally settled on three coats o' Dutchboy Silver and two coats of Krylon Clear Coat.

For decals, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I printed me own on inkjet decal paper available from several vendors on t' Internet. Avast! Fortunately, a clean copy o' t' decals be already available on Jim Z’s web site. Avast! Blimey!

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' original kit calls for a C5-3S or C6-3. On me other Super kit clones, I elected t' perform a "Magnum D" conversion. Ahoy! However, on t' Invader I decided t' stay with t' original 18mm motor mount so that I could maintain the original tailpipe design. Aye aye!

Preparation is easy with t' built in Centuri baffle design. Ahoy! However, I will add a few sheets o' waddin' t' protect against anythin' that might slip past t' baffle.

Motor retention is by t' standard Estes Engine hook.

Havin' successfully cloned three o' t' four Super kits, matey, I will once again wait till I have finish t' complete Super kit set. Well, blow me down! Then I will them all together in late Sprin' or early Summer. Arrr!

Recovery:
Like all t' Centuri Super Kits, ya bilge rat, t' recovery harness is quite complex and unique. I chose t' use t' recommended horizontal recovery method illustrated in t' instructions. Arrr! T' UFO Invader appears t' nay need any additional considerations t' prevent t' harness from snaggin' on deployment

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
When I asked me kids o' t' three super kits I have cloned thus far which is their favorite, shiver me timbers, their response is an overwhelmin' vote for t' UFO Invader. They think it looks "cool and alien-like". Blimey! Personally I wouldn't of voted that way, shiver me timbers, but it probably rank a strong second.

Overall, I found this kit t' easiest t' build, arrr, easy t' paint, but hard to get t' paint color results I desired. With three super kits finished, me hearties, I have begun eyein' t' final jewel o' t' series. Begad!

Guess which kit will be me next clone project?

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5