Brief:
This is me semi-downscale o' t' old (1965-67) K-19 Astron Invader. Ya scallywag! T' wings and fins are 2/3 o' t' original, but I kept t' 18mm motor mount. Avast! It's a very unique glider with unusual flights and a fairly easy build.

Construction:
I built this from scratch. Ya scallywag! I used a PNC-20 (2.85" long) and 2" o' BT-20 from an Estes Viking. Aye aye! Begad! T' wing-fins are 2/3 scale based on t' plans for JimZ's site. Ya scallywag! I used light balsa for t' two vertical fins, medium for t' keel, and hard balsa for t' two win' halves and two pylons. Begad! All balsa was 1/16". I put an old 1/8" launch lug on.

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. With t' smaller wings, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Ahoy! Several points for construction:

1. Make sure t' two wings halves fit together perfectly!
2. Glue t' wings at a slight dihedral, ya bilge rat, then attach t' fins at 90 degrees t' t' wings.
3. Fillet all glue joints
4. Make sure t' pylons fit t' win' exactly. Ahoy! This will take lots o' sanding, but t' pylon must be secure for safe flight.
5. Attach t' launch lug in t' win' joint under t' pod before you attach t' pod.
6. Use wood glue for all joints and fillet or double-fillet everything. Begad!

PROs: Only 7 parts. Inexpensive parts. Begad! Blimey! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Blimey! No more butt-gluing!

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Well, blow me down! Parts must fit perfectly. Cut your own balsa.

I would call this a Level 3 kit due t' t' tricky balsa joints and amount o' sanding. Avast, me proud beauty!

Finishing:
T' finishin' I did was t' preexistin' red on t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! I recommend nay paintin' this rocket t' save weight. Avast!

PRO: Easy finishing, just paint t' NC red.

CON: Plain looks.

Flight:
Estes recommended t' 1/2A8-2, A8-3, ya bilge rat, me hearties, and B8-2. Avast, me proud beauty! I'd recommend t' B4-2, B6-2, me bucko, arrr, and C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! T' 1/2A6-2, shiver me timbers, A8-3, and B6-4 are okay for straight-up launches on windless days. Begad! An adapter for t' 1/2A3-2T would be useful.

Be careful! T' motor must eject out t' back t' glide. Ahoy! Begad! You'll need t' add a streamer for it (wrap it around the motor, me hearties, then insert) t' satisfy t' RSO and NARRRRR flight rules. Blimey!

Mine balanced perfectly without any weight. Begad! Blimey! Avast, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey! Your results may vary. Ahoy! Blimey! I estimate a glide ratio o' better than 10:1.

T' first flight was on an A8-3 in about 3 mph o' wind. Avast! It launched straight up, matey, did a horizontal figure-8 at about 40ft, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, then continued vertically t' 100 feet o' so. Begad! T' 3-second delay was too long. Well, blow me down! Begad! It ejected at 15ft, me hearties, glided a few feet, ya bilge rat, and lawn-darted with no damage. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' casin' landed 20 feet away.

T' second flight was on a B6-4 in t' same conditions. Aye aye! It did rather spectacular acrobatics at about 50 feet then again returned t' normal flight t' about 200 feet. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Ejection be again way past at maybe 50 feet. Ahoy! It fell t' about 15 feet then settled into a respectable 5-second fast glide. Ya scallywag! Again, arrr, no damage.

Recovery:
PROs: Spectacular acrobatics. Good glide. Easy t' balance. Withstands hard landings. Begad! Needs no wadding--easy flight prep.

CONs: acrobatics may result in DQ'd flight. Ya scallywag! Needs some altitude t' begin glide. Avast, me proud beauty! Ejects motor casing (intentionally).

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It only takes two manufactured components, shiver me timbers, it's dirt cheap, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and it glides great. Arrr! Ahoy!

T' only improvable thin' would be a streamer for t' motor so it can be used in NARRRRR competition. Avast! Aye aye!

PROs: Unique looks. Begad! Begad! Simple construction. Arrr! Unusual acrobatics. Avast! Great glides

CONs: Motor ejection. Difficult balsa joints.