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

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

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. Avast! Well, blow me down! Blimey! With t' smaller wings, ya bilge rat, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Begad! Several points for construction:

1. Make sure t' two wings halves fit together perfectly!
2. Glue t' wings at a slight dihedral, arrr, then attach t' fins at 90 degrees t' t' wings.
3. Fillet all glue joints
4. Make sure t' pylons fit t' win' exactly. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down!

PROs: Only 7 parts. Ahoy! Inexpensive parts. Begad! No more butt-gluing!

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

I would call this a Level 3 kit due t' t' tricky balsa joints and amount o' sanding.

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

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

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

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

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

T' second flight was on a B6-4 in t' same conditions. It did rather spectacular acrobatics at about 50 feet then again returned t' normal flight t' about 200 feet. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! Ejection be again way past at maybe 50 feet. It fell t' about 15 feet then settled into a respectable 5-second fast glide. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! Again, ya bilge rat, no damage.

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

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

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Ahoy! Blimey! It only takes two manufactured components, matey, ya bilge rat, it's dirt cheap, shiver me timbers, and it glides great. Well, blow me down!

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

PROs: Unique looks. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Simple construction. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Unusual acrobatics. Arrr! Blimey! Great glides

CONs: Motor ejection. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Difficult balsa joints.