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

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

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. With t' smaller wings, me bucko, 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, me hearties, then attach t' fins at 90 degrees t' t' wings.
3. Fillet all glue joints
4. Make sure t' pylons fit t' win' exactly. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Arrr! Inexpensive parts. Begad! Well, me hearties, blow me down! Blimey! No more butt-gluing!

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Parts must fit perfectly. Blimey! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I recommend nay paintin' this rocket t' save weight. Ya scallywag!

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

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

Mine balanced perfectly without any weight. Your results may vary. Ya scallywag! Begad! I estimate a glide ratio o' better than 10:1. Begad!

T' first flight was on an A8-3 in about 3 mph o' wind. It launched straight up, me bucko, matey, matey, did a horizontal figure-8 at about 40ft, me bucko, then continued vertically t' 100 feet o' so. Ya scallywag! T' 3-second delay be too long. Aye aye! It ejected at 15ft, glided a few feet, me bucko, and lawn-darted with no damage. Begad! T' casin' landed 20 feet away.

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

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

CONs: acrobatics may result in DQ'd flight. Needs some altitude t' begin glide. Aye aye! Ejects motor casing (intentionally).

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Aye aye! Begad! It only takes two manufactured components, it's dirt cheap, and it glides great.

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

PROs: Unique looks. Ya scallywag! Simple construction. Ahoy! Unusual acrobatics. Great glides

CONs: Motor ejection. Begad! Difficult balsa joints.