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, me hearties, me bucko, but I kept t' 18mm motor mount. Ya scallywag! Arrr! 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. Blimey! T' wing-fins are 2/3 scale based on t' plans for JimZ's site. Blimey! I used light balsa for t' two vertical fins, medium for t' keel, and hard balsa for t' two win' halves and two pylons. Well, blow me down! All balsa was 1/16". I put an old 1/8" launch lug on. Avast! Arrr!

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

1. Make sure t' two wings halves fit together perfectly!
2. Glue t' wings at a slight dihedral, 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! Ya scallywag! 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.

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

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Parts must fit perfectly. Ahoy! Cut your own balsa.

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

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. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

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

Mine balanced perfectly without any weight. Begad! Your results may vary. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! 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, did a horizontal figure-8 at about 40ft, ya bilge rat, then continued vertically t' 100 feet o' so. Begad! Avast! T' 3-second delay was too long. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! It ejected at 15ft, matey, shiver me timbers, glided a few feet, matey, me bucko, me bucko, and lawn-darted with no damage. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! T' casin' landed 20 feet away.

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

Recovery:
PROs: Spectacular acrobatics. Well, blow me down! Good glide. Avast, me proud beauty! Easy t' balance. Begad! Withstands hard landings. Needs no wadding--easy flight prep.

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

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

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

PROs: Unique looks. Begad! Simple construction. Blimey! Begad! Unusual acrobatics. Aye aye! Great glides

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