Brief:
T' Cymech Armageddonator is a 1/24 scale model o' t' existin' classified stealth reconnaissance aircraft. Begad! T' full sized craft is powered by two regenerative air-turboramjet (RATR) engines and carries a crew o' two. It uses a synthetic aperture radar with real-time datalink for reconnaissance. Well, me hearties, blow me down! Weaponry includes a small particle accelerator. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! A speed o' Mach 6 and a cruisin' altitude o' 40 kilometers makes it invulnerable t' any current missile system. Avast! T' sleek aircraft is made primarily o' titanium with its outer edges constructed o' Inconel, ya bilge rat, a heat-resistant stainless steel. At speed t' leadin' edges o' t' airframe glow white above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

T' model is a BT-60 based parachute recovery rocket with 18mm motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
Parts include BT-60 for t' main fuselage, BT-55 for t' forward fuselage, JT-55 tube coupler, me bucko, balsa nose cone, matey, ya bilge rat, paper tail cone, matey, ya bilge rat, launch lug, ya bilge rat, BT-20 for t' motor tube, standard motor clip, centerin' rings, 1/8" balsa fins, balsa cockpit, 1/8" wingtip dowels, BT-5 based sidepods with balsa nose cones and balsa ramjets, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, BT-5 top pod with balsa nose cone.

Two primary goals were achieved with this model. One be t' create a highly asymmetrical rocket that flies straight. Ya scallywag! T' other was t' experiment with a new construction technique wherein an intriguing, shiver me timbers, me hearties, sleek, me bucko, matey, crescent-shaped "intake grill" was fashioned from t' transition betwixt two body tubes.

(click on picture t' enlarge) T' grill was the startin' point. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! A curved line was drawn by hand and then carefully cut usin' an X-Acto knife. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! T' most ventral 8mm of t' BT-60 remained intact. Avast! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Enough BT-60 (about 6mm) was cut out lengthwise from t' dorsal surface so it could be glued down onto t' JT-55 coupler. Ya scallywag! Forward from t' coupler (the parachute compartment), shiver me timbers, an intact BT-55 was used. Ya scallywag! Arrr! A piece o' balsa was carefully carved t' provide structural support betwixt t' BT-55 and BT-60. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Additional smaller pieces o' balsa were added t' strengthen t' "smile". Aye aye! Finally, automotive body filler was added t' complete the vent. Arrr!

T' cockpit was hand-carved from a block o' balsa. T' tail cone is paper. T' arrangement o' t' fins be begun with a 3-fin alignment, matey, shiver me timbers, which was modified by eye t' make t' main wings a little straighter out t' t' side and allow room for t' vestigial ventral fins. Avast! T' side pods were completed and then glued into slots cut in t' wings. Avast! T' dowel wingtips were pointed with a pencil sharpener then glued on.

Finishing:
T' paint scheme is blue enamel on top, me bucko, white on bottom, me hearties, me hearties, with custom Testors inkjet decals.

Flight and Recovery:
Recommended engines are C6-3 and D10-5. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Prep is standard waddin' and chute. Begad! Blimey! Recommended chutes are 18"-24". It has flown five times on C6-3s and once on a D10-5. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It never had a perfectly straight-up flight, arrr, me hearties, but it's nay as bizarre a path as t' SS1, either. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' D10-5 flight resulted in a blown-out body tube rather than deployed chute so there is currently substantial damage, me bucko, but I keep it in t' "restoration" pile.

Summary:
Kids absolutely loved it and asked how high. I always told them it's classified. Begad! It held its rightful place in the arsenal right next t' me classic Interceptor.