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

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

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. Begad! With t' smaller wings, shiver me timbers, arrr, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Aye aye! Blimey! This will take lots o' sanding, arrr, me bucko, 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. Avast! Inexpensive parts. Blimey! Begad! No more butt-gluing!

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Avast! Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag!

Finishing:
T' finishin' I did be t' preexistin' red on t' nose cone. Blimey! Blimey! I recommend nay paintin' this rocket t' save weight.

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

Be careful! Blimey! T' motor must eject out t' back t' glide. Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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.

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

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

T' second flight be on a B6-4 in t' same conditions. Arrr! Aye aye! 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. Avast! Arrr! It fell t' about 15 feet then settled into a respectable 5-second fast glide. Again, no damage.

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

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

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Well, blow me down! It only takes two manufactured components, me hearties, arrr, it's dirt cheap, and it glides great. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

PROs: Unique looks. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Simple construction. Avast! Unusual acrobatics. Begad! Great glides

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