Brief:
This is me semi-downscale o' t' old (1965-67) K-19 Astron Invader. Aye aye! T' wings and fins are 2/3 o' t' original, but I kept t' 18mm motor mount. 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. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! T' wing-fins are 2/3 scale based on t' plans for JimZ's site. Avast! Well, blow me down! I used light balsa for t' two vertical fins, ya bilge rat, medium for t' keel, and hard balsa for t' two win' halves and two pylons. Arrr! All balsa was 1/16". Blimey! Ya scallywag! I put an old 1/8" launch lug on. Aye aye!

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. Avast, me proud beauty! With t' smaller wings, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Ahoy! 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. This will take lots o' sanding, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me hearties, 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!

PROs: Only 7 parts. Inexpensive parts. Ya scallywag! No more butt-gluing!

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! 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. Ahoy!

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

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONs: Motor ejection. Blimey! Difficult balsa joints.