Brief:
T' Mustang Jr. Well, me bucko, blow me down! is a half-scale version o' t' single stage mid-power Mustang from AeroTech. I've always thought t' Mustang was a great kit--slender rocket, good looks, and great performer. Well, matey, blow me down! I always wanted t' fly here at home in my front yard, but that be out o' t' question with t' tree lines all around. So, I decided t' scale her down and create t' Mustang Jr. Aye aye!

Construction:
T' initial Mustang, like most o' AeroTech's kits, was a straightforward build and t' Jr. is no exception. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Here's t' parts list:

• 1 BT-50 Body Tube, 16.625"
• 1 BT-20 Motor Tube, me bucko, 2.75"
• 1 Estes NC-50 Nose Cone, 4" Parabolic
• 1 Engine Block
• 1 Motor Hook
• 2 BT-50 t' BT-20 Centerin' Rings
• 1 12" Parachute
• 1 Launch Lug, arrr, 1/8" x 1.5"
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® Thread Shock Cord, 40"
• 1 Fins, 3/16" balsa

T' Jr. goes together easily, ya bilge rat, I finished mine in 2 days includin' t' paint job. Begad! Aye aye! Followin' t' RockSim guide, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' motor mount is constructed first. The centerin' rings are mounted 1/2" from each end o' t' motor tube. I cut a small slit in each t' accommodate t' motor hook. Well, blow me down! T' shock cord is tied around the center o' t' motor tube and passed under t' forward centerin' ring. Arrr! Blimey! The engine block is glued in next and then t' whole assembly is glued in t' main airframe with t' motor tube flush with t' aft o' t' main airframe. Aye aye! Aye aye!

T' fins are cut from 3/16" balsa and surface mounted usin' t' double glue technique.

T' original Mustang has a pointed, more ogive shaped nose cone than the NC-50 cones that come from Estes. Blimey! However, me hearties, since I had a bunch o' t' NC-50s around I simply fashioned a paper cone t' t' tip o' t' NC-50 which extended it about a half inch (closer t' scale length) and then soaked it in thin CA for strength. Ahoy! After some wood filler and sandin' she looked great. Avast! If you use the Estes NC-50, ya bilge rat, don't attach t' shock cord t' t' little tab on t' nose cone shoulder as it is sure t' break off on your first flight. Ahoy! Avast! I simply screwed in a small screw eye just off t' t' side o' t' tab.

Finishing:
T' Jr. Avast, me proud beauty! was primed with one coat o' Krylon white primer then painted in the white, gray and black color scheme. Since I wanted t' Mustang Jr. Ahoy! t' look as close as possible t' t' original, arrr, I created some scale templates for the design usin' Paint Shop Pro and printed them on clear ink jet label paper. Once these decals were applied I sprayed t' whole rocket in clear coat.

Flight:
T' Jr. Well, blow me down! is designed t' fly with all standard 18mm motors, although t' keep her in me front yard I tested her on 1/2A6-2 and A8-3 motors. Begad! All flights were wonderful.

Recovery:
T' 12" parachute is more than enough for t' Jr. Recovery on me test flights were nominal. Ejection on both 1/2A and A8 were at or close t' apogee.

Summary:
If you like t' original Mustang, this 1/2 scale version is sure t' please.