Brief:
T' Mustang Jr. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! is a half-scale version o' t' single stage mid-power Mustang from AeroTech. Well, blow me down! I've always thought t' Mustang was a great kit--slender rocket, good looks, and great performer. Arrr! I always wanted t' fly here at home in my front yard, shiver me timbers, matey, me hearties, 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

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

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

T' Jr. Ya scallywag! goes together easily, matey, me bucko, I finished mine in 2 days includin' t' paint job. Ya scallywag! Followin' t' RockSim guide, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' motor mount is constructed first. Ya scallywag! The centerin' rings are mounted 1/2" from each end o' t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I cut a small slit in each t' accommodate t' motor hook. Blimey! T' shock cord is tied around the center o' t' motor tube and passed under t' forward centerin' ring. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! 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. Well, blow me down!

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

T' original Mustang has a pointed, me bucko, more ogive shaped nose cone than the NC-50 cones that come from Estes. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! However, 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. After some wood filler and sandin' she looked great. Avast! If you use the Estes NC-50, 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. Blimey! Well, me hearties, blow me down! I simply screwed in a small screw eye just off t' t' side o' t' tab.

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

Flight:
T' Jr. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Blimey! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! All flights were wonderful.

Recovery:
T' 12" parachute is more than enough for t' Jr. Well, blow me down! Avast! Recovery on me test flights were nominal. Begad! Ejection on both 1/2A and A8 were at or close t' apogee. Aye aye! Arrr!

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