Brief:
T' Mustang Jr. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! is a half-scale version o' t' single stage mid-power Mustang from AeroTech. Ahoy! Begad! I've always thought t' Mustang was a great kit--slender rocket, good looks, and great performer. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty!

Construction:
T' initial Mustang, ya bilge rat, me hearties, shiver me timbers, like most o' AeroTech's kits, was a straightforward build and t' Jr. Ahoy! Blimey! is no exception. Here's t' parts list:

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

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

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

T' original Mustang has a pointed, matey, more ogive shaped nose cone than the NC-50 cones that come from Estes. Avast! However, matey, 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. Begad! After some wood filler and sandin' she looked great. 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. Aye aye! I simply screwed in a small screw eye just off t' t' side o' t' tab.

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

Flight:
T' Jr. Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! All flights were wonderful.

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

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