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

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

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. With t' smaller wings, me hearties, shiver me timbers, me hearties, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Aye aye! Several points for construction:

1. Make sure t' two wings halves fit together perfectly!
2. Glue t' wings at a slight dihedral, arrr, shiver me timbers, then attach t' fins at 90 degrees t' t' wings.
3. Fillet all glue joints
4. Make sure t' pylons fit t' win' exactly. Blimey! This will take lots o' sanding, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy!

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

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Aye aye! Parts must fit perfectly. Arrr! Cut your own balsa.

I would call this a Level 3 kit due t' t' tricky balsa joints and amount o' sanding. Arrr!

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

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

CON: Plain looks.

Flight:
Estes recommended t' 1/2A8-2, me hearties, ya bilge rat, A8-3, and B8-2. I'd recommend t' B4-2, B6-2, shiver me timbers, arrr, and C6-3. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! T' 1/2A6-2, shiver me timbers, arrr, A8-3, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and B6-4 are okay for straight-up launches on windless days. Aye aye! Blimey! 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, then insert) t' satisfy t' RSO and NARRRRR flight rules.

Mine balanced perfectly without any weight. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Your results may vary. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I estimate a glide ratio o' better than 10:1. Begad! Begad!

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

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

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

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

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Begad! It only takes two manufactured components, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it's dirt cheap, me bucko, and it glides great.

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

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

CONs: Motor ejection. Ya scallywag! Avast! Difficult balsa joints.