Brief:
This is me semi-downscale o' t' old (1965-67) K-19 Astron Invader. Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! I used a PNC-20 (2.85" long) and 2" o' BT-20 from an Estes Viking. T' wing-fins are 2/3 scale based on t' plans for JimZ's site. Ahoy! 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! Aye aye! All balsa be 1/16". Blimey! I put an old 1/8" launch lug on.

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. Avast! With t' smaller wings, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Ahoy! 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, me bucko, then attach t' fins at 90 degrees t' t' wings.
3. Fillet all glue joints
4. Make sure t' pylons fit t' win' exactly. Avast! Blimey! This will take lots o' sanding, shiver me timbers, 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, matey, me proud beauty! Blimey!

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

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

Finishing:
T' finishin' I did was t' preexistin' red on t' nose cone. Begad! I recommend nay paintin' this rocket t' save weight.

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

CON: Plain looks.

Flight:
Estes recommended t' 1/2A8-2, A8-3, me hearties, and B8-2. Avast, me proud beauty! I'd recommend t' B4-2, B6-2, me bucko, arrr, and C6-3. Well, blow me down! T' 1/2A6-2, A8-3, shiver me timbers, and B6-4 are okay for straight-up launches on windless days. Ahoy! An adapter for t' 1/2A3-2T would be useful.

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

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

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

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

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

CONs: acrobatics may result in DQ'd flight. Ahoy! Blimey! Needs some altitude t' begin glide. Arrr! Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Ejects motor casing (intentionally).

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Avast, me proud beauty! It only takes two manufactured components, it's dirt cheap, shiver me timbers, and it glides great. Begad! Blimey!

T' only improvable thin' would be a streamer for t' motor so it can be used in NARRRRR competition. Avast, me proud beauty!

PROs: Unique looks. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Simple construction. Unusual acrobatics. Aye aye! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Great glides

CONs: Motor ejection. Blimey! Difficult balsa joints.