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

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

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. Ya scallywag! With t' smaller wings, 3" balsa can be used for the wings without havin' t' butt-glue balsa sheets. Begad! Several points for construction:

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

PROs: Only 7 parts. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! Inexpensive parts. No more butt-gluing!

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Well, blow me down! Parts must fit perfectly. Ahoy! Cut your own balsa.

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

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

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

Be careful! T' motor must eject out t' back t' glide. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty!

Mine balanced perfectly without any weight. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Your results may vary. Begad! I estimate a glide ratio o' better than 10:1. Blimey! Avast!

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

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

Recovery:
PROs: Spectacular acrobatics. Good glide. Easy t' balance. Well, blow me down! Begad! Withstands hard landings. Well, blow me down! Begad! Needs no wadding--easy flight prep.

CONs: acrobatics may result in DQ'd flight. Blimey! Needs some altitude t' begin glide. Ejects motor casing (intentionally).

Summary:
This is a great rocket t' scratch build. Begad! It only takes two manufactured components, it's dirt cheap, and it glides great. Aye aye!

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

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

CONs: Motor ejection. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Difficult balsa joints.