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

Construction:
I built this from scratch. Arrr! Blimey! 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. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I used light balsa for t' two vertical fins, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, arrr, medium for t' keel, and hard balsa for t' two win' halves and two pylons. Ahoy! Blimey! All balsa was 1/16". Ya scallywag! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! I put an old 1/8" launch lug on. Avast! Blimey!

I followed t' basic instructions from JimZ's site. 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. Avast! Aye aye! This will take lots o' sanding, 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.

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

CONs: Lots o' sanding. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 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. Aye aye!

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

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

CON: Plain looks.

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

Be careful! Blimey! T' motor must eject out t' back t' glide. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! Your results may vary. Avast, me proud beauty! I estimate a glide ratio o' better than 10:1. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down!

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

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

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

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

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

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

PROs: Unique looks. Simple construction. Unusual acrobatics. Ahoy! Great glides

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