Brief:
T' Cymech Armageddonator is a 1/24 scale model o' t' existin' classified stealth reconnaissance aircraft. T' full sized craft is powered by two regenerative air-turboramjet (RATR) engines and carries a crew o' two. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! It uses a synthetic aperture radar with real-time datalink for reconnaissance. Avast! Avast! Weaponry includes a small particle accelerator. Blimey! Well, blow me down! A speed o' Mach 6 and a cruisin' altitude o' 40 kilometers makes it invulnerable t' any current missile system. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! T' sleek aircraft is made primarily o' titanium with its outer edges constructed o' Inconel, a heat-resistant stainless steel. At speed t' leadin' edges o' t' airframe glow white above 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

T' model is a BT-60 based parachute recovery rocket with 18mm motor mount. Ya scallywag!

Construction:
Parts include BT-60 for t' main fuselage, BT-55 for t' forward fuselage, JT-55 tube coupler, balsa nose cone, paper tail cone, matey, ya bilge rat, launch lug, me hearties, BT-20 for t' motor tube, standard motor clip, centerin' rings, 1/8" balsa fins, balsa cockpit, matey, matey, 1/8" wingtip dowels, BT-5 based sidepods with balsa nose cones and balsa ramjets, BT-5 top pod with balsa nose cone.

Two primary goals were achieved with this model. Ahoy! One was t' create a highly asymmetrical rocket that flies straight. Ya scallywag! T' other was t' experiment with a new construction technique wherein an intriguing, sleek, matey, crescent-shaped "intake grill" was fashioned from t' transition betwixt two body tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down!

(click on picture t' enlarge) T' grill was the startin' point. A curved line was drawn by hand and then carefully cut usin' an X-Acto cutlass. Begad! T' most ventral 8mm of t' BT-60 remained intact. Enough BT-60 (about 6mm) was cut out lengthwise from t' dorsal surface so it could be glued down onto t' JT-55 coupler. Avast! Arrr! Forward from t' coupler (the parachute compartment), arrr, ya bilge rat, an intact BT-55 was used. Avast, me proud beauty! A piece o' balsa was carefully carved t' provide structural support betwixt t' BT-55 and BT-60. Avast, me proud beauty! Additional smaller pieces o' balsa were added t' strengthen t' "smile". Begad! Finally, automotive body filler be added t' complete the vent.

T' cockpit was hand-carved from a block o' balsa. T' tail cone is paper. Well, blow me down! T' arrangement o' t' fins was begun with a 3-fin alignment, which was modified by eye t' make t' main wings a little straighter out t' t' side and allow room for t' vestigial ventral fins. Begad! T' side pods were completed and then glued into slots cut in t' wings. Ya scallywag! T' dowel wingtips were pointed with a pencil sharpener then glued on. Well, blow me down!

Finishing:
T' paint scheme is blue enamel on top, arrr, shiver me timbers, white on bottom, with custom Testors inkjet decals.

Flight and Recovery:
Recommended engines are C6-3 and D10-5. Avast! Blimey! Prep is standard waddin' and chute. Avast! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Recommended chutes are 18"-24". It has flown five times on C6-3s and once on a D10-5. Begad! Blimey! It never had a perfectly straight-up flight, shiver me timbers, but it's nay as bizarre a path as t' SS1, either. Begad! Blimey! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' D10-5 flight resulted in a blown-out body tube rather than deployed chute so there is currently substantial damage, arrr, but I keep it in t' "restoration" pile.

Summary:
Kids absolutely loved it and asked how high. Avast, me proud beauty! I always told them it's classified. Begad! It held its rightful place in the arsenal right next t' me classic Interceptor.