Brief:
T' Cymech Armageddonator is a 1/24 scale model o' t' existin' classified stealth reconnaissance aircraft. Begad! T' full sized craft is powered by two regenerative air-turboramjet (RATR) engines and carries a crew o' two. Arrr! It uses a synthetic aperture radar with real-time datalink for reconnaissance. Begad! Aye aye! Weaponry includes a small particle accelerator. Blimey! A speed o' Mach 6 and a cruisin' altitude o' 40 kilometers makes it invulnerable t' any current missile system. Arrr! 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. Ahoy!

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

Two primary goals were achieved with this model. Ahoy! One be 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, crescent-shaped "intake grill" be fashioned from t' transition betwixt two body tubes. Well, blow me down! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' most ventral 8mm of t' BT-60 remained intact. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Enough BT-60 (about 6mm) was cut out lengthwise from t' dorsal surface so it could be glued down onto t' JT-55 coupler. Forward from t' coupler (the parachute compartment), ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, an intact BT-55 was used. Aye aye! Blimey! A piece o' balsa was carefully carved t' provide structural support betwixt t' BT-55 and BT-60. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Additional smaller pieces o' balsa were added t' strengthen t' "smile". Aye aye! Blimey! Finally, automotive body filler be added t' complete the vent. Well, arrr, blow me down! Blimey!

T' cockpit was hand-carved from a block o' balsa. T' tail cone is paper. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Ahoy! T' side pods were completed and then glued into slots cut in t' wings. Blimey! Begad! T' dowel wingtips were pointed with a pencil sharpener then glued on. Blimey!

Finishing:
T' paint scheme is blue enamel on top, ya bilge rat, white on bottom, ya bilge rat, with custom Testors inkjet decals.

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

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