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. Begad! It uses a synthetic aperture radar with real-time datalink for reconnaissance. Weaponry includes a small particle accelerator. A speed o' Mach 6 and a cruisin' altitude o' 40 kilometers makes it invulnerable t' any current missile system. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! 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. Well, blow me down!

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

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

(click on picture t' enlarge) T' grill was the startin' point. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! A curved line was drawn by hand and then carefully cut usin' an X-Acto knife. Blimey! T' most ventral 8mm of t' BT-60 remained intact. Well, blow me down! Enough BT-60 (about 6mm) be 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), me bucko, shiver me timbers, an intact BT-55 be used. Begad! A piece o' balsa be carefully carved t' provide structural support betwixt t' BT-55 and BT-60. Additional smaller pieces o' balsa were added t' strengthen t' "smile". Arrr! Finally, shiver me timbers, me bucko, me bucko, automotive body filler be added t' complete the vent. Ya scallywag!

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

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

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

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