Brief:
T' Mustang Jr. is a half-scale version o' t' single stage mid-power Mustang from AeroTech. Ya scallywag! I've always thought t' Mustang was a great kit--slender rocket, good looks, and great performer. I always wanted t' fly here at home in my front yard, but that was out o' t' question with t' tree lines all around. So, shiver me timbers, I decided t' scale her down and create t' Mustang Jr. Arrr!

Construction:
T' initial Mustang, like most o' AeroTech's kits, shiver me timbers, was a straightforward build and t' Jr. Begad! Blimey! is no exception. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Here's t' parts list:

• 1 BT-50 Body Tube, 16.625"
• 1 BT-20 Motor Tube, shiver me timbers, 2.75"
• 1 Estes NC-50 Nose Cone, 4" Parabolic
• 1 Engine Block
• 1 Motor Hook
• 2 BT-50 t' BT-20 Centerin' Rings
• 1 12" Parachute
• 1 Launch Lug, matey, 1/8" x 1.5"
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® Thread Shock Cord, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, 40"
• 1 Fins, me bucko, 3/16" balsa

T' Jr. Avast! goes together easily, arrr, matey, I finished mine in 2 days includin' t' paint job. Begad! Begad! Followin' t' RockSim guide, ya bilge rat, t' motor mount is constructed first. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! The centerin' rings are mounted 1/2" from each end o' t' motor tube. Blimey! Aye aye! I cut a small slit in each t' accommodate t' motor hook. T' shock cord is tied around the center o' t' motor tube and passed under t' forward centerin' ring. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! The engine block is glued in next and then t' whole assembly is glued in t' main airframe with t' motor tube flush with t' aft o' t' main airframe.

T' fins are cut from 3/16" balsa and surface mounted usin' t' double glue technique.

T' original Mustang has a pointed, ya bilge rat, more ogive shaped nose cone than the NC-50 cones that come from Estes. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! However, ya bilge rat, me bucko, since I had a bunch o' t' NC-50s around I simply fashioned a paper cone t' t' tip o' t' NC-50 which extended it about a half inch (closer t' scale length) and then soaked it in thin CA for strength. Avast, me proud beauty! After some wood filler and sandin' she looked great. If you use the Estes NC-50, don't attach t' shock cord t' t' little tab on t' nose cone shoulder as it is sure t' break off on your first flight. I simply screwed in a small screw eye just off t' t' side o' t' tab.

Finishing:
T' Jr. Blimey! was primed with one coat o' Krylon white primer then painted in the white, me hearties, gray and black color scheme. Since I wanted t' Mustang Jr. Blimey! Avast! t' look as close as possible t' t' original, ya bilge rat, I created some scale templates for the design usin' Paint Shop Pro and printed them on clear ink jet label paper. Ahoy! Arrr! Once these decals were applied I sprayed t' whole rocket in clear coat.

Flight:
T' Jr. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! is designed t' fly with all standard 18mm motors, matey, although t' keep her in me front yard I tested her on 1/2A6-2 and A8-3 motors. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! All flights were wonderful.

Recovery:
T' 12" parachute is more than enough for t' Jr. Avast! Aye aye! Recovery on me test flights were nominal. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Ejection on both 1/2A and A8 were at or close t' apogee.

Summary:
If you like t' original Mustang, arrr, this 1/2 scale version is sure t' please.