Brief:
T' Mustang Jr. Blimey! is a half-scale version o' t' single stage mid-power Mustang from AeroTech. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I've always thought t' Mustang be 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, I decided t' scale her down and create t' Mustang Jr.

Construction:
T' initial Mustang, like most o' AeroTech's kits, was a straightforward build and t' Jr. Ya scallywag! Avast! is no exception. Begad! Ya scallywag! Here's t' parts list:

• 1 BT-50 Body Tube, 16.625"
• 1 BT-20 Motor Tube, 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, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 1/8" x 1.5"
• 1 Keelhaul®©™® Thread Shock Cord, 40"
• 1 Fins, me bucko, 3/16" balsa

T' Jr. goes together easily, matey, I finished mine in 2 days includin' t' paint job. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Followin' t' RockSim guide, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, t' motor mount is constructed first. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! The centerin' rings are mounted 1/2" from each end o' t' motor tube. I cut a small slit in each t' accommodate t' motor hook. Begad! T' shock cord is tied around the center o' t' motor tube and passed under t' forward centerin' ring. Blimey! Aye aye! 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, shiver me timbers, arrr, more ogive shaped nose cone than the NC-50 cones that come from Estes. Ya scallywag! Blimey! However, arrr, 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! After some wood filler and sandin' she looked great. Begad! Blimey! If you use the Estes NC-50, arrr, 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. Aye aye! Avast! was primed with one coat o' Krylon white primer then painted in the white, ya bilge rat, gray and black color scheme. Aye aye! Since I wanted t' Mustang Jr. Well, matey, blow me down! t' look as close as possible t' t' original, I created some scale templates for the design usin' Paint Shop Pro and printed them on clear ink jet label paper. Avast, me proud beauty! Once these decals were applied I sprayed t' whole rocket in clear coat.

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

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

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