N.F.O. Ya scallywag! Nate's Flying Object:

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

T' first time I saw a rocket powered saucer, I be instantly in love. I had to make one o' me own. Aye aye! I believe t' saucer I saw be a kit, arrr, shiver me timbers, it was really cool, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. I decided it should look like it was crafted out o' metal, arrr, me hearties, because that's what UFO's are made of, arrr, right? O.K. Avast, me proud beauty! I knew what I wanted and had an idea in me head how it was t' look, ya bilge rat, now t' make it a reality.

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. Ya scallywag! Arrr! are:

• 3/32 balsa sheet
• 24mm engine mount with hook
• styrofoam ball (used for art and craft projects)
• hot glue cannon
• elmer's wood glue
• 1/8" launch lug

As I said, shiver me timbers, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Avast! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, arrr, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, I had already. If you're into buildin' rockets, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Ahoy! Begad! If you don't have a hot glue gun, arrr, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Avast! I used me mom's. My cost was $3.49 If you already have this stuff, matey, it won't cost you a cent!

I started off by cuttin' the foam ball in half. Begad! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, until it be flush with t' top. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Then I Pushed my finger through and t' un-needed foam popped out t' be thrown away.

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Ya scallywag! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! After that dried, me bucko, I oozed some wood glue on one face o' a circle and laid t' other circle on top o' it makin' sure me two center lines were perpendicular. Aye aye! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, and cut the center out. Avast!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, arrr, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Avast! Ahoy! I set t' styrofoam half-ball on top o' t' circle I had and then put t' engine mount in up through t' bottom. Arrr! Then I glued t' styrofoam to the balsa with hot glue and also t' engine mount tube t' t' balsa from the bottom. T' final step o' t' build was t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. Begad! I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Begad! Avast! I stuck in t' launch lug. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece.

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. Cold day 47 degrees and a wind o' 10mph. A couple people expressed their doubts about t' glue holdin' up or t' launch lug bein' a little far out from t' center. Aye aye! I flew it nevertheless. Begad! Arrr! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I was so happy with how mine flew, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Well, blow me down! This has been a lot o' fun. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. There be a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, shiver me timbers, me hearties, but nothin' drastic. Begad! Ahoy! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, arrr, and again, and again... Ya scallywag!