N.F.O. Ahoy! Nate's Flying Object:

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

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

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. Ya scallywag! 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, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Blimey! Blimey! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Ahoy! Aye aye! I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, me hearties, ya bilge rat, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, arrr, I had already. Avast, me proud beauty! If you're into buildin' rockets, me bucko, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! If you don't have a hot glue gun, matey, arrr, matey, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Ahoy! I used me mom's. My cost was $3.49 If you already have this stuff, matey, shiver me timbers, it won't cost you a cent!

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, arrr, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Aye aye! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Begad! After that dried, me hearties, 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. Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, and cut the center out. Begad! Begad!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. 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 knife like a drill. Ahoy! I stuck in t' launch lug. Begad! Aye aye! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Blimey!

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. Ya scallywag! 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. I flew it nevertheless. Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Blimey! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Ahoy! Blimey! I was so happy with how mine flew, me bucko, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Aye aye! This has been a lot o' fun. Avast! Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. Ahoy! Ahoy! There be a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, me hearties, but nothin' drastic. Begad! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, and again, me hearties, and again... Aye aye!