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

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

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

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

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, which I traced from a plastic bowl. I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. After that dried, 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. Aye aye! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey!

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. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Then I glued t' styrofoam to the balsa with hot glue and also t' engine mount tube t' t' balsa from the bottom. Ahoy! T' final step o' t' build be t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Avast! Begad! I stuck in t' launch lug. Aye aye! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Arrr!

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. Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Ya scallywag! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Ya scallywag! I be so happy with how mine flew, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Avast, me proud beauty! 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! There was a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, but nothin' drastic. Avast, me proud beauty! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, shiver me timbers, and again, me hearties, and again... Ahoy!