Brief:
This article will discuss Art’s set o' 18mm Qubits--the plain variety, me bucko, arrr, t' Stealth, ya bilge rat, me bucko, and t' Scimitar. Avast! Blimey! I got sets o' both plain white and florescent orange, but you can get various other colors (at t' time o' writing: hot pink, neon yellow, arrr, and fluorescent green) and a limited edition NSL 2004 Commemorative version.

Construction:
These kits, like t' previously reviewed 13mm Qubits, are very simple. Ahoy! All three include only t' following:

• Two sheets o' printed cardstock
• One 2.75" steel motor hook
• Two pages o' instructions

Materials required include white glue, matey, an X-Acto hobby knife, a metal ruler, ya bilge rat, arrr, sharp scissors, ya bilge rat, and an 18mm motor casing.

Each Qubit is built from three cardstock cutouts and a motor hook. T' top cutout (bottom right sheet on t' first photo) is folded, ya bilge rat, wrapped around onto itself, and glued together. Well, blow me down! Arrr! T' tabs on t' bottom cutout (bottom middle sheet) are folded up and this is glued into t' top section. You merely align and glue t' tabs one at a time, shiver me timbers, makin' sure t' launch rod holes are aligned. Well, blow me down! T' motor tube is rolled from t' last cutout. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' motor hook is rolled into t' motor tube as it is formed. Blimey! T' final step is t' insert t' motor tube into t' shell and glue it in. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Could this be simpler?

T' plain variety Qubit (parts are shown in t' first photo) has a few more folds than t' others. Ahoy! Blimey! Each tab has a set o' folds, arrr, arrr, which allow t' formation o' a spin tab. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! I found that it was a bit difficult t' form these at t' narrow end. This was despite havin' scored t' creases, matey, arrr, ya bilge rat, which is me SOP when workin' with cardstock.

I build one whole Qubit and t' bodies o' t' other two in less than an hour. Avast, me proud beauty! If I had more than one phenolic 18mm motor casin' on hand. Well, blow me down! I would have finished all o' them. However, shiver me timbers, I decided that t' motor mount on t' first kit should fully dry before I removed t' casing. Begad! Aye aye! I could have used cardboard casings also, arrr, me bucko, but with t' phenolic, ya bilge rat, you don't have t' worry about gluin' t' motor into t' mount.

Finishing:
None is required, however I did run a day-glow orange hi-lighter along t' cut edges t' help hide t' white form t' inside o' t' cardstock.

EMRR will show me overall ratin' for t' three kits. Begad! Blimey! Individually, me bucko, I would rate them as follows:

Plain Qubit = 4.5 o' 5 (I had a minor difficulty with t' spin tabs)

Stealth = 5 o' 5

Scimitar = 5 o' 5

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew both sets o' Qubits three times. Begad! T' first two sets were in extremely high winds - about 17mph with occasional lulls. Begad! T' A8-3 flights were very underpowered for these winds, me hearties, and all three ejected on or near t' ground. Ya scallywag! This is no longer a recommended motor for these rockets. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! T' C6-0 flights were more satisfying. Blimey! T' Stealth went t' highest, followed by t' Scimitar and t' regular Qubit. Avast, me proud beauty! T' Qubit weathercocked t' most, which affected its altitude. T' Scimitar won t' spinnin' contest. Well, blow me down! It spun so fast that it emitted an audible whirr, arrr, ya bilge rat, which got everyone’s attention.

I later flew t' set o' Qubits in light winds. Blimey! Avast! T' plain Qubit and t' Stealth both boosted very fast and attained a good altitude for a ‘saucer-like’ design. Ahoy! At least one person couldn't believe t' motors were C6s. T' Scimitar didn't go nearly as high but again spun like crazy. Well, blow me down! T' others appeared t' spin (it be hard t' see), but t' Scimitar really whirred. Ahoy! Ahoy! Interestingly enough, ya bilge rat, me bucko, shiver me timbers, each o' t' Qubits flew in a different direction: t' plain flew slightly perpendicular t' t' light wind, shiver me timbers, me hearties, t' Scimitar flew with t' wind, ya bilge rat, and t' Stealth flew into t' wind. Aye aye! None o' t' flight angles were large but t' differences were noticeable. Aye aye! This is presented basically as a curiosity.

Recovery:
Not much t' say...all three came down softly usin' aerobrake recovery.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' 18mm Qubits are super simple, quick and easy t' build, ya bilge rat, and priced right. They are good ‘watchin' TV’ rockets and would be good for young kids. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! If you want altitude, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, get either t' Stealth or t' plain old Qubit. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! However, if you want a lot o' spin, go for t' Scimitar!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5