On a cold day this winter, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I discovered this rocket plan amongst me papers that be shipped with an order from Apogee. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Looking through me parts I had everythin' I needed, me hearties, as well as some Apogee Micro Motors. Ahoy! So I built T' Paper Chaser.

T' Paper Chaser's fins are the only unique feature. Avast! They are constructed o' "index card-stock" and extend more than half o' t' length o' t' rocket. Arrr! They are essentially long triangles once they are folded in half. Avast, me proud beauty! They are given gradual width along the progression toward t' back o' t' rocket by usin' "Aft Support Pieces" which are also cut from card-stock.

Outside o' t' fins, t' rocket is a 13mm body tube and nose cone, a 10.5mm motor mount, centerin' rings and motor block. Ya scallywag! Add a launch lug, arrr, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and a streamer and you have T' Paper Chaser. Begad! Aye aye! (Note: all t' parts can be purchased from Apogee and t' only variation t' me rocket be that I used a balsa nose cone.)

I didn't finish this rocket (which is a first) and set off in a rush t' get a launch or two in.

T' plans include recommended motors o' 1/42-2, shiver me timbers, 1/2A2-4, matey, A2-5, ya bilge rat, and t' B2-7. I had some B2-9's and decided t' go for it. I didn't load a streamer, arrr, simply left t' nose cone attached t' t' kelvar shock cord.

As I got me launcher all prepped and loaded t' B2 into T' Paper Chaser I received me first clue that somethin' was nay right. Ahoy! I had forgot t' attach a launch lug. Out came an extra from me field box along with super glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Now it was ready. 5, 4, 3 , 2 ,1 swoosh! loop-d-loop, bam into t' ground, loop-d-loop, bang, swoosh straight up . Blimey! . Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! . Arrr! Avast! arc, arrr, me bucko, straight down, matey, bam . Ahoy! . Begad! . Begad! then finally pop went t' ejection change. Ahoy! This be me second clue.

Yes, after such an impressive flight, arrr, I realized that I hadn't set up the CG. Avast! T' Paper Chaser plans show were t' CP should be and instruct you t' set up t' CG forward o' t' CP with t' motor installed. Avast, me proud beauty!

For its first flight, I must say, it was interestin' t' see t' effective CG move durin' t' exhaustion o' t' motor. Well, blow me down! If t' rocket was completely unstable it would have continued t' bounce and loop, me bucko, matey, but at one point after a bounce it shot straight up into t' air as stable as could be. Aye aye! With t' length o' t' B2 and t' burnin' o' t' powder from t' bottom up, arrr, me bucko, t' CG effectively moved toward t' nose o' t' rocket allowin' it t' become stable. Interesting.

Well, I added weight t' t' nose cone t' move t' CG up and after a few days prepared for another flight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Prepped again with a B2-9 and off she went. Straight (with a little oscillation) up and up and up. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! With 2.8 seconds o' burn time, me bucko, this motor doesn't seem like it is goin' t' stop. Begad! Blimey! Excellent smoke trail, but wait . Begad! Blimey! . Begad! Ahoy! Blimey! . no ejection. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Landin' in tall grass, t' rocket was recovered and will fly again.

In summary, this little Paper Chaser was fun t' build and fly and t' plans were simple and easy t' follow. Ya scallywag! Blimey! If you are lookin' for somethin' a bit different and don't have balsa, T' Paper Chaser is a good choice. Arrr! Avast! Just be sure to set up your CG and you will have a nice little flyer for Micro Motors and easily converted t' use Mini's.