Art Applewhite Rockets Stealth 13mm (Plan)

Art Applewhite Rockets - Stealth 13mm {Plan}

Contributed by John Lee

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets
Art Applewhite 13mm Stealth

Brief:
This is a free-to-download 13mm cardstock version o' Art Applewhite's Stealth rockets available for download at Art's website. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! I received me 13mm Stealth from Art as a free gift alongside a 24mm Delta saucer.

Construction:
T' rocket is made from one piece o' cardstock which has t' instructions along with t' pattern for t' rocket and motor mount printed on it.

Art's instructions were very easy t' follow, arrr, and t' rocket took me no more than twenty minutes t' put together usin' Craftworks Tacky Craft Glue. T' only tools required t' aid in assembly are a steel straight edge, arrr, hobby knife and/or small scissors, me hearties, and an object with a rounded end (like an old ballpoint pen) for formin' creases.

First, shiver me timbers, I cut out t' patterns for t' rocket body and t' motor mount with a small pair o' scissors after which I cut out t' holes for t' motor mount and t' launch rod on t' body usin' a hobby knife. Aye aye! Ahoy! After formin' creases with a steel straight edge and t' rounded end o' a headphones plug along t' marked crease lines, I formed t' motor mount into a triangle and glued t' seams together (I brushed on a thin layer o' tacky glue t' ensure a fast and firm tack). I then tackled t' rocket body and after formin' creases along t' crease lines, one half o' t' body was then folded back on t' t' other half t' form t' characteristic Stealth shape and t' two halves then glued together. Once the glue on t' body was dry, I then inserted t' completed motor mount into t' motor mount hole and secured it in place with a fillet o' tacky glue t' complete t' construction.

Finishing:
No specific finishin' techniques are recommended by Art and as such, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I didn't bother with any.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
T' only recommended motor for t' 13mm Stealth be t' Estes A10-PT plugged motor. Arrr! Unlike t' larger Stealth rockets, the top o' t' rocket is closed off so usin' an unplugged motor could well result in t' ejection charge burnin' out the top o' t' rocket.

I used an A10-PT for t' Stealth's maiden flight at t' local football oval usin' t' friction-fit technique with a bit o' maskin' tape. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Upon pressin' t' launch button, t' Stealth took off surprisingly very fast in a straight line with a rapid spinnin' motion in flight t' around 75-80 feet. Aye aye! Upon motor burnout, shiver me timbers, t' rocket gently tumble-recovered to the ground.

Subsequent flights have essentially been repeats o' t' first flight and I love t' way that once t' rocket is retrieved after each flight, it takes no more than maybe a minute t' have t' rocket prepped and ready for another flight.

Recovery:
T' Stealth's negligible weight and tumble-recovery (referred t' by Art as 'aerobrake recovery') make for foolproof recovery close t' t' launchin' area and as previously mentioned, arrr, very quick turnaround flight times. Begad!

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
I simply can't think o' any cons with this marvelous little rocket. Ya scallywag! It simply can't be beat for ease and quickness of construction. Ya scallywag! Its seemingly fragile and featherweight appearance is quite deceptive as t' completed rocket is quite robust and will give many hours o' launchin' pleasure for minimal cost.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Art Applewhite Rockets Stealth 13mm (Plan) By John Lee (January 12, 2008)

    Brief: The 13mm Stealth is a paper rocket based upon Art Applewhite's Qubit design. It is a free rocket and all that is needed is to print the design available from his website. The basic stealth design is found here ,but I used the Black Stealth variant . The only difference is that the black version is "pre-blackened" so it will print out with the finish. The rocket ...

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