Brief:
This be t' 7.25" version o' Art's saucer line. Like t' larger 9" version, this saucer flies on C11-0 and D12-0 motors. Blimey! T' saucer's card stock shell is pre-printed in an USAF motif. Begad! Art now offers several designs, various colors, and blank versions o' his 6", shiver me timbers, 7.25", me bucko, shiver me timbers, and 9" saucers.

Construction:
T' components are t' same as t' 9" version (but smaller, me bucko, matey, o' course):

• Preprinted card stock comprises t' top and core assembly o' t' saucer.
• One 7.25" plastic picnic plate comprises t' bottom.
• One 2.75" BT-50 motor tube
• One 2.75" motor hook
• One 3/16" launch lug
• 3/32" basswood fin stock

Tools and materials required:

• Scissors
• Exacto knife
• Elmers' white glue
• Rubber cement
• Clear enamel (RUS-TOLEUM Crystal Clear or equivalent)
• Double-sided tape
• 150 grit sandpaper

Construction is identical t' t' 9" version. Avast! Blimey! You first cut out t' top and core pieces and glue them together usin' t' printed tabs, similar t' any paper shroud. Aye aye! Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! An inner rin' is attached t' t' core, shiver me timbers, and t' core is glued into t' top section. Aye aye! Blimey! These steps use white glue, arrr, and, o' course, t' glue must dry betwixt each step. Usin' a provided template, me hearties, a hole t' size o' t' paper core is cut in t' plate. T' template is supposed t' be attached temporarily with double-sided tape, but I just used clear tape. Ahoy! Blimey! T' plate is t' be glued t' t' saucer assembly with rubber cement. When I built me 9" saucer, I substituted some old Liquid Nails. It had thickened some and I thought t' recommended rubber cement would work better. Arrr! Blimey! Well, I had bought some fresh Liquid Nails and decided t' try it again. This time it worked fine.

To assemble t' fin can, shiver me timbers, me hearties, you mark, me hearties, cut and sand t' fins. Blimey! These are attached t' t' motor tube like any other fins. You optionally can add card stock spin tabs. Ahoy! On this saucer, me hearties, I elected t' leave them off (I used them on me 9" version). Begad! Finally, me hearties, shiver me timbers, t' launch lug is added and t' fin unit is complete. Begad! Aye aye! If you are goin' t' use t' spin tabs, me hearties, make sure you glue t' launch lug on t' side o' a fin that is away from t' direction o' t' tabs. Avast! As with me previous saucer, I left off t' motor hook t' allow longer motors, staging, etc.

T' last step is t' sand t' tip o' t' fins so that t' fin assembly slides into t' core section o' t' saucer.

Finishing:
Finishin' consists o' sprayin' t' printed top and core o' t' saucer with clear enamel. Avast, me proud beauty! You have t' make sure nay t' get this on t' plastic plate as t' paint might damage it. I guess you could paint t' fin can, but I elected t' leave it naked.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' saucer on a D12-0. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Its boost was noticeably faster than its 9-inch cousin (no real surprise) and it really put those silly plastic RTF saucers t' shame :-). Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! As with t' bigger saucer, me hearties, arrr, t' fin unit and saucer sections did nay separate. Ahoy! Unlike t' bigger saucer, however, ya bilge rat, it came down nose first.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This saucer is easy and fun t' build. Aye aye! It looks better, IMHO, arrr, than t' RTF ones, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and thar are several colors/patterns t' choose from. If you like saucers, me hearties, matey, I suggest you get one o' these and go drag race a Snitch :-).

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5