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

T' Paper Chaser's fins are the only unique feature. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! They are constructed o' "index card-stock" and extend more than half o' t' length o' t' rocket. They are essentially long triangles once they are folded in half. Begad! 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, me bucko, t' rocket is a 13mm body tube and nose cone, a 10.5mm motor mount, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, centerin' rings and motor block. Add a launch lug, arrr, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and a streamer and you have T' Paper Chaser. Begad! Blimey! (Note: all t' parts can be purchased from Apogee and t' only variation t' me rocket was 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, matey, 1/2A2-4, ya bilge rat, arrr, shiver me timbers, A2-5, ya bilge rat, and t' B2-7. I had some B2-9's and decided t' go for it. Well, blow me down! 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. Avast! Blimey! I had forgot t' attach a launch lug. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Out came an extra from me field box along with super glue. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Now it was ready. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! 5, 4, ya bilge rat, 3 , arrr, 2 ,1 swoosh! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! loop-d-loop, me bucko, bam into t' ground, loop-d-loop, bang, me hearties, swoosh straight up . . . arc, shiver me timbers, straight down, bam . Avast! Blimey! . Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! . Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! then finally pop went t' ejection change. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! This was me second clue.

Yes, shiver me timbers, after such an impressive flight, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I realized that I hadn't set up the CG. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! 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.

For its first flight, arrr, I must say, arrr, me bucko, it be interestin' t' see t' effective CG move durin' t' exhaustion o' t' motor. If t' rocket was completely unstable it would have continued t' bounce and loop, but at one point after a bounce it shot straight up into t' air as stable as could be. With t' length o' t' B2 and t' burnin' o' t' powder from t' bottom up, 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! Prepped again with a B2-9 and off she went. Straight (with a little oscillation) up and up and up. Blimey! With 2.8 seconds o' burn time, this motor doesn't seem like it is goin' t' stop. Ya scallywag! Excellent smoke trail, but wait . Begad! . Avast! . Begad! no ejection. Aye aye! Landin' in tall grass, shiver me timbers, t' rocket was recovered and will fly again.

In summary, this little Paper Chaser be fun t' build and fly and t' plans were simple and easy t' follow. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! If you are lookin' for somethin' a bit different and don't have balsa, matey, arrr, arrr, T' Paper Chaser is a good choice. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! 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.