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

T' Paper Chaser's fins are the only unique feature. Aye aye! 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. 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, matey, centerin' rings and motor block. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! Add a launch lug, me bucko, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and a streamer and you have T' Paper Chaser. Well, blow me down! (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, 1/2A2-4, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, A2-5, shiver me timbers, and t' B2-7. I had some B2-9's and decided t' go for it. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I didn't load a streamer, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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' be nay right. Ahoy! I had forgot t' attach a launch lug. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Out came an extra from me field box along with super glue. Aye aye! Now it was ready. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! 5, matey, 4, 3 , 2 ,1 swoosh! loop-d-loop, shiver me timbers, bam into t' ground, loop-d-loop, me hearties, bang, swoosh straight up . . . arc, straight down, bam . Aye aye! . Arrr! . Begad! Aye aye! then finally pop went t' ejection change. Blimey! This was me second clue.

Yes, after such an impressive flight, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I realized that I hadn't set up the CG. Aye aye! Blimey! 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, it was interestin' t' see t' effective CG move durin' t' exhaustion o' t' motor. If t' rocket be completely unstable it would have continued t' bounce and loop, shiver me timbers, 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, ya bilge rat, t' CG effectively moved toward t' nose o' t' rocket allowin' it t' become stable. Begad! Blimey! Interesting.

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

In summary, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, this little Paper Chaser was fun t' build and fly and t' plans were simple and easy t' follow. Blimey! If you are lookin' for somethin' a bit different and don't have balsa, me bucko, matey, matey, T' Paper Chaser is a good choice. Ahoy! 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.