Brief:
This was a pre-production version o' t' kit and its construction varied somewhat from t' production model. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Nonetheless, it is representative o' t' performance you should expect from t' production model. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I have tried t' indicate where t' production model varies, however, me hearties, me hearties, these notes may nay be all-inclusive.

This rocket is a huge, 18" diameter, Level 2 capable version o' Art's Delta saucer. Arrr! It is built primarily from Gatorboard and includes both 38mm and 54mm motor adapters.

Construction:
Main saucer parts list:

• 3/16" Gatorflex, me hearties, matey, however, me bucko, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' production version will use standard foamboard
• 1/2" Gatorboard
• 3" paper tube
• Fiberboard
• Fiberglass cloth
• 1/4" launch lug

54mm and 38mm Motor Adaptors parts list:

• Mount tubes
• 3" thrust ring
• 3/32" Basswood fins

Materials and tools required: utility knife, X-Acto knife with new blade, shiver me timbers, spatula or other spreadin' tool, Elmer's Glue-All, Easy release maskin' tape (the blue kind), sandpaper, slow settin' epoxy, and Devcon 5 minute Epoxy.

This build is very similar t' t' smaller delta saucers, ya bilge rat, only bigger. Begad! Blimey! T' top and bottom shrouds were made from pre-marked Gatorflex and t' center plate was made from t' thicker and more dense Gatorboard piece. These materials are both multi-layer laminates o' dense polystyrene foam, me bucko, ya bilge rat, laminated with plastic and paper. Blimey! Blimey! T' Gatorboard is laminated on both sides while t' Gatorflex is laminated on only one side, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, allowin' it t' be flexible. Cuttin' these components be much harder than standard foamboard, so new blades, me hearties, patience, matey, and good work surface are musts. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Unfortunately, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, t' Gatorflex is no longer available, me hearties, so in t' production model, me hearties, me bucko, arrr, t' top and bottom shrouds are made from standard foamboard. Aye aye! Blimey! T' make it flexible, you make numerous cuts usin' a provided tool, matey, shiver me timbers, which holds a hobby-knife blade. Avast! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Minus this cutting, me hearties, t' rest o' t' construction should be almost identical.

You first prepare t' top shroud by wrappin' it around and connectin' t' seams with 5-minute epoxy and t' supplied fiberboard strip. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Once dry, matey, you sand t' hole t' fit t' 3" host body tube. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' bottom is prepared similarly.

T' center plate really takes some effort and should be cut in short sections. As with t' smaller deltas, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' edge is beveled. Well, blow me down! I didn't have t' recommended knife so I used a very sharp kitchen knife, shiver me timbers, me bucko, which seemed t' work quite well.

In short, you glue t' mount t' t' top, ya bilge rat, coat t' inside o' t' top with slow settin' epoxy, me hearties, attach t' center t' t' top, and finally t' bottom t' t' center. Begad! Ya scallywag! In this beta version, t' main trick be t' align t' holes for t' launch rod. Blimey! In t' production model, matey, a ¼" launch lug is glued t' t' inside o' t' 3" host tube, thus avoidin' havin' t' cut additional holes in any o' t' components. Begad! Arrr! T' removable adapters slide past this lug. Begad! After t' first flight, matey, I retrofitted a 1/2" lug.

T' last step is t' glass t' top with t' provided fiberglass sheet. This too is pre-marked. I won't go into t' details here, but make sure you use slow settin' epoxy as thar be a lot o' surface area t' cover.

For both size motor mounts, me hearties, you cut t' thin fins from t' basswood usin' t' provided pattern, shiver me timbers, glue them t' t' tube, arrr, and install t' thrust ring. Arrr! Arrr! On t' 38mm mount, ya bilge rat, I used wood glue and added epoxy fillets. Avast! Ahoy! On t' 54mm mount, me bucko, arrr, me hearties, I used only epoxy.

Finishing:
I chose nay t' paint me saucer.

Construction Rating: 4

Flight:
This will make for a great sport flight and/or a relatively easy certification attempt. Aye aye! You lightly friction fit your choice o' adapters and motor. T' recommended motors include a wide variety o' I and J motors as well as t' Aerotech K185W and Ellis L330P. In t' beta testing, me hearties, arrr, a wide variety o' motors were flown. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! Note that although t' saucer will fly on H motors, these motors are so short that they may nay allow t' saucer t' aerobrake properly and t' saucer may be damaged if it lands on t' edge o' t' shroud.

I first flew t' big Delta Saucer on an Ellis J228 at t' 3rd Annual TRF Reunion at t' Whitakers field in NC. Blimey! T' saucer tore off t' pad with lots o' smoke and noise. It was a fantastic flight. Well, blow me down! T' second flight was at a NOVAAR launch. Begad! This was a very interestin' flight. T' J110 had a nice long 7 second burn. Begad! Because o' t' low average thrust and regressive thrust profile, me bucko, t' saucer arched over and was still under power after apogee.

Recovery:
Big? No problem! Blimey! In both cases, aerobrakin' brought it down softly without damage. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! With t' longer J228, me bucko, me bucko, t' motor and adapter unseated from t' main tube upon impact. Blimey! Blimey! This is a feature, ya bilge rat, nay a bug and may help t' absorb some o' t' shock from t' landing.

On t' J110 flight, me hearties, t' saucer aerobraked down and continued t' spew large amounts o' smoke, matey, ya bilge rat, causin' some concern with t' LCO. Blimey! Blimey! It landed in an outcrop o' brush but that part o' t' field was damp and thar be no risk o' fire. T' ensuin' smoke cloud was described as a "mushroom cloud on t' horizon". Aye aye! Cool! Still, I'd recommend t' J228 over this motor.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary:
This is another fun rocket from T' Saucerman and it will make an economical certification rocket for Level 2. Arrr! Blimey! T' beta version be an easy build yet be still enough work that you would feel proud o' your accomplishment. Arrr! T' production model will take a bit more time. Begad! What do you expect from a Level 2 capable rocket anyway?!

Overall Rating: 4