Art Applewhite Rockets Cluster Flying Saucer (10")

Art Applewhite Rockets - Cluster Flying Saucer (10") {Kit}

Contributed by Greg Lane

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar
Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets

Art Applewhite Cluster Saucer

Brief:
Cluster Flyin' Saucer Kit with 3 complete interchangeable motor mounts that can be changed at any time.

Construction:
Components include cardstock t' form t' top and bottom, shiver me timbers, fiberglass tape, foam backed board, shiver me timbers, 75mm core tube, and motor mount tubes.

T' assembly is a departure from t' usual 3 fins and a nosecone rocket. T' included assembly instructions are straightforward and include helpful pictures. Aye aye! T' top, formed from cardstock, matey, arrr, matey, is reinforced by usin' fiberglass tape on t' inside and a coatin' o' epoxy. Well, blow me down! Begad! I used t' recommended Devcon 2 hour epoxy from Walmart.

Finishing:
You can specify various colors for t' cardstock when you order. Blimey! Blimey! I used no paint initially. Begad! Arrr! I later refurbished t' saucer and gave it a coat o' Krylon H20 paint with good results.

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Art Applewhite Cluster Saucer

Flight:
T' flyin' be t' best part. Most o' me flights have been with t' 3x24mm mount. Avast, me proud beauty! C11s seemed t' only give only about 50 feet. Avast! Arrr! I would nay use them. Ya scallywag! D12s are good. Avast! E9s are best with t' three second burn. Ahoy! I used a clip whip and t' club's heavy duty launch system. Blimey! I have had a lot o' success with gettin' all three motors t' light and a few failures. Arrr! When one motor lit, t' saucer just cleared t' rod and did a few back flips before landin' six feet from t' pad. Begad! Two motors lit and t' saucer did a long arc, but nothin' too dramatic. Ya scallywag! Avast! You can use BP -0 motors, me hearties, me bucko, but I have had success with t' short delays. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' ejection charges from BP motors are a nice effect on t' way down. Begad! Recently, I used t' 29mm mount with a F25 and t' 38mm mount with a H73. Avast! Ahoy! T' H73 is very impressive with t' black smoke.

Art Applewhite Cluster SaucerArt Applewhite Cluster SaucerArt Applewhite Cluster Saucer

Recovery:
A great feature about Art Applewhite saucers is no recovery device required. Blimey! Accordin' t' Art's web site t' decent rate is betwixt 23 and 32 feet per second. Aye aye! Begad! I have had no damage except one small din' in t' top that was repairable. There is never a long walk, I don't know how you could lose this rocket.

Art Applewhite Cluster Saucer

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' pro t' this rocket is minimal prep time and an attention gettin' flight, particularly on three E9s. Ahoy! Likewise, t' interchangeable mounts are a plus allowin' BP and AP flights with at least twenty five different motor types. If t' winds or low clouds have fliers holdin' off flights, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, you can brin' out t' Cluster Saucer and have some fun.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flights

Comments:

avatar
BM (January 8, 2006)
Art Applewhites products are top notch and priced right. I was at the launch and it?s flight was super to say the least. I?ll be adding one to my fleet real soon.

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