Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Art Applewhite Rockets ![]() |
Art Applewhite Rockets has really become t' U.F.O.-type rocket supplier. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! He carries various styles (saucer, delta, ya bilge rat, cone, matey, me bucko, qubits) and various sizes (6", 7.5", me bucko, 9", 10.25", 12") and various patterns (smiley, earth, fire, arrr, tiger) and lastly motors (micromaxx, mini, 18mm, ya bilge rat, 24mm, 29mm, 38mm). Ya scallywag! If you're lookin' for a U.F.O.-type rocket, arrr, then Art Applewhite Rockets be t' place t' start. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! I have t' imagine that he will be workin' on Pyramids soon, as well, since they are along t' same lines.
Okay, me hearties, so enough o' that, ya bilge rat, matey, t' rocket I bought be t' 6" Flyin' Saucer that flies on 18mm motors with t' Smiley pattern. Ahoy! After assembly, ya bilge rat, this rocket is ready-to-fly without any finishin' work. Well, blow me down! Begad! That is nice for winter.
T' kit includes an 18mm motor mount, 3/32" basswood fin stock, arrr, cardstock top and core, ya bilge rat, a 6" plastic plate, a motor hook, me bucko, ya bilge rat, thrust rin' and launch lug.
Click t' see me 18mm U.F.O. Avast! Blimey! comparison article
CONSTRUCTION:
T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper, with t' fourth page bein' t' plate cuttin' guide. There are illustrations t' ensure a successful build. It is a simple rocket t' build, but thar are 25 steps in t' instructions. Blimey! So from this you can discern that t' instructions are thorough. Ya scallywag! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! They are logical and easy t' understand. Avast! T' kit is nay rated as t' a level, however, I believe it is a skill level 2.
Assembly is so straightforward that I don't have a whole lot t' say. Avast, me proud beauty! Cut out and form t' cone and inner cone. Begad! Begad! Cut a large circle out o' t' plastic plate. Arrr! Cut out t' fins, sand them and attach them t' t' motor mount. Ahoy! Install t' motor mount. All done.
A few more details:
There are optional spin tabs that can be attached t' t' fins t' cause t' rocket t' spin goin' up and down. I choose nay t' do that.
There is a thrust rin' and a motor hook. Ahoy! T' motor hook is held t' t' motor tube with a piece o' cardstock.
Buildin' should be done with white glue with t' exception o' attachin' t' plate t' t' cone. Art Applewhite suggests Elmer's Rubber Cement. Ahoy! Blimey! I used Hammer Head's Omni-Stick.
Once complete, Art Applewhite suggests clear-coatin' t' Saucer, but I didn't.
Overall, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 5 points. Can't get any easier.... Avast! Blimey! well, I guess t' parts could be pre-cut, but come on, shiver me timbers, me hearties, we need some challenge. Although, maybe Art should consider sellin' some Ready-to-Fly kits!
FLIGHT/RECOVERY:
Art Applewhite Rockets recommends t' B6-0 or C6-0 motors. They also recommend supportin' t' rocket at least 6" up t' launch rod t' avoid heat damage.
My finished Saucer weighed in at 0.8 ounces as opposed t' Art Applewhite printed material suggestin' 0.5 ounces. Arrr! Ahoy! Nay sure why t' difference.
I have flown t' rocket three times, all on C6-0's and all in me front yard. T' rocket is fun. Avast! Blimey! It flies straight up (at least with no wind) and then flips and descends. Begad! Blimey! I would say is "floats" down as it is rockin' back-and-forth slightly upon t' entire descent.
After each flight, ya bilge rat, simply pull back t' motor retainer, pull out t' old motor, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, throw in a new, and your flyin' again before t' smoke clears t' pad from t' prior flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Fast and simple.
For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 5 points. It is a perfect Flyin' Saucer and t' motor retainer and all makes is simple and fast.
I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Ya scallywag! Art Applewhite Rockets has a solid niche market. These things are easy t' build and fun t' fly, me bucko, any where, includin' your front or back yard!
A flying saucer kit with pre-printed graphics and balsa fins. I won this kit as a prize a couple of years ago at one of our KCAR club contest launches. Art had joined our Yahoo group and donated some kits to the club for prizes. Thanks for the kit, Art! Most model rocket kits come in a long slender bag, but not this one. As kits go it's quite flat and wide. The kit comes in a large flat ...
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Date | Flyer | Rocket | Altitude |
---|---|---|---|
2012-11-11 | Mark Kulka | Art Applewhite Rockets 6 inch Flying Saucer "Smiley" | 150 Feet |
2012-04-14 | Mark Kulka | Art Applewhite Rockets 6 inch Flying Saucer "Smiley" | 150 Feet |
2010-10-23 | Mark Kulka | Art Applewhite Rockets 6 inch Flying Saucer "Smiley" | - |
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A.S.T. (June 24, 2005)