Brief:
This article will discuss Art’s set o' 18mm Qubits--the plain variety, matey, t' Stealth, ya bilge rat, and t' Scimitar. Ya scallywag! I got sets o' both plain white and florescent orange, but you can get various other colors (at t' time o' writing: hot pink, neon yellow, and fluorescent green) and a limited edition NSL 2004 Commemorative version.

Construction:
These kits, like t' previously reviewed 13mm Qubits, are very simple. All three include only t' following:

• Two sheets o' printed cardstock
• One 2.75" steel motor hook
• Two pages o' instructions

Materials required include white glue, ya bilge rat, an X-Acto hobby knife, a metal ruler, me hearties, sharp scissors, and an 18mm motor casing.

Each Qubit is built from three cardstock cutouts and a motor hook. Arrr! Blimey! T' top cutout (bottom right sheet on t' first photo) is folded, wrapped around onto itself, and glued together. Well, blow me down! T' tabs on t' bottom cutout (bottom middle sheet) are folded up and this is glued into t' top section. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! You merely align and glue t' tabs one at a time, makin' sure t' launch rod holes are aligned. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' motor tube is rolled from t' last cutout. T' motor hook is rolled into t' motor tube as it is formed. Avast, me proud beauty! T' final step is t' insert t' motor tube into t' shell and glue it in. Begad! Could this be simpler?

T' plain variety Qubit (parts are shown in t' first photo) has a few more folds than t' others. Each tab has a set o' folds, which allow t' formation o' a spin tab. I found that it be a bit difficult t' form these at t' narrow end. This be despite havin' scored t' creases, which is me SOP when workin' with cardstock.

I build one whole Qubit and t' bodies o' t' other two in less than an hour. If I had more than one phenolic 18mm motor casin' on hand. Begad! Well, blow me down! I would have finished all o' them. However, me bucko, I decided that t' motor mount on t' first kit should fully dry before I removed t' casing. Arrr! I could have used cardboard casings also, but with t' phenolic, me hearties, you don't have t' worry about gluin' t' motor into t' mount.

Finishing:
None is required, shiver me timbers, however I did run a day-glow orange hi-lighter along t' cut edges t' help hide t' white form t' inside o' t' cardstock.

EMRR will show me overall ratin' for t' three kits. Begad! Blimey! Individually, shiver me timbers, I would rate them as follows:

Plain Qubit = 4.5 o' 5 (I had a minor difficulty with t' spin tabs)

Stealth = 5 o' 5

Scimitar = 5 o' 5

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew both sets o' Qubits three times. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' first two sets were in extremely high winds - about 17mph with occasional lulls. Aye aye! Blimey! T' A8-3 flights were very underpowered for these winds, and all three ejected on or near t' ground. Ahoy! Blimey! This is no longer a recommended motor for these rockets. Begad! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' C6-0 flights were more satisfying. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' Stealth went t' highest, followed by t' Scimitar and t' regular Qubit. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' Qubit weathercocked t' most, which affected its altitude. Ahoy! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' Scimitar won t' spinnin' contest. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! It spun so fast that it emitted an audible whirr, arrr, which got everyone’s attention.

I later flew t' set o' Qubits in light winds. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! T' plain Qubit and t' Stealth both boosted very fast and attained a good altitude for a ‘saucer-like’ design. Blimey! Begad! Blimey! At least one person couldn't believe t' motors were C6s. Avast! T' Scimitar didn't go nearly as high but again spun like crazy. Begad! Blimey! T' others appeared t' spin (it be hard t' see), me hearties, but t' Scimitar really whirred. Ya scallywag! Interestingly enough, each o' t' Qubits flew in a different direction: t' plain flew slightly perpendicular t' t' light wind, t' Scimitar flew with t' wind, shiver me timbers, and t' Stealth flew into t' wind. Avast! Begad! Blimey! None o' t' flight angles were large but t' differences were noticeable. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Blimey! This is presented basically as a curiosity.

Recovery:
Not much t' say...all three came down softly usin' aerobrake recovery.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
T' 18mm Qubits are super simple, quick and easy t' build, and priced right. Begad! They are good ‘watchin' TV’ rockets and would be good for young kids. If you want altitude, get either t' Stealth or t' plain old Qubit. Blimey! However, shiver me timbers, if you want a lot o' spin, arrr, matey, me hearties, go for t' Scimitar!

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5