Quest Area 51 SPEV Saucer

Quest - Area 51 Saucer {Kit}

Contributed by Hans "Chris" Michielssen

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Quest
Skill Level: 1
Style: RTF, Saucer

quest_area51spevBrief:
This is a re-issue o' an out o' production Quest(ARF) Saucer Odd-Roc. Arrr! I ordered two sets o' these from Quest durin' their recent 40% off Christmas sale. Aye aye! One saucer kit and three C6-0 engines were part o' t' combo deal for $9.00. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Quite a good price, a fun rocket for a little more than t' price o' t' three engines. Well, blow me down! As t' Quest website explains a supply o' saucer tops was found in a mis-marked crate at t' Quest facility. Aye aye! Quest's president Bill Stine redesigned it usin' some existin' parts t' fashion this S.P.E.V. Begad! kit. Begad! SPEV stands for “Spare Parts Elimination Vehicle”. T' name S.P.E.V. actually goes back t' an old Estes kit. It was sold with t' subtitle - SPace Exploration Vehicle. Blimey! Quest also included a “Freebie” MicroMaxx Mini saucer in each kit bag. It is a scaled down copy o' t' big saucer. A nice surprise, matey, even though I’ve heard it doesn’t fly very high, matey, ya bilge rat, I’d always wanted one.

quest_area51spev_parts

Construction:
T' parts are few:

  • Plastic Saucer Top
  • (3) Laser Cut Black Fiber Fins
  • White Plastic Launch Lug, 1.5" long
  • Yellow Motor Mount Tube, me hearties, BT-20 diameter 2 11/16" long
  • Sheet o' 8.5" X 11" Avery Self-Adhesive Paper
  • (You print your own saucer decor from t' Quest Website)
  • Pictorial Instruction Sheet

quest_area51spev_warpedI was a little surprised t' see t' plastic saucer top was warped. Begad! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! It shouldn’t affect flight characteristics. Arrr! Blimey! T' inside o' t' saucer top reads (Copyright) 1998 TOY BIZ, arrr, INC. Begad! Blimey! and MADE IN MEXICO. This “kit” only includes t' top o' t' saucer. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' smooth bottom half with integrated fins and antenna mounts in nay included (or necessary) for this saucer version.

I cleaned off t' saucer o' any moldin' release agents with light soapy water and a paper towel. Avast! Arrr! Blimey! I wanted t' be sure that later on that t' self adhesive “decals” would stick well.

quest_area51spev_lugsT' launch lug be molded white plastic, thick and contoured t' fit against t' BT-20 sized motor mount tube. Ahoy! I knew I had seen a lug like this before. Begad! I put it next t' me old MPC Nike Patriot, shiver me timbers, arrr, it’s t' same style molded lug that Harry Stine designed for MPC thirty years ago.

T' fins were laser cut from thick black fiberboard stock. I had t' wipe off t' burnt edges with a paper towel. There was black ash marks from t' fins on t' yellow motor mount tube. There are no wire landin' leg “antennas”.

T' instructions were printed in black and white on one side o' an 8 1/2" x 11' sheet. Aye aye! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Photo illustrations accompanied t' directions.

  • Step 1: You glue t' thick plastic launch lug t' t' inside o' t' saucer top. It lines up with t' molded hole in t' top o' t' saucer. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I sanded t' ends o' t' lug t' clean up t' moldin' flash. Begad! T' lug’s formed side contour doesn’t quite match t' diameter o' t' molded motor mount housing. Ya scallywag! It was made for a MPC body tube, approx. Begad! Begad! 1 3/8" diameter.
  • Step 2: I decided t' replace t' supplied yellow motor mount tube with a thicker BT-20 tube. Arrr! I felt t' Quest motor mount tubin' be too thin. Avast! I glued t' blue thrust rin' in t' replacement tube.
  • Step 3: T' instructions say t' use plastic cement t' glue t' motor mount tube into t' saucer. Avast, me proud beauty! I used thick (slower dry) super glue. I ran a bead o' t' thick CA around t' top thrust rin' and another rin' around t' upper body. Begad! When I slid t' motor tube into place, shiver me timbers, t' thick glue helped fill in t' slight gap betwixt t' plastic top “tube” and t' BT-20 replacement.
  • Step 4: T' model is a simpler take on t' older all plastic design. T' root ends o' t' Fiber Fins attach t' t' cardboard motor mount tube with wood glue. Aye aye! Instead o' wood glue, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, I set t' fins in place, lined them up, then ran a line o' thin super glue down t' root edge. Begad! T' other end o' t' fins have a tab that fits into cutout circles in t' saucer top. I touched t' tab/circle contact points with super glue. Ya scallywag! Well, me hearties, blow me down! There is no plastic fins and t' plastic tabs won’t be breakin' off t' saucer top like t' original version. Blimey! T' fins were a great design, adaptin' well t' t' existin' saucer top. Well, me hearties, blow me down! T' saucer stands on t' fins and on it’s own when built.
    No engine hook. Also missin' are t' wire landin' legs. Arrr! Nay a problem. T' saucer top is molded from a strong, flexible plastic. Blimey! Landings shouldn’t be a concern. Begad! When all assembled t' saucer is very sturdy.
  • Step 5: Glue t' two remainin' fins into position. That's it!

Finishing:
Go t' t' Quest website and download t' decal. Well, blow me down! You can choose from four different decals. I chose Decal Sheet 3, t' one with t' “Bewildered” Aliens. T' yellow Alien skin color reminded me o' t' old “Glow-In-The-Dark” toys o' t' 1960's. Ahoy! Bein' this model is an Odd-Ball, I went for t' most outrageous pattern.

Be sure t' spray and seal t' printed “decals” with a shot o' clear coat t' prevent smearing. Avast, me proud beauty! All four o' t' decals have a suggested color for t' saucer. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I was reluctant t' spray t' saucer, matey, ya bilge rat, I was concerned t' paint wouldn’t adhere well on t' slick surface o' t' saucer top. Begad! My saucer was molded in a medium metallic grey color. Ya scallywag! Arrr! You are directed t' use a hobby knife t' cut out t' “decal” images. Avast! Blimey! I cut mine with scissors. Begad! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Cuttin' out t' decals be t' most time consumin' part o' t' build. Begad! It took 20 minutes t' cut all 12 pieces. Well, blow me down! Placement was nay a problem except for t' highest center rin' decal stickers. It’s a full ring, arrr, arrr, made-up o' three arc shaped pieces. Arrr! Avast! I had t' place t' pieces higher than t' centerline o' t' highest plastic “cone” t' get all t' edges t' match up.

T' finished saucer looks great! It was a fun and easy build. Arrr! Arrr! It was interestin' t' see t' original design improved usin' fewer parts and updated graphics. Blimey! T' black fins, white engine tube, shiver me timbers, white lug and (original color plastic) grey saucer all compliment each other well.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Quest recommends a B6-0 or C6-0 engines. Aye aye! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! Previous EMRR reviews say t' B6-0 is too underpowered for this saucer. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' original instructions (from 1998) say t' use a C6-0 engine only. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I will fly it with t' C6-0s that came with t' sale combo package.

I was flyin' alone today, I wanted t' get this review in quickly, our next R.O.C.K. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! NARRRRR section launch wasn’t for another two weeks. Begad! Begad! Blimey! I packed up me (20 year old) Estes yellow Porta-Pad launcher. Well, blow me down! Begad! Blimey! This launcher had t' pre-lightnin' bolt legs. After some continuity problems, me hearties, I scraped off some battery corrosion and got a light.

Prep was simple, me hearties, friction fit t' engine with a little maskin' tape and install t' igniter. Begad! There was no engine hook and o' course, no wadding.

Countdown and launch! T' engine really had t' work t' get it airborne. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It started arcin' over half way up. This wasn’t a vertical flight, ya bilge rat, I had a slight wind t' content with. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! Bein' a C6-0 engine, shiver me timbers, t' propellant “wall” broke through just before it turned over. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! It landed on it’s top, 50 feet from t' launcher. I picked it up quickly, me bucko, t' lawn be a little wet and I didn’t want t' ruin t' paper stick-on decals. (Another reason t' clear coat after printing.) While I am terrible at guessin' altitudes, it may have got t' 125 feet.

I followed up with t' (Freebie) Micro Maxx saucer. Blimey! Arrr! T' retainin' rin' on t' plastic engine mount was a little tricky, There are tiny arrows t' show you which way t' lock t' ring. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I didn’t want t' lose t' ring, me bucko, I added two small tape strips on t' rin' and engine mount tube.

As t' reviews before had said, nay much altitudem I would guess 40 feet. Begad! Blimey! Still, me bucko, me hearties, a lot o' fun. Ahoy! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I’m an Odd-Roc fan, I know both saucers will be favorites.

Recovery:
I be curious t' see if thar was any burn marks at t' plastic area above t' top o' t' engine. Begad! Begad! There was none!

  • Engines: When I got home, matey, it was interestin' t' peel off t' Quest label. T' outer Quest color wrapper said Quest a Division o' Toy Biz, me hearties, Inc. Ya scallywag! Made in t' U.S.A. Under t' peeled label, shiver me timbers, matey, t' engine was German made and labeled: RAKETEN MOTOR. Ahoy! T' printin' was RED, me bucko, designatin' a booster engine, but t' printed power was C6-3! T' was a booster engine, me bucko, thar was clearly no delay or ejection charge in t' tops o' t' fresh motors. T' production date was 1996. Blimey! Nay a big deal, just interesting. Well, blow me down! T' engines were packed in a sealed, me bucko, airtight bag. T' engine performed well.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Bill Stine did a great job usin' t' existin' materials t' put a fresh, ya bilge rat, improved spin on an existin' platform. Arrr! T' model lost a point for t' lug that didn't fit t' 3/4" diameter engine tubin' contour. Blimey! And t' supplied engine tube be flimsy. Begad! Neither original supplied parts would effect flight though. T' fiber fins were well cut and strong.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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