Here's a new twist in Art Applewhite's UFO-series o' rockets.... Aye aye! Ahoy! t' Cone Rocket! I'm callin' it a Cone UFO just t' keep with t' theme o' what Art Applewhite Rockets seems t' have a knack (and niche) in.

This be t' 18mm Orange version. There are also 13mm, 24mm, shiver me timbers, and 29mm versions in Stars & Stripes, Mirror Gold, arrr, me bucko, Silver, ya bilge rat, Yellow and Texas Special. Well, blow me down!

Also, in keepin' with what Art Applewhite does best, this is a straightforward kit with very few parts. Begad! It has more parts than his standard UFO and Delta UFO, but still it is a rocket that can be assembled in about 1 hour. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' kit includes a 18mm motor mount tube, a 19mm nose cone tube, shiver me timbers, a 36" round-elastic shock cord, shiver me timbers, me bucko, color/design cardstock for top and reinforcin' Strip, me bucko, cardstock for t' nose cone, shock cord anchor, me hearties, and engine block, and finally foam-board, arrr, matey, with preprinted patterns for t' nosecone base and t' bottom.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 4 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Ahoy! Arrr! They include black and white photos t' assist in t' buildin' process. T' tools and supplies that are needed are outlined: Scissors, #11 Exacto® Knife, Elmer's Glue-All®, 5-Minute Epoxy and 220 girt sandpaper. Begad! You are then warned t' read through t' entire instructions before beginning. Arrr! Aye aye! I agree.

Assembly is described in a logical order and I had no issues buildin' this rocket, arrr, except one. Be sure you have your two motor tubes before you start. My 18mm tube be slid into me 19mm tube and I never realized that I needed two tubes until I got t' t' steps requirin' t' second tube. Blimey! I found mine, inside t' other and it is a very good thin' that no glue had gotten on it!

T' instructions have you build t' two sections o' t' Cone UFO. Begad! First you cut out t' nose cone from t' cardstock. Well, arrr, blow me down! This is then formed and glued. Begad! Begad! This is actually an inner support structure verse what we think o' as traditional nose cones. Well, blow me down! A unique support method for this paper rocket. This nose cone takes all t' ejection abuse. Begad! It also provided t' nose weight needed for stability. Once t' cone is formed it is filled t' a described level with 5-minute epoxy. Ya scallywag! T' inside is also coated with epoxy t' strengthen it. Avast, me proud beauty! Then after cuttin' out t' nose cone base from t' 1/4" foam board and usin' JUST t' 19mm tube, t' remainder o' t' nose cone is assembled. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shockcord is also attached here betwixt t' 19mm tube and t' foam board base.

T' foam board is cut t' same as on Art Applewhite's other UFO's. Usin' your hobby knife, arrr, cut out t' patterns. Well, blow me down! Cut out t' centers t' make t' motor mount holes and t' launch rod holes. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! Then t' most difficult part o' construction; cuttin' t' bevel edge on t' outside edges. This has t' be done twice on this Cone UFO; for t' nose cone base and for t' bottom. Be sure t' use a new blade and take your time. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! Doin' those two things makes this a lot easier than it sounds.

T' colored cardstock is then used t' cut out t' cone (body) and t' reinforcin' ring. Ahoy! T' cone body is formed usin' a glue tab. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Then t' nose cone that was initially assembled is installed into t' tip o' t' colored cone body. Well, blow me down! This really adds strength and t' weight t' t' rocket's nose as well as helps in formin' a nice tip.

T' bottom is simply t' 1/4" foam board with t' 18mm motor mount attached; flush t' t' bottom. Ahoy! T' thrust rin' is added by cuttin' t' long strip from t' cardstock, matey, rollin' it, and gluin' it into t' motor tube. Well, blow me down! There are also good instructions t' ensure that you have a nice fit for t' 18mm tube into t' 19mm tube.

Lastly t' shockcord is mounted t' t' bottom usin' t' 3-fold paper method. Ya scallywag! That's it.

Art Applewhite Rockets indicates you may paint t' rocket or at "a minimum you should apply at least two light coats o' clear enamel" t' protect t' rocket. Aye aye! I passed.

Overall, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, matey, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 4 ½ points. Because me two tubes were shipped inside each other, me hearties, I could have run into a real problem. Well, blow me down! Yes, thar be a parts picture that shows two tubes, but I'm sure like many builders, I just dug right into it. Begad! Begad! Perhaps t' note in step 7 should be expanded t' say, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, "if t' 18mm tube is in t' 19mm tube, separate them now". Begad! Begad! I'm bein' hypercritical here!

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Art Applewhite recommends an A8-3, me hearties, me hearties, B4-2, me bucko, me bucko, B6-2, B6-4, C6-3 or C6-5 for flyin' t' 18mm Cone UFO. Well, blow me down! T' motors are t' be friction fit into t' motor mount and flush with t' thrust ring. Ahoy! T' rocket is expected t' weigh 1 ounce. Blimey! Ya scallywag! My rocket weighed 0.9 ounces.

Flight preparation includes slidin' t' 18mm motor mount into t' 19mm nose cone tube. Blimey! Begad! Then pushin' t' shockcord into t' rocket, me hearties, me hearties, opposite side o' t' launch rod holes, before pushin' t' bottom flush with t' cone tube.

I have flow t' 18mm version 3 times in me front yard. Yes, this is a nice feature o' these UFO rockets. Begad! They can be front (or back) yard rockets since they get very little altitude. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! I flew mine on an A8-3, shiver me timbers, then a B6-4, me bucko, and then an A8-3 again.

All t' flights were t' stable. They all went straight up, inverted t' start descent and then, based on t' delay, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, popped t' ejection charge. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' A8-3 needs t' be an A8-1 if you were t' eject at apogee. Also, since you get maybe 50 feet o' altitude on t' A8, matey, t' ejection charge can be quite loud. Avast! It startled me wife on t' first one!

T' B6-4 could stand a 2 or 3 second delay t' eject at apogee.

My third flight (A8-3) kicked t' motor out at ejection with some force. Begad! Be sure it is in tight. Ahoy! Since t' ejection volume is so little, me hearties, it has a lot o' pressure, matey, me hearties, and can make that motor a hot, me bucko, flyin' projectile.

All three flights also demonstrated t' success o' t' tumble recovery system. Ahoy! I even caught a picture o' it falling!

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, me hearties, I would rate this rocket 5 points. Flights are low and slow. Aye aye! Makes it a good demo rocket. Aye aye! Aye aye! You don't need wadding. Overall, shiver me timbers, me hearties, a unique lookin' and fun flyin' rocket.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 5 points. Other than me hypercritical comments, me hearties, I see this as a "perfect" rocket for its price, me hearties, instructions, shiver me timbers, matey, assembly and flight characteristics. Avast! Begad! I may have t' go purchase a 29mm one for some fun with EconoJets!