Here's a new twist in Art Applewhite's UFO-series o' rockets.... Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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. Ahoy! There are also 13mm, 24mm, and 29mm versions in Stars & Stripes, ya bilge rat, me bucko, Mirror Gold, Silver, matey, Yellow and Texas Special. Begad!

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

CONSTRUCTION:

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

Assembly is described in a logical order and I had no issues buildin' this rocket, except one. Avast! Arrr! Be sure you have your two motor tubes before you start. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! My 18mm tube was slid into me 19mm tube and I never realized that I needed two tubes until I got t' t' steps requirin' t' second tube. Avast! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! 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. Avast! This is then formed and glued. Avast, me proud beauty! This is actually an inner support structure verse what we think o' as traditional nose cones. Ya scallywag! Avast! A unique support method for this paper rocket. Blimey! This nose cone takes all t' ejection abuse. 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. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! T' inside is also coated with epoxy t' strengthen it. Ahoy! 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. 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. Aye aye! Usin' your hobby knife, cut out t' patterns. Arrr! Cut out t' centers t' make t' motor mount holes and t' launch rod holes. 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. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Be sure t' use a new blade and take your time. Begad! 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! Blimey! T' cone body is formed usin' a glue tab. Arrr! Avast! Then t' nose cone that was initially assembled is installed into t' tip o' t' colored cone body. Aye aye! 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. Avast! T' thrust rin' is added by cuttin' t' long strip from t' cardstock, shiver me timbers, rollin' it, me hearties, and gluin' it into t' motor tube. Begad! Avast! 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. 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. I passed.

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

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

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

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

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

All t' flights were t' stable. Ahoy! They all went straight up, inverted t' start descent and then, matey, me hearties, based on t' delay, shiver me timbers, popped t' ejection charge. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, t' ejection charge can be quite loud. 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. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! Be sure it is in tight. Since t' ejection volume is so little, it has a lot o' pressure, and can make that motor a hot, arrr, shiver me timbers, me bucko, flyin' projectile.

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

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

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