(04/01/04) T' Flyin' Spider will be me 4th Model Minutes kit (3 purchased + 1 free download). Ya scallywag! I purchased it to do a comparison article on U.F.O.'s along with t' FlisKits' Pheord X150 and an Art Applewhite's 6" Flyin' Saucer. Blimey! Model Minutes' rockets are constructed primary with cardstock and foam board. Well, blow me down! T' Flyin' Spider is no different.

T' Flyin' Spider has a story accordin' to Model Minutes: "T' reflection o' t' stars from its metallic legs has inspired many legends among t' oldest space sailors. Blimey! Begad! Accordin' t' t' legend, the Spider weaves its web nebulas too dense t' allow detection and it eats unlucky ships which get caught. Ya scallywag! Space monster or mechanical creature? Legend or reality? Until we know for sure, shiver me timbers, steer clear o' small nebulas!"

T' kit includes multiple pages o' cardstock templates for t' body, legs, and outer web. Ya scallywag! It includes t' cardstock and components for a motor mount with a retainer. Blimey! There is foam board for t' legs, matey, pinchers, me hearties, and supports. Ahoy! Avast! Also thar be a 9" plastic parachute, shock cord, ya bilge rat, and clay weight.

Oh yes, ya bilge rat, arrr, I almost forgot. Arrr! Ahoy! There is a set o' 3D glasses that you assemble t' read t' instructions. Begad! Somethin' unique t' Model Minutes kits are t' 3D pictures in t' instructions.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 7 pages of 8½ x 11" paper. Begad! Avast! T' primary feature o' t' instructions are color 3D pictures. Begad! T' instructions include a general guide for foldin' and forming paper parts. Aye aye! There is also a diagram showin' all o' t' parts from a top, ya bilge rat, side and front views. This is an important addition t' t' instructions. Well, blow me down! Blimey!

T' instructions do include many 3D pictures, however, arrr, followin' them is a bit difficult. Arrr! Ahoy! It is clear that t' instructions were translated from French t' English. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! This was nay much o' a problem with these instructions. Begad!

I used Elmer's White Glue for assembly.

Plan on spendin' over 2 hours cuttin' out parts! This be t' most intense part o' t' buildin' activity. Arrr! There are many, many parts and many o' them have "triangle teeth" with are used for foldin' over and attaching. If you're nay committed t' finishin' this rocket... don't start!

T' front-side o' t' legs are glued t' a piece o' form board. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! At a later point, ya bilge rat, me bucko, once dry, shiver me timbers, arrr, shiver me timbers, these are cut out usin' a hobby knife. Ahoy! Then t' back-side o' t' legs are cut out individually and glued onto t' other side o' t' foam board. Avast! This is also t' case for t' Spider Pinchers.

T' body o' t' Spider is assembled first. Easier said than done. Arrr! This body consists o' no less than a dozen pieces. Cut, fold, shiver me timbers, glue. Cut, me bucko, fold, me bucko, glue. Blimey! Arrr! Cut, arrr, fold, me hearties, glue.... T' most troublin' spot I had in followin' t' instructions was t' insertion o' t' t' inner body (T1). Begad! The picture provided at t' step shows it partially installed, which threw me. Well, blow me down! But as I compared other pictures, matey, ya bilge rat, includin' t' extra diagram page, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, it understood it.

T' motor tube is consistent with other Model Minutes motor tubes. Blimey! Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! It is a card stock piece that is rolled and glued. Avast! Blimey! A two prong wire is inserted and black thread is wrapped around t' motor tube to hold t' wire. It is then soaked in glue. Ahoy! Blimey! I absolutely love this set up and have bought 10 o' t' wires from Model Minutes t' use on standard kits.

T' instructions were clear, me hearties, but somehow I missed installin' t' motor tube top (D1). Begad! Blimey! I believe it is designed t' add protection from t' ejection charges, me hearties, so I will be sure t' place a piece of waddin' directly on top o' t' motor.

T' motor tube is placed into Spider body perpendicular t' it. Blimey! Then six legs (three pieces) are attached t' t' bottom of the body. Arrr! These glue onto markings on t' body and are then folded t' align with t' outer web (ring). T' outer web is made up from 3 pieces o' cardstock that are glued together t' form a ring.

T' last two legs are glued in place, shiver me timbers, right to t' motor tube. Arrr! T' launch lug (a small section o' a drinkin' straw) is glued t' one o' these last legs.

Next, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, two foam board supports are attached to the front and aft o' t' motor tube and t' t' front and read o' t' web (ring).

T' last section that is built includes the recovery system and nose cone, as it is. Blimey! T' parachute is assembled by attachin' t' shroud lines t' t' parachute with some highly adhesive silver tape. Arrr! Begad! T' nose cone includes paper shrouds glued t' a piece o' foam board. Avast! An eye-screw is put into t' foam board. Aye aye! T' parachute shroud lines are then threaded through t' eye-screw. Arrr! This assembly is attached t' t' rubber-band shock cord and then attached via a 3-fold method t' t' inside o' the body.

T' instructions final steps include balancin' and swin' testin' this rocket. Ya scallywag! T' balance t' rocket, some amount of the provided clay is attached t' t' front o' t' rocket at t' support t' web (ring) joint. Ahoy! There are then good instructions on how t' swin' test the rocket.

No other finishin' is required.

Overall, shiver me timbers, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 ½ points. Ya scallywag! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This is a tough rocket t' build and t' instructions could be enhanced t' make t' experience clearer. Avast, me proud beauty! It is nay a beginners kit and may require some experience with buildin' "paper" rockets. Ahoy! The materials fit be excellent, me bucko, me hearties, in fact, matey, extremely impressive considerin' the number o' pieces. Love t' motor mount and retainin' hook.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Model Minutes recommends t' C6-3 or C5-3 motors. Begad! Yes, that is right, ya bilge rat, a U.F.O.-type rocket that uses delays. Blimey! Arrr! That is because, shiver me timbers, as you have already noticed, it has a parachute for a recovery system.

Model Minutes indicates t' Flyin' Spider should weigh 35 grams (1.2 ounces) and that is exactly what mine weighed.

I prepped t' rocket for its first flight with a C6-3 motor and some wadding. Avast! Ahoy! When I was foldin' t' parachute and pulled on t' shock cord, it came out o' t' 3-fold attachment! I re-attached with another 3-fold mount.

T' next opportunity t' fly it came shortly afterward. I got it all ready and t' parachute packed. Aye aye! As I be puttin' it onto t' launch pad, t' launch lug fell off! Does t' "flying" Spider really want t' fly? I re-attached t' lug usin' CA.

T' third opportunity, arrr, simply required me t' insert an ignitor and place it on t' pad. Ya scallywag! I did just so. Blimey! After a countdown t' Flying Spider flew. Avast, me proud beauty! It be excellent. Aye aye! Straight up and quite high for bein' such a large U.F.O. Ahoy! rocket. Aye aye! Arrr! At apogee, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' parachute popped out. Blimey! Well, blow me down! T' rocket inverted and t' parachute kind o' dangled out one side. Arrr! I suppose helpin' t' slow it down.

To prepare for t' second flight, I pulled back t' motor hook (I am very found o' Model Minutes motor hooks), removed the old motor, me bucko, inserted another C6-3, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, packed in 3 pieces o' wadding, foldin' the parachute and inserted.

T' second flight was another success. Straight up and again, matey, I'm surprised at t' altitude when comparin' it t' my AAW Smiley, FlisKits Pheord, Estes Snitch, and Quest U.F.O.. Begad! Some o' these are 30% lighter than t' Flyin' Spider.

Well, at apogee on this second flight, arrr, me bucko, the ejection charge fired and t' 'chute was pushed out, but did nay open due to bein' slightly melted together. T' rocket inverted and fell. Begad! Upon inspection a main support came off o' t' motor mount. Aye aye! Easily fixable.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, I would rate this rocket 4 ½ points. T' complexity o' t' recovery system makes this one of the most challengin' U.F.O.-style rockets t' fly. Aye aye! Blimey! I'm wonderin' if it is really needed at all? But it is paper. T' altitude gained by this rocket is impressive for its size. Ahoy! Nay a lot o' room in thar for packin' t' parachute but it can be done.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 4 points. If you want somethin' different and you want a challenge to build, then t' Flyin' Spider be t' answer in t' U.F.O.-type model rockets. Ahoy! I'll give it a thumbs up, ya bilge rat, me bucko, as long as you know what your in for. If you're happy buildin' and flyin' Art Applewhite's Saucers and find them challengin' t' build, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, then you will want t' avoid t' Flyin' Spider. Blimey! Ahoy! Me, me hearties, I'm glad I accepted t' challenge.