(04/01/04) T' Flyin' Spider will be me 4th Model Minutes kit (3 purchased + 1 free download). Blimey! Blimey! 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. Ahoy! Model Minutes' rockets are constructed primary with cardstock and foam board. Aye aye! 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. Accordin' t' t' legend, the Spider weaves its web nebulas too dense t' allow detection and it eats unlucky ships which get caught. Begad! Blimey! Space monster or mechanical creature? Legend or reality? Until we know for sure, steer clear o' small nebulas!"

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

Oh yes, arrr, I almost forgot. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! There is a set o' 3D glasses that you assemble t' read t' instructions. Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! T' primary feature o' t' instructions are color 3D pictures. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' instructions include a general guide for foldin' and forming paper parts. There is also a diagram showin' all o' t' parts from a top, me bucko, side and front views. Avast! Well, blow me down! This is an important addition t' t' instructions. Ya scallywag!

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

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. Begad! There are many, many parts and many o' them have "triangle teeth" with are used for foldin' over and attaching. Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! At a later point, matey, me bucko, once dry, me hearties, these are cut out usin' a hobby knife. Begad! Then t' back-side o' t' legs are cut out individually and glued onto t' other side o' t' foam board. Blimey! This is also t' case for t' Spider Pinchers.

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

T' motor tube is consistent with other Model Minutes motor tubes. Blimey! It is a card stock piece that is rolled and glued. Begad! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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, but somehow I missed installin' t' motor tube top (D1). I believe it is designed t' add protection from t' ejection charges, 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. Then six legs (three pieces) are attached t' t' bottom of the body. 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, right to t' motor tube. T' launch lug (a small section o' a drinkin' straw) is glued t' one o' these last legs.

Next, me bucko, 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. Ahoy! Blimey! T' parachute is assembled by attachin' t' shroud lines t' t' parachute with some highly adhesive silver tape. T' nose cone includes paper shrouds glued t' a piece o' foam board. Avast, me proud beauty! An eye-screw is put into t' foam board. T' parachute shroud lines are then threaded through t' eye-screw. Well, blow me down! 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. 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. Begad! There are then good instructions on how t' swin' test the rocket.

No other finishin' is required.

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

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Model Minutes recommends t' C6-3 or C5-3 motors. Avast! Blimey! Yes, me hearties, that is right, me bucko, shiver me timbers, a U.F.O.-type rocket that uses delays. Blimey! Blimey! That is because, 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. Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! I got it all ready and t' parachute packed. Aye aye! Avast! As I was 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. Blimey! I did just so. Aye aye! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! After a countdown t' Flying Spider flew. It be excellent. Blimey! Blimey! Straight up and quite high for bein' such a large U.F.O. Ahoy! Blimey! rocket. Ahoy! Begad! At apogee, t' parachute popped out. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' rocket inverted and t' parachute kind o' dangled out one side. 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), shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, removed the old motor, inserted another C6-3, me hearties, packed in 3 pieces o' wadding, me hearties, ya bilge rat, foldin' the parachute and inserted.

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

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

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, shiver me timbers, 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. Begad! I'm wonderin' if it is really needed at all? But it is paper. Begad! T' altitude gained by this rocket is impressive for its size. 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. Begad! Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! Blimey! If you want somethin' different and you want a challenge to build, arrr, me bucko, matey, then t' Flyin' Spider be t' answer in t' U.F.O.-type model rockets. Arrr! I'll give it a thumbs up, as long as you know what your in for. Aye aye! If you're happy buildin' and flyin' Art Applewhite's Saucers and find them challengin' t' build, then you will want t' avoid t' Flyin' Spider. Ya scallywag! Begad! Me, matey, matey, I'm glad I accepted t' challenge.