Brief:
Cluster Flyin' Saucer Kit with 3 complete interchangeable motor mounts that can be changed at any time.
Construction:
Components include cardstock t' form t' top and bottom, arrr, shiver me timbers, fiberglass tape, shiver me timbers, foam backed board, shiver me timbers, 75mm core tube, and motor mount tubes.
T' assembly is a departure from t' usual 3 fins and a nosecone rocket. Ya scallywag! T' included assembly instructions are straightforward and include helpful pictures. T' top, shiver me timbers, arrr, formed from cardstock, shiver me timbers, me bucko, is reinforced by usin' fiberglass tape on t' inside and a coatin' o' epoxy. I used t' recommended Devcon 2 hour epoxy from Walmart.
Finishing:
You can specify various colors for t' cardstock when you order. Begad! Begad! I used no paint initially. Aye aye! I later refurbished t' saucer and gave it a coat o' Krylon H20 paint with good results.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
T' flyin' be t' best part. Begad! Most o' me flights have been with t' 3x24mm mount. C11s seemed t' only give only about 50 feet. Well, blow me down! I would nay use them. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! D12s are good. Begad! Well, blow me down! E9s are best with t' three second burn. Aye aye! I used a clip whip and t' club's heavy duty launch system. Avast! I have had a lot o' success with gettin' all three motors t' light and a few failures. When one motor lit, t' saucer just cleared t' rod and did a few back flips before landin' six feet from t' pad. Avast, me proud beauty! Two motors lit and t' saucer did a long arc, matey, but nothin' too dramatic. You can use BP -0 motors, but I have had success with t' short delays. Well, blow me down! T' ejection charges from BP motors are a nice effect on t' way down. Recently, I used t' 29mm mount with a F25 and t' 38mm mount with a H73. Blimey! T' H73 is very impressive with t' black smoke.
Recovery:
A great feature about Art Applewhite saucers is no recovery device required. Accordin' t' Art's web site t' decent rate is betwixt 23 and 32 feet per second. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I have had no damage except one small din' in t' top that be repairable. Avast, me proud beauty! There is never a long walk, arrr, I don't know how you could lose this rocket.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' pro t' this rocket is minimal prep time and an attention gettin' flight, particularly on three E9s. Arrr! Likewise, t' interchangeable mounts are a plus allowin' BP and AP flights with at least twenty five different motor types. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! If t' winds or low clouds have fliers holdin' off flights, arrr, you can brin' out t' Cluster Saucer and have some fun.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
BM (January 8, 2006)