Brief:
My latest saucer-like contraption is inspired by Armadillo Aerospace's Quad lander and is named after t' groundbreakin' T' Who album from 1973. Well, blow me down! Avast! I took numerous liberties with Armadillo's concept--some t' make it more robust (in me application), some because thar be no reason t' detail it until it has successfully flown, arrr, me hearties, and some just because I "used what I got" for most components.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• Four 4" Styrofoam balls
• Dowel
• Four 18mm motor tubes (approximate length used)
• 5" x 5" square o' 1/16" plywood
• Three inch section o' 24mm tube
• Scrap foamboard
• Launch lug
• ¼" square balsa rod
• Scrap foam rubber
• Four plastic drywall nuts

I joined the foam balls usin' pieces o' dowel and 18mm tubes. Arrr! Avast! T' tubes were easily twisted into t' balls and after t' assembly be dry fit, I glued it together with Gorilla Glue. Blimey! T' alignment was all done by "eyeballing" it. Begad! Ahoy! To support t' 24mm motor tube, arrr, I glued a 5" x 5" plywood plate on the top usin' 5-minute epoxy. Well, blow me down! This plate is nay in t' Armadillo "design", me bucko, shiver me timbers, but it was an easy way t' support t' motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! I drilled the center hole on a drill press and notched a slot for t' launch rod usin' a Dremel. Blimey! Begad! A launch lug was added t' t' tube and I used scrap pieces o' foamboard to brace t' motor tube against t' foam balls. Ya scallywag! Trim (to date) includes the balsa rod, matey, squares o' foam rubber, ya bilge rat, and t' drywall nut shock absorbers. Begad! These approximate t' look o' t' Armadillo lander. Begad! More trim components, arrr, such as "plumbing" tubes, may be added later.

Finishing:
I painted t' top pieces and shock absorbers with silver acrylic paint and left the balls naked (I don't have a photo o' t' painted version.) I also smeared white glue on t' balls in t' areas that are likely t' meet hot exhaust.

Flight and Recovery:
I friction fin a D12-P and let her rip. As I expected, shiver me timbers, it be stable on t' way up and it came down a little harder than a typical "saucer" design of these dimensions. Even with t' use o' soft foam on t' top, t' balls separated from t' plywood plate. No big deal, ya bilge rat, matey, several dabs o' epoxy fixed her up.

Summary:
I love saucer-like things and this is no exception. I got several favorable comments at t' launch and one person even recognized it. Well, blow me down! It came out heavier than I expected and is likely t' pop apart on each landing. I never thought I'd say this, me bucko, but I need a material lighter than Styrofoam!