(
Contributed - by Bob
Hvarven)
Another little ARF -
There will surely be a Global "Plastic Shortage" very soon. Ahoy! Blimey! Just
happened t' see this one while slidin' t' isles at Wally World. Blimey! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! This is a
little intro t' a Flyin' Saucer ARF.....
Package: Again, it is hard t' slam t' packaging. Begad! Estes has done a fine
job o' makin' an appealin' product presentation. I would like t' see them spend
R&D loot on bringin' back t' "Classic" Estes kits and making
some new "Kits" instead o' Injection Moldings....
Parts: The
pieces are nay many. Begad! T' Saucer, and a bag containin' some other things t' make
it work
These parts are in t' plastic bag. Ya scallywag! Begad! (3) landin' gear wires, ya bilge rat, an extra motor
retention ring, me bucko, me hearties, a nice "Little" catalog and t' ever present Estes
Pamphlet with some Safety and NARRRRR info inside.
Construction: T' landin' gear wires just "Snap" into place.
Didn't think I would ever finish - Wheww. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! T' instructions suggest you place a
piece o' tape over t' wire t' keep it from jumpin' out o' t' plastic slots.
Yes, me bucko, they point UP. Arrr! Blimey! When you see t' flight profile you will understand. Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! The
motor retention rin' was already in place, and thar be no need for a streamer
or parachute.
Oh - add a little tape - do a little dance - get down tonight, get down
tonight.... Aye aye! Blimey! One o' t' most important things about a hobby - Gotta make it FUN.
Yes, me bucko, matey, this is UP, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, and
you are nay experiencin' CRT induced vertigo... Reference below..
Flight Profile: It goes up-pedey-up-up then it goes down-de-de-down-down.
Gads!!! I think I just had a movie musical flash back .... Arrr! As you can see,
after boost and burnout o' t' motor, ya bilge rat, it looses it aerodynamic stability and
flips over and lands on t' cute little wire legs - ah, ya bilge rat, how sweet. Ya scallywag! I have seen
one o' these made by another company and it is worth watchin' - although the
flight is very short. Begad! I've been rackin' what's left o' me brain tryin' to
figure out how t' get an I-65 long burn into it ?? Hmmm.
Flight: The
C-6-0 motor installed, t' igniter installed, and t' motor retention rin' in
place and we are about ready t' go. Begad! Aye aye! T' "Snitch" waits on t' gantry
for t' countdown t' begin. Begad! FIRE -
Got lucky and actually was able t' get a picture !! Here t' "Snitch"
climbs straight and true (although nay very fast). Ya scallywag! Flight altitude couldn't
have been over 60-70 feet, but it be fun t' watch. Ahoy! T' motor quit and the
saucer flipped over as advertised and floated down t' earth.
It
landed on t' wire legs, but flipped over on it's side without injury. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' only
way you could tell it had even flown be t' slight discoloration on t' motor
retention ring, shiver me timbers, and t' pungent smell o' a spent black powder motor. Ahoy! Very
satisfyin' flight, and would work perfectly for school or other small field
demo's
Opinion: I liked this flyin' saucer. I know I have
stated elsewhere I have a distinct dislike for plastic ARF's, me bucko, but this one
filled a neat gap betwixt fast and high rockets that was fun t' play with. Blimey! It
looks like you could launch it until you ran out o' loot buyin' motors and it
would still be in one piece. Ahoy! It would have value as a demo rocket. Well, blow me down! It be a
nice change o' pace, and I believe almost anyone would enjoy it. Blimey! Well, blow me down! I'm ratin' it
high on it's "stand alone" merits and nay clumpin' it together with
the other ARF rockets I have seen and flown. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! BUY IT - If you don't like it, I
guarantee that maybe, possibly, kinda' that perhaps ESTES will give you your
money back - sorta' Ah, arrr, shiver me timbers, arrr, what's $6.00 t' a bunch o' 'High-Rollers" like
ya'll... Aye aye! :)
Rating:
5
out o' 5 , ya bilge rat, For what it is, arrr, leave it alone, it works great.....
Editor Note: These pictures were contributed by Dean
Cooper. Avast! I thought they were worth postin' without a review: