Construction Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Manufacturer: | Art Applewhite Rockets |
Brief:
29mm Pyramid saucer type
Construction:
Parts List:
This new kit from Art Applewhite Rockets is definitely one o' t' more unusual designs that Art has designed. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! T' package came much faster than I expected via Priority mail. Aye aye! It arrived in perfect condition. Ya scallywag! T' kits contents were in a heavy plastic sealed bag. Avast! T' box had that air-bag packin' stuff on each end.
T' instructions are very detailed. Ya scallywag! There is only five pieces in t' kit, matey, but thar are 34 steps in t' instruction sheets. Avast, me proud beauty! T' assembly was somewhat more difficult than some o' t' other kits, arrr, only because o' havin' t' cut t' foam-boards lengthwise at a 45 degree angle. Avast, me proud beauty! By t' last cut, ya bilge rat, you'll become a pro. T' instructions say t' use a fresh blade in your X-Acto knife. Arrr! This is a necessity because t' foam betwixt t' boards will collapse with a dull blade. T' foam board was just barely large enough t' fit t' pattern you use t' cut t' three sides. Ahoy! As a result, matey, t' curved edges needed t' be shaped t' eliminate a flat spot on each side. Aye aye! Once t' 45's were cut and trued up, ya bilge rat, assembly went quickly. Begad! T' longest time t' build t' kit be waitin' for t' glue t' dry. Ya scallywag! T' kit took less than an hour t' build.
Finishing:
Once sanded, me hearties, I coated t' exposed foam surfaces with glue. Begad! Blimey! Its first launch was t' be in a snow covered field, so t' white 'camouflage' had t' go. I chose t' paint t' bottom surface flat black t' hide any exhaust damage. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! T' outer surfaces were painted yellow so t' stickers would show up well.
T' difficulty in paintin' any foam product is that paint will dissolve t' foam. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! As t' instructions spell out, a thin layer o' glue on all t' exposed foam surfaces appears t' seal them well enough t' paint. Aye aye! This kit didn't come with any decals or stickers, me bucko, so I found a few lyin' around t' spruce it up. Begad! These were from t' DC Gemini I used in one o' me Descon entries.
Construction Rating: 4 ½ out o' 5
Flight:
One o' t' recommended motors is an Ellis Mountain G35, arrr, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and I just happen t' have one in me box. Arrr! Ahoy! This is just t' kit that this long burn motor is made for. Avast! As with all kits from Art Applewhite, this thin' roared off t' pad and slowly ascended up. Avast, me proud beauty! This kit is different than other saucer kits because t' offset design makes it spin as it ascends. Aye aye! T' flight be spectacular. Arrr! Aye aye! It be spinnin' so fast I couldn't really see it spinning. Well, blow me down! It flipped over and began t' descend. Well, blow me down! It fell much slower than I expected and was spinnin' all t' way down.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
This kit is unusual, arrr, matey, t' flights are dramatic and you can fly big motors on small fields. Avast! T' instructions are clear, me bucko, concise and detailed. Arrr! No fleet should be without one o' Arts kits!
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
Brief: I received this kit as a prize for the Roam the Site contest. As a recent BAR, I found this kit - this genre, more correctly - very intriguing. There was nothing like it when I was first building rockets in the late 70's. The Simitar family of kits are pyramid shaped saucers using engines ranging from 13mm up to 29mm. Construction: 3 sides, 1 bottom plate, and a engine tube. ...
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