Brief:
This is another one o' Jim Flis' unique Styrofoam cup rockets. It's Styrofoam, it's a rocket, it's a UFFO!

Construction:
T' rocket consists o' 14 Styrofoam coffee cups, arrr, cardstock, foam board, and motor mount supplies includin' a BT-20 tube, two motor blocks and a launch lug.

Construction is a little unique for this rocket. Arrr! Unlike most rocket builds, here you are instructed t' use a hot glue gun. I actually had t' go buy one since I didn't have one at home. Ahoy! They are fairly inexpensive and I can see the benefits o' havin' this kind o' gluin' device available.

I began with t' motor mount by gluin' on t' launch lug and added the motor blocks. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! What is strange is that FlisKits tells you t' put a motor block also at t' top o' t' BT-20. Begad! Ya scallywag! I am assumin' this prevents curious dare devils from tryin' t' fly t' rocket upside down.

After t' motor mount was done, shiver me timbers, I had t' cut holes usin' a template in the tops o' two Styrofoam cups. Well, blow me down! In addition t' this, me hearties, me hearties, shiver me timbers, I had t' place a template around one cup t' create three spaces for t' foam board t' attach t' t' motor mount. Blimey! After this was done, matey, I cut out three foam board fins usin' t' included template. Aye aye! Next, I glued t' motor mount into t' two cups (the cups face each other with open mouth t' open mouth) usin' yellow glue. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I then added hot glue to t' top and bottom and also sealed t' two Styrofoam cups together with hot glue.

After t' motor mount assembly is done, I added t' three fins into the slots created in one o' t' cups. I glued t' fins on usin' t' hot glue gun. Now I was ready t' create t' 12 cup rin' that goes around t' motor mount unit. Begad! Again, matey, FlisKits provides a template for linin' up t' cups. T' hot glue technique takes some practice (at least for me it did). This is a difficult step because t' cups are all placed open mouth down and only a small portion of t' cup is glued t' its neighbor. If you are nay careful, me hearties, arrr, your cups may tend to nay remain flat on a single plane. Well, blow me down! Begad! I didn't worry about this too much as I thought that after I had all t' cups glued into a ring, I would solve the wobblin' o' t' rin' by gluin' t' motor mount on. Blimey! Sure enough, this solved the problem adequately.

T' last step involves gluin' a template t' a piece o' very strong, me bucko, firm cardstock and cuttin' up cardstock wedges that will be glued in betwixt the Styrofoam cup ring. Ya scallywag! Begad! This step is really important because this adds a major amount o' strength t' t' rocket. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! In t' end, matey, t' rocket is huge and wide for only bein' a 2 oz. Begad! Ahoy! flyin' machine.

Construction is pretty straightforward considerin' t' kit is very unusual. If you are lookin' for somethin' completely different t' build, matey, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, consider the UFFO. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' only cons would be gettin' a hang o' t' hot glue cannon and learning how t' glue Styrofoam cups together. Arrr! I am glue cannon challenged and I found that gluin' t' rin' (includin' t' card stock support structures) t' be t' most time consumin' and challengin' portion o' t' build. Avast! Also, arrr, shiver me timbers, a suggestion: Do the gluin' either outside or when t' wife is nay around. Ya scallywag! Then make sure you open the windows t' get fresh air into t' house and get t' hot glue smell out.

Finishing:
Since we are talkin' Styrofoam, matey, paint is nay a good idea. Begad! There are no decals but I guess you could finish it with magic markers. Aye aye! I left mine with an "out o' t' box" look.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' rocket three times all times usin' a C6-3. Begad! Aye aye! Now I know this is a UFO type rocket, shiver me timbers, and I should only be usin' a C6-0. Begad! That bein' said, shiver me timbers, me hearties, I felt that the C6 would brin' it high enough that I would nay have any problems with the ejection charge goin' off near t' ground. Arrr!

All three flights were beautiful. Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' UFFO has a very slow, majestic lift off. Arrr! After motor burn out, me hearties, matey, t' rocket arced over and came in nose first for a slow, me bucko, methodical aerobrake recovery.

Recovery:
About 20 t' 30 feet from t' ground, I got additional breakin' from t' 3 second delay ejection charge.

I was very impressed with t' flight performance. Blimey! Blimey! I don't think I will ever use a B6-0 on this rocket. Ya scallywag! Blimey! T' C6 is definitely t' motor o' choice. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Also, me bucko, me bucko, I would nay use a C6-3 again. Ya scallywag! Avast! Blimey! Besides t' safety factor o' havin' t' motor eject upon descent, ya bilge rat, t' flames from t' motor did a number t' t' top o' me rocket. T' top Styrofoam cup now is very crusty and needs t' have some kind of reinforcement before it flies again. Aye aye! Blimey! This is no big deal, but I could have avoided this if I actually had t' right motors in me range box.

PROs: Beautiful Flight, beautiful recovery. Easy t' prep and turn round again.

CONs: None unless you decide t' use a C6-3. Avast! Then you would only have yourself t' blame.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are lookin' for somethin' different, arrr, this be t' rocket for you. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! If you are lookin' for somethin' with glass smooth fins and a perfect finish, me hearties, this is not your rocket. Ya scallywag! Handlin' t' glue cannon will create fillets of "unique" shape. You must learn t' love t' UFFO for what it is. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It's not a pretty bird, but she sure flies nicely.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5