Brief:
A well known trash bag and paper plate maker has taken model rocket construction t' a whole new level o' simplicity and low cost. Arrr! This may nay be what t' folks at Pactiv Corporation had in mind when they designed their Hefty^® Serve 'n Store^® Everyday plates with interlockin' rims but once a "true" rocketeer sees them in the proper light, it becomes obvious what they are really made for and it ain't leftovers.

Construction:
There are only 2 parts t' this flyin' saucer shaped rocket: a Top and a Bottom. Both parts are made from Serve 'n Store^® Everyday 9 inch (actually they are 8.875") plates. These are available at most grocery stores in packs o' 24 for around $2.00. This works out t' less than 17 cents per rocket. Ya scallywag! Only t' Serve 'n Store^® Everyday type o' plates, as pictured above, should be used. Aye aye! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! These are t' white ones and come in two sizes, 9 inch and 10 inch. Begad! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! T' 9 inch plates fit over t' 24 ounce bowls o' t' Everyday brand. Well, blow me down! T' Everyday brand plates and bowls are thicker, stronger and more impact-resistant than t' red Party brand. They interlock so well that no glue is required t' hold t' rocket together. Ahoy! T' photos in this article are for t' 24mm motor version o' the flyin' saucer, but t' 18mm version is identical except for t' size o' the Motor Holes.

Start by trimmin' off t' rim, arrr, where it starts t' turn down, on one (and only one) o' t' plates with a pair o' scissors. Ahoy! This plate will become the Top. Aye aye! Begad! Trimmin' t' rim off creates a more aerodynamic shape in t' finished rocket.

Next mark t' hole for t' motor in the center o' t' plate usin' a spent 24mm motor and a pencil. Avast! The Hefty^® logo is in t' center o' t' plate and t' letter "f" is in t' center o' t' logo. Ya scallywag! You should be able t' use t' logo as a guide and "eyeball" it close enough. Well, blow me down! Draw around t' base o' the motor with t' pencil. Aye aye! Make sure t' base o' t' motor is nay flared out from use. Well, blow me down! Cut out t' Motor Hole in t' Top with a sharp, craft knife. Aye aye! An X-Acto^® knife with a new #11 blade works best here. Begad! Stay inside the line so that t' motor will fit tightly in t' Motor Hole. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! After you cut the Motor Hole, test fit a motor into it. Blimey! If t' Motor Hole is too large for the motor t' fit tightly then t' rocket will nay be safe t' fly. For safety's sake, discard t' plate and start over.

Place t' Top inside t' other plate and mark t' Motor Hole and Launch Rod Hole with a pencil. Arrr! Make sure t' "teeth" o' t' interlockin' rims of the two plates are offset from each other. Arrr! Blimey! This will ensure that when t' Top is flipped over and interlocked with t' Bottom t' launch rod holes will line up straight. Avast! Cut out t' Motor Hole and punch out Launch Rod Hole in the Bottom. Interlock t' Top t' t' Bottom with t' Launch Rod Holes lined up. When fully interlocked, shiver me timbers, t' two parts should hold together well enough that no glue is required. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! This is a good thin' because most glues, includin' super glue, matey, do nay form a good bond t' t' Polypropylene plastic t' plates are made of.

A more details about this rocket and variations on t' theme are available at http://www.artapplewhite.com/sns.html

Finishing:
You may wish t' paint t' completed flyin' saucer. Begad! T' solvents used in most paints will nay harm t' plates but thar are many paints that will nay stick very well t' it either. Blimey! It is always a good idea t' do a spot test first, perhaps on t' inside surface o' one o' t' plates. Sharpie^® pens will work reasonably well if you allow extra dryin' time for t' ink. Krylon makes a paint called "Fusion" specifically for plastics. Ahoy! Arrr! Blimey! This may be t' best paint for these rockets.

Flight:
Recommended motors:

24mm version: C11-0, C11-3, me hearties, ya bilge rat, D11-P, D12-0, D12-3, E9-P, ya bilge rat, and E9-4.

These rockets may fly well on Aerotech Single Use and Reloadable motors but due t' burn bans in Texas, I haven't had t' opportunity t' try them yet.

Make a thrust rin' around t' base o' t' motor with maskin' tape. It should be 1/4" wide and at least 4 complete wraps o' tape thick. Insert the motor into t' Motor Hole in t' Bottom. Arrr! Arrr! If t' fit is very tight, me bucko, then use a twistin' motion t' get t' motor into t' hole. Be careful nay t' rip the plastic around t' Motor Hole. If t' fit is nay tight, don't fly t' rocket because t' motor will nay be properly held in place and may separate from the rocket at a bad time.

Support t' rocket at least 6 inches above t' blast deflector t' prevent the bottom from bein' melted by t' hot rocket motor exhaust.

Test flights o' this rocket have been flawless so far. Begad! An 18mm version was flown twice with C6-3 motors. Begad! T' boost was straight and low. Aye aye! A 24mm version was flown once on a C11-0 motor with same results as t' previous flights. Future flights usin' more powerful (D, E and F) motors are planned once the burn ban is lifted in Kerr County, arrr, Texas.

Recovery:
T' descent be very gentle. Blimey! Each time, t' rocket was recovered with no damage.

Summary:
PROs: Low cost. Quick and easy t' construct from readily available materials and tools. Blimey! Begad! Very easy t' prepare for flight. Begad! Flys straight and lands close to the launch pad. Avast! Ya scallywag! Difficult t' lose or get stuck in trees or power lines. Ultra reliable, nearly foolproof aerobrake recovery.

CONs: Low and slow flights (this could be a pro for folk with small flying fields). Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! Requires some skill with a sharp knife.

Don't "overbuild" this rocket. Well, blow me down! It is safe "as is" and will provide many enjoyable flights at very little cost and effort.