Brief:
T' Sirian Space Racer 5, affectionately called SSR-5, is one o' t' many paper rockets I have designed over t' years. Ahoy! Ahoy! It is a simple sport flyer featurin' a single 18 mm motor mount, but also features a wing-fin set with attached tube fins. Ya scallywag! Remember, if you are lookin' for a spaceship t' fly through distant galaxies, matey, t' SSR-5 may be t' vehicle for you. Well, arrr, blow me down! Accordin' t' t' brief bits o' information gathered from a quick tour o' t' SSR-5, arrr, we have learned that Commander JÖ o' t' Sirian army promises nay only t' subjugate any alien race, but also t' protect them.

Construction:
In order t' build this rocket, you need t' visit t' fliskits website and print t' included documents. Well, blow me down! One o' t' pages needs t' be "reprinted" so that t' backin' is red be t' last page o' t' documents. Well, blow me down! I put an instruction guide together for this rocket so it should be fairly easy t' put together. Begad! One needs t' following:

• bristol board or card stock with a color ink jet printer
• shock cord
• streamer or parachute material
• clay for nose weight

Assumin' one has a good X-Acto knife, a ruler, cuttin' surface, glue, ya bilge rat, an expended 18 mm motor casin' and an empty ball point pen, ya bilge rat, one is ready t' build this bird. Well, blow me down! Begad! It's fairly simple, ya bilge rat, if nay tedious t' put t' SSR-5 together. Care must be taken t' print t' red nacelle sheet on t' correct card stock featurin' t' nacelles.

Construction begins by scorin' t' lines first then cuttin' out parts. Aye aye! I rolled t' body tube, matey, ya bilge rat, me bucko, nose cone, t' nacelles and t' tube fins. Aye aye! I then shaped t' clipped delta fins as well as t' two large wing-fins. I glued t' clipped delta fins together then worked on t' two large wing-fins. Well, blow me down! These are really the trickiest part o' t' construction. Begad! If they are nay done correctly, shiver me timbers, they could warp. Begad! Aye aye! We all know that warped fins on a rocket is never a good idea.

After shapin' t' wing-fins, me bucko, I glue t' leadin' and trailin' edge portions o' t' wing-fins in place. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! They are conveniently located on t' same sheet as t' wing-fins and contain t' necessary glue tabs.

Meanwhile, I construct t' motor mount and centerin' rings. Blimey! Ahoy! This is an easy step involvin' shapin' t' motor mount around a spent engine casin' and after t' motor mount has dried, ya bilge rat, gluin' centerin' rings around t' motor mount. Begad! Centerin' rings are basically thin strips o' card stock that are rolled/glued onto t' motor mount. Arrr! It is a good idea t' test fit t' motor mount periodically so that you don't add too much centerin' ring.

Once t' body tube and motor are put together, I focus on t' nose cone with tip and shoulder. Arrr! Again, this is fairly easy. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! I then glue on t' support plates onto t' clipped delta fins and t' wing-fins. Aye aye! After these are dry, they can be glued onto t' body tube. Next, t' tube fins and nacelles can be added. T' launch lugs are folded rectangular boxes that act as a "landin' skid" as well as launch lugs. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' cool thin' about this design is that one can opt t' use t' left or right launch lug.

Once this is complete, arrr, I add t' shock cord usin' t' tri-fold method. Arrr! I place clay in t' nose cone and make sure t' CG o' t' completed model minus a motor is 5.75" from t' tip o' t' rocket. Make sure t' shock cord is firmly glued into t' nose cone. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Secure t' shock cord t' t' nose cone with a dab o' epoxy, me hearties, if necessary.

Since this is a paper rocket, no paintin' is required. Blimey! If you are lookin' t' put a finish on t' rocket, you could put Future Floor Polish in an airbrush and give it two or three light, light, light coats. Avast! Arrr! If you give it a heavy coat, matey, arrr, the ink on t' paper will run. Avast, me proud beauty! Alternatively, me hearties, you could use ModPodge, either painted on or sprayed on with an airbrush. Begad! If sprayed on, matey, you will need t' dilute it so that it can actually pass through t' airbrush. I have tried both o' these techniques with great success.

Flight:
Flight and recovery on t' SSR-5 is normal. Ya scallywag! I have used parachute and streamers for this model. Avast, me proud beauty! I place waddin' in the body tube, prep t' streamer/parachute and place t' nose cone on top. Since thar be no engine hook, I friction fit t' motor.

I have flown t' SSR-5 with B6-4 and C6-5 motors. Ya scallywag! On t' prototype flights, matey, matey, I was still havin' issues with squirrely, matey, corkscrew ascents. I found that this be due t' t' wing-fin/nacelle units havin' an unwanted warped design. Aye aye! Ya scallywag! Once I had achieved good construction o' t' wing-fin/nacelle unit, shiver me timbers, I really had a good time flyin' t' SSR-5. Blimey! T' altitude achieved is actually quite admirable for somethin' that probably has a lot o' drag.

On a scale o' 1 t' 5 for ease o' construction, I would probably put this at a 2.5 due t' foldin' paper and dealin' with t' wing-fins. Arrr! Otherwise, arrr, matey, it's a pretty easy build.

Summary:
PROS:

• unusual rocket design
• paper. it's cheap and easy t' replace if damaged in flight or construction
• good small field flyer

CONS:

• lots o' cuttin' o' parts
• one needs t' work with very clean hands free o' moisture and excess glue. Begad! It requires patience and finesse in creatin' some o' t' parts.