Art Applewhite Rockets Flying Saucer Spyder (4")

Art Applewhite Rockets - Flying Saucer Spyder (4")

Contributed by Dick Stafford

Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets
(Contributed - by Dick Stafford)

Brief:
When I reviewed Art's 10.25", 29mm saucer, I said, arrr, "I don't know what Art is feedin' his saucers, but they just seem t' keep gettin' BIGGER". Now I am nay sure where he gets his materials. Begad! I accidentally squirted some liquid plant fertilizer on me 4" Delta saucer...and look what happened!

Rocket Pic But seriously, matey, as I mentioned in me review o' Art's new 4", 13mm Delta saucer, this kit comes with t' material for two Saucers. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey! I built t' Texas Special stock, matey, but just had t' do somethin' a little different with t' second set of parts. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! So, me bucko, me bucko, I went to Paper Empire and grabbed a set o' ‘legs' from t' modular rocket set #2.

Modifications:
I first built t' 4" saucer - please see me review o' t' Texas Special 13mm Delta Saucer (4).

I then downloaded leg6.gif file from Paper Empire t' make 3 sets o' legs. T' drawin' is scaled t' fit on a full 8 ½ x 11 page, arrr, arrr, and was a little big for this small saucer. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! So, me hearties, I scaled t' image t' a vertical height o' 5". To conserve paper, matey, shiver me timbers, I then edited out one o' t' legs on t' .gif so I could re-feed t' paper and print t' 3rd leg on t' same sheet.

T' legs consist o' one large, me bucko, multifaceted section and one smaller piece. T' latter was nay used in this application. Begad! They were easy t' form, matey, just don't forget t' score all t' fold lines, shiver me timbers, both on t' leg faces and t' glue tabs. I could have mounted t' legs either on t' bottom o' t' saucer's center plate or on t' bottom shroud, me bucko, but elected t' mount them on t' plate. When gluing the legs on, I marked their locations and scuffed up t' foam board.

Construction:
Parts required:

  • An AAW 4" delta saucer kit
  • one sheet o' cardstock

T' legs come pre-decorated and I haven't decided what t' do with t' white saucer, if anything. Begad! Maybe I'll grab a set o' magic markers, me bucko, matey, or look for Spider man decals. Begad! Ahoy! Note that you can specify any two o' t' available print when you order. I just got plain white for me second saucer.

Flight:
It started rainin' on launch day and in me haste t' keep things dry, shiver me timbers, I dinged one leg. Blimey! Begad! It be just a little floppy, so I improvised and reinforced it with a few small strips o' duct tape. It flew nicely on an A10-0, matey, with comparable performance with t' stock kit. It came down nose first, me bucko, so thar was no damage to t' legs.

Summary:
I have said this before, arrr, but one thin' I like about Art's saucers is that they provide t' opportunity for customization; and gettin' 2 saucer's in one kit just begs you t' build one stock and do somethin' different with t' other. Addin' t' legs made an interestin' variation on t' stock kit, shiver me timbers, but they are a bit flimsy. Begad! Blimey! They could be reinforced further if desired.

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