Brief:
I have really been diggin' Art's saucers and now Art is branchin' out t' other designs. As t' name indicates, arrr, ya bilge rat, this rocket is a simple cone that flies on 24mm motors. Arrr! This seems t' be t' next logical step after t' Delta saucer design, which is sort o' a hybrid betwixt a classical saucer and a cone.

Construction:
Materials:

• Two sheets o' cardstock for t' shrouds
• One piece o' foamboard for t' nosecone base and bottom plate
• One 2.75in 24mm motor mount
• One 3in 29mm motor tube (this be a beta-test version, t' 29mm tube has been replaced with Totally Tubular T-24+, which telescopes over t' 24mm motor mount)
• A 36in thin tubular elastic shock cord

Tools and supplies required:

• Scissors
• X-Acto knife
• White glue (I used carpenters glue)
• 5-minute epoxy (brand is nay important as on t' 29mm and 38mm saucers)
• 150 grit sandpaper

T' materials and assembly techniques are all similar t' Art's saucers. Blimey! T' instructions are detailed with lots o' photos.

You start by cuttin' out t' cardstock nosecone shroud. Arrr! This is double layered and you have t' cut two launch rod holes with an X-Acto knife. T' main issue here is you have t' make sure these holes are aligned. Begad! Ahoy! Durin' assembly, I slipped t' end o' a disposable chopstick through t' holes until t' glue began t' set. Aye aye! T' base o' t' nosecone is a foamboard disc. As with t' Delta saucers, t' edge is beveled so it mates nicely with t' paper cone. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' center o' t' disc is removed t' accommodate t' upper body tube along with a launch rod slot. Ya scallywag! T' cone, disc, matey, arrr, tube, and one end o' t' shock cord are then dry fit. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! T' strengthen t' cone and add some nose weight, you next fill t' tip o' t' cone with 5-minute epoxy and mix it in-situ. Ahoy! Some is spread thinly over t' inside o' t' cone and on t' beveled edge o' t' foam disc. Begad! Begad! These components are all slipped together and set aside t' dry. (Did I mention t' launch rod holes must be aligned?)

T' bottom disc is cut, matey, beveled, and slotted just like t' bottom o' t' nose cone. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! T' center hole on this component holds t' 24mm motor mount, matey, which you glue in with white or carpenter's glue. Begad! Ahoy! I used t' plastic bag that held t' kit as a work surface, t' make sure t' tube be flush with t' bottom disc and keep stray glue off t' wife's table.

T' shell o' me saucer was on a second sheet o' cardstock that in me case be mirror gold. Begad! A small seam strip is glued onto one end o' t' shroud. Ya scallywag! Make sure you measure its position properly and have t' pointed edge inward. Ahoy! Avast! T' shroud is then wrapped onto t' other half o' t' seam strip. Avast, me proud beauty! I found this step a bit difficult, but I am all thumbs. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' epoxy-reinforced nosecone was a great help in formin' this outer shroud. Avast, me proud beauty! There are two reinforcin' strips on t' same sheet o' colored cardstock and these are glued t' t' bottom inside o' t' shell.

At this point t' nosecone is glued into t' shell. Ahoy! And as before, matey, me bucko, make sure t' launch rod slots all line up. I'd give this a yadda, yadda, yadda, matey, me hearties, but, this potentially t' biggest D'OH in t' assembly o' t' kit. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! BTW this warnin' strategically located in bold throughout t' instructions.

T' final step is attachin' t' other end o' t' shock cord t' t' bottom assembly with a 3-fold paper mount. Ya scallywag! T' shock cord is slipped betwixt t' two sections, matey, and t' bottom is slipped into t' nose cone section, which is now basically t' entire shroud.

Finishing:
No finishin' is required on t' mirror gold saucers, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but t' printed ones should have at least 2 - 3 coats o' clear enamel t' protect them from moisture. Well, blow me down! Since we are in an outdoor hobby, thar be a good chance it will drizzle on your saucer. Well, blow me down! Been thar done that.

Some observations on t' mirror gold cardstock: First, it really does look great. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It is also forgivin' with glue smudges, as you can wash it off with a moist paper towel. This is good because I got a lot o' glue around t' seam. Begad! However, me hearties, I found it harder t' form into a cone than plain cardstock, me hearties, probably because o' its stiffness.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
T' recommended motors include t' C11-3, D12-3, matey, shiver me timbers, arrr, E9-4, matey, me bucko, and any Aerotech 24mm SU or RMS. Begad! Aye aye! T' motor is held in with maskin' tape and t' rest o' t' prep is slidin' it together with t' shock cord out o' t' way o' t' launch rod holes. No waddin' is needed.

I flew me cone rocket on a D12-5 and then on an E9-4. Arrr! T' D12 flight be quick and straight in light gusty winds. Begad! Ejection be very late, ya bilge rat, but this wasn't an issue. Ya scallywag! T' E9 flight was long, high, and smoky, with some weathercocking. Well, blow me down! This is a great motor for this small cone.

Recovery:
After ejection, matey, t' saucer falls nose section first with t' motor tube end followin' behind. Begad! Aye aye! This plate danglin' behind t' cone does a good job makin' up for t' somewhat heavy epoxy-filled tip. Ahoy! There was no damage on either flight, shiver me timbers, with t' nose stickin' in t' soft, matey, moist dirt. Aye aye! Begad! I didn't have t' recommended stand-off distance (6in) from t' pad, me hearties, ya bilge rat, so me foamboard had a few small holes burned into it. Arrr! I merely filled them with blobs o' white glue. Aye aye! More importantly though, t' thin elastic cord has started t' break through and will have t' be replaced. Aye aye! T' ejection charges on t' SU motors were quite energetic for t' short tube and in both cases, ya bilge rat, t' motors were spit out. If this is a concern on your field, ya bilge rat, make sure you use plenty o' tape t' hold it in very tightly (this may also save your RMS casing).

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
This is another winner for Art. Ya scallywag! T' cone is an easy build, flies great and is a lot o' fun! I love that mirror gold paper too. Ahoy! T' one negative I found be t' thin elastic shock cord. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I will most likely replace it with a piece o' Pratt Hobbies' new Keelhaul®©™® micro braid.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5