Brief:
This be t' 7.25" version o' Art's saucer line. Like t' larger 9" version, matey, this saucer flies on C11-0 and D12-0 motors. Begad! Avast! T' saucer's card stock shell is pre-printed in an USAF motif. Art now offers several designs, various colors, matey, and blank versions o' his 6", 7.25", and 9" saucers.

Construction:
T' components are t' same as t' 9" version (but smaller, arrr, me hearties, o' course):

• Preprinted card stock comprises t' top and core assembly o' t' saucer.
• One 7.25" plastic picnic plate comprises t' bottom.
• One 2.75" BT-50 motor tube
• One 2.75" motor hook
• One 3/16" launch lug
• 3/32" basswood fin stock

Tools and materials required:

• Scissors
• Exacto knife
• Elmers' white glue
• Rubber cement
• Clear enamel (RUS-TOLEUM Crystal Clear or equivalent)
• Double-sided tape
• 150 grit sandpaper

Construction is identical t' t' 9" version. You first cut out t' top and core pieces and glue them together usin' t' printed tabs, similar t' any paper shroud. Aye aye! An inner rin' is attached t' t' core, and t' core is glued into t' top section. These steps use white glue, me hearties, ya bilge rat, and, o' course, t' glue must dry betwixt each step. Ahoy! Begad! Blimey! Usin' a provided template, a hole t' size o' t' paper core is cut in t' plate. Ya scallywag! T' template is supposed t' be attached temporarily with double-sided tape, but I just used clear tape. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Blimey! T' plate is t' be glued t' t' saucer assembly with rubber cement. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! When I built me 9" saucer, I substituted some old Liquid Nails. Ahoy! It had thickened some and I thought t' recommended rubber cement would work better. Begad! Well, I had bought some fresh Liquid Nails and decided t' try it again. This time it worked fine.

To assemble t' fin can, ya bilge rat, matey, you mark, matey, cut and sand t' fins. These are attached t' t' motor tube like any other fins. Arrr! Begad! You optionally can add card stock spin tabs. Arrr! On this saucer, matey, I elected t' leave them off (I used them on me 9" version). Begad! Finally, t' launch lug is added and t' fin unit is complete. Aye aye! If you are goin' t' use t' spin tabs, matey, ya bilge rat, make sure you glue t' launch lug on t' side o' a fin that is away from t' direction o' t' tabs. Aye aye! As with me previous saucer, I left off t' motor hook t' allow longer motors, me bucko, staging, etc.

T' last step is t' sand t' tip o' t' fins so that t' fin assembly slides into t' core section o' t' saucer.

Finishing:
Finishin' consists o' sprayin' t' printed top and core o' t' saucer with clear enamel. Begad! You have t' make sure nay t' get this on t' plastic plate as t' paint might damage it. I guess you could paint t' fin can, but I elected t' leave it naked.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I flew t' saucer on a D12-0. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Its boost was noticeably faster than its 9-inch cousin (no real surprise) and it really put those silly plastic RTF saucers t' shame :-). As with t' bigger saucer, ya bilge rat, arrr, t' fin unit and saucer sections did nay separate. Unlike t' bigger saucer, me bucko, however, it came down nose first.

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This saucer is easy and fun t' build. It looks better, IMHO, shiver me timbers, than t' RTF ones, me hearties, shiver me timbers, and thar are several colors/patterns t' choose from. If you like saucers, I suggest you get one o' these and go drag race a Snitch :-).

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5