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

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

To assemble t' fin can, me hearties, you mark, cut and sand t' fins. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! These are attached t' t' motor tube like any other fins. Well, blow me down! Begad! You optionally can add card stock spin tabs. Arrr! On this saucer, I elected t' leave them off (I used them on me 9" version). Begad! Well, arrr, blow me down! Finally, t' launch lug is added and t' fin unit is complete. If you are goin' t' use t' spin tabs, make sure you glue t' launch lug on t' side o' a fin that is away from t' direction o' t' tabs. Avast! As with me previous saucer, matey, I left off t' motor hook t' allow longer motors, shiver me timbers, staging, matey, 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. You have t' make sure nay t' get this on t' plastic plate as t' paint might damage it. Arrr! I guess you could paint t' fin can, shiver me timbers, but I elected t' leave it naked.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

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

Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5

Summary:
This saucer is easy and fun t' build. Begad! Arrr! It looks better, matey, me bucko, IMHO, me hearties, shiver me timbers, than t' RTF ones, 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