Brief:
Won this Art Applewhite saucer kit as part o' t' 2009 EMRR Rocket Video Contest. Well, blow me down! www.artapplewhite.com offers numerous cool oddrocs in various styles (saucers, pyramids, monocopters, hourglass/spools, ya bilge rat, arrr, etc) and sizes (i.e. 4" t' 18" diameter saucers). Blimey! Arrr! I had been thinkin' about scratch buildin' a saucer for sometime, and am glad I got hold o' this kit first. Aye aye! T' finished kit is as strong as anythin' I would have scratch built and much more light weight.

Construction:
Parts provided by kit:

• Card stock for top and core assembly
• One thick 10.25” plastic picnic plate for t' bottom
• One thick walled 29mm motor tube
• One 3/16” launch lug
• 3” x 6” x 3/32” basswood fin stock
• 4 pages cardstock printed with patterns ready for cut out
• 6 pages o' instructions
• 1 plate cuttin' guide

Tools and materials required:

• Scissors and/or utility/exacto knife
• Elmers white glue is recommended (I used Titebond II wood glue)
• Devcon 2 ton Epoxy or clear, arrr, matey, 30 minute epoxy
• Clear enamel is recommended
• 150 grit sandpaper

T' top half and core are constructed usin' cardstock and white glue (I used wood glue). Ya scallywag! As mentioned in a previous review, arrr, plates and bowls are used t' keep things centered up and t' apply uniform pressure when gluin' the core t' t' top half. Ahoy! Simple, easily executed technique that I would have nay thought o' myself. Arrr! Up t' this point everythin' was constructed out o' card stock and seemed fairly flimsy.

After usin' t' plate cuttin' guide t' cut out t' core hole from t' plastic picnic plate, t' plastic picnic plate is placed over/around t' core and glued together at t' core. Arrr! At this point t' build was gettin' more sturdy. Ahoy!

A fin can is created by cuttin' fins from t' basswood, and gluin' t' t' provided motor mount. Well, blow me down! I glued the provided 3/16” launch lug t' t' fin can as instructed. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I also added a 1/4” launch lug t' t' fin can, me hearties, as I prefer t' launch from a wider diameter rod. Ya scallywag! T' fin can is then glued into t' core. Begad! Arrr!

At this point, me bucko, t' kit was complete except for finishing. Blimey! With t' addition o' t' fin can, t' kit was surprisingly strong t' me. Ya scallywag! I have no doubt, t' kit will hold up t' any g motors and likely many larger motors.

Finishing:
T' original flyin' saucer kits are available in fluorescent green, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange, white, smiley, and hot pink. Ya scallywag! I ordered t' white figurin' i would paint it a mixture o' colors. In t' end i decided t' paint it silver and apply silver monokote on t' top portion o' t' rocket.

My final weight came in at 2.5 oz, me hearties, instead o' t' manufactured listed 1.5 oz. I think t' extra ounce was due to t' addition o' monokote, me bucko, t' extra launch lug, and overapplication o' epoxy. Ahoy!

Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5

Flight:
For t' initial launch, I loaded up an Aerotech G64W-4. Avast! Aye aye! T' instructions describe usin' friction fit for motor retention. Avast! Ya scallywag! In lieu o' friction fit, I opted t' loop 20 gauge steel write around t' nozzle o' t' motor and through the provided 3/16” launch lug. Blimey! T' saucer be then placed on a 1/4” rod. Aye aye! Launch winds were 10 mph.

Everyone at t' launch was surprised by how smartly t' saucer leapt off t' pad, how high t' saucer went, shiver me timbers, and how straight t' saucer flew. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' saucer quit ascendin' almost immediately upon motor burnout.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bguff/sets/72157622785756553/

http://www.youtube.com/user/bguffer#p/u/1/CTGjvCq_VQo

http://www.youtube.com/user/bguffer#p/u/0/Milflcco0fU

Recovery:
After reachin' apogee, t' saucer turned over and started flipping/flutterin' toward t' ground. Aye aye! I'm nay certain flippin' is normal behavior o' saucer recovery. Well, blow me down! If not, I suspect t' flippin' had somethin' t' do with t' extra weight I added durin' construction. Blimey! Regardless, ya bilge rat, me bucko, me hearties, t' saucer descended slowly and safely, and everythin' be recovered intact ready t' fly again.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
If you are lookin' t' build a saucer, me bucko, definitely consider checkin' out www.artapplerockets.com. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This kit produces a great saucer, and definitely teaches t' builder that light weight materials can be used t' create very strong rockets.

Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5