Art Applewhite Rockets Stealth 13mm (Plan)

Art Applewhite Rockets - Stealth 13mm {Plan}

Contributed by John Lee

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Manufacturer: Art Applewhite Rockets
Art Applewhite 13mm Stealth

Brief:
T' 13mm Stealth is a paper rocket based upon Art Applewhite's Qubit design. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! It is a free rocket and all that is needed is t' print t' design available from his website. Blimey! Begad! T' basic stealth design is found here,but I used the Black Stealth variant. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' only difference is that the black version is "pre-blackened" so it will print out with t' finish. T' rocket is designed t' use plugged 13mm motors and recover by flippin' over at apogee and usin' aerobrake recovery.

Construction:
T' component is really simple. It consists o' printin' out t' PDF file on a piece o' 8.5" x 11" cardstock. Well, blow me down! T' instruction are printed on t' same page. Avast! Well, me bucko, blow me down! Other than that, you need some white glue, ya bilge rat, a razor knife and a straightedge. Ya scallywag! T' build is very simple.

T' first step is t' cut out t' indicated holes for t' launch lug. Avast! These are small enough that they can be cut without t' use o' a straightedge by usin' an X-Acto.

T' second step is t' cut out t' motor mount. It is best cut out by runnin' an X-Acto along a steel straightedge to keep t' lines straight. Aye aye! Arrr! It is then folded along t' dashed lines and t' tab is used t' glue it into a triangular prism. Well, blow me down! T' motor mount is then set aside t' form t' body.

Art Applewhite 13mm Stealth T' body is cut out o' t' same sheet usin' t' same method. Ahoy! Well, shiver me timbers, blow me down! Care needs t' be taken that only solid lines are cut--dashed lines are for folding. Avast! Well, blow me down! When t' body is cut out (tedious), t' lines are pre-folded by creasin' along t' straightedge. T' three "square" pieces are then folded t' make a corner and t' shape is held by t' use o' a glue tab. Aye aye! T' remainder is folded into t' interior t' add strength and form an aft bulkhead. All is glued in place and t' rocket is almost complete.

T' final stage is t' insert t' motor mount through t' aft bulkhead and glue it in place. Avast, me proud beauty! With that, construction is done.

PROs: Free, simple, matey, and takes only 30 minutes t' build.

CONs: T' trailin' edges o' t' stealth design are tedious t' cut out. Arrr! Arrr! Several places in t' instruction refer to the rocket as t' "Qubit", t' design from which this one is derived. Avast! Aye aye! (That may confuse some who wonder what a Qubit is).

Art Applewhite 13mm Stealth

I suppose it could also be painted but that would add a lot o' weight. T' black version is pre-finished. It's black like a military stealth vehicle. Aye aye! Begad! It looked fine but I did nay like t' white from the fold lines or from t' edges. Blimey! That was easily fixed by applyin' a black magic marker. Ahoy! Begad! My Stealth was now completely stealthed.

PROs: Simple

CONs: White is just boring

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight and Recovery:
I launched this at a club event that was almost over for t' day. I had 2 plugged motors left so I only got t' make one flight with this rocket since I wanted t' launch another one as well. Begad! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! I inserted t' A10-PT and off she went. Aye aye! Blimey! It was an impressive flight as t' rocket spun all t' way up, inverted, me bucko, me hearties, and spun gently down. It spun more than t' Qubit but less than t' Scimitar.

PROs: impressive flight

CONs: Only one suitable motor

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely simple, matey, free, me hearties, and different from all t' FNCs

CONs: None

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

Other Reviews
  • Art Applewhite Rockets Stealth 13mm (Plan) By John Lee (August 29, 2007)

    Brief: This is a free-to-download 13mm cardstock version of Art Applewhite's Stealth rockets available for download at Art's website . I received my 13mm Stealth from Art as a free gift alongside a 24mm Delta saucer. Construction: The rocket is made from one piece of cardstock which has the instructions along with the pattern for the rocket and motor mount printed on it. ...

Flights

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