N.F.O. Blimey! Nate's Flying Object:

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

T' first time I saw a rocket powered saucer, I be instantly in love. Begad! I had to make one o' me own. Arrr! Arrr! I believe t' saucer I saw be a kit, arrr, me bucko, it was really cool, me bucko, matey, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Well, me bucko, blow me down! I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! I decided it should look like it was crafted out o' metal, because that's what UFO's are made of, right? O.K. Blimey! I knew what I wanted and had an idea in me head how it was t' look, now t' make it a reality.

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. are:

• 3/32 balsa sheet
• 24mm engine mount with hook
• styrofoam ball (used for art and craft projects)
• hot glue cannon
• elmer's wood glue
• 1/8" launch lug

As I said, ya bilge rat, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, me bucko, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, I had already. If you're into buildin' rockets, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! If you don't have a hot glue gun, matey, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Ya scallywag! I used me mom's. Aye aye! My cost was $3.49 If you already have this stuff, me hearties, it won't cost you a cent! Blimey!

I started off by cuttin' the foam ball in half. Aye aye! Ahoy! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, until it was flush with t' top. Then I Pushed my finger through and t' un-needed foam popped out t' be thrown away.

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, matey, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Begad! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Begad! Blimey! After that dried, me hearties, I oozed some wood glue on one face o' a circle and laid t' other circle on top o' it makin' sure me two center lines were perpendicular. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, and cut the center out.

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Well, blow me down! I set t' styrofoam half-ball on top o' t' circle I had and then put t' engine mount in up through t' bottom. Begad! Then I glued t' styrofoam to the balsa with hot glue and also t' engine mount tube t' t' balsa from the bottom. T' final step o' t' build was t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Ya scallywag! I stuck in t' launch lug. Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Begad! Blimey!

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Cold day 47 degrees and a wind o' 10mph. A couple people expressed their doubts about t' glue holdin' up or t' launch lug bein' a little far out from t' center. I flew it nevertheless. Aye aye! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Well, blow me down! Begad! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Ya scallywag! Begad! I was so happy with how mine flew, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Ahoy! Begad! This has been a lot o' fun. Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. There be a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, me bucko, but nothin' drastic. I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, shiver me timbers, me hearties, and again, and again... Begad!