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

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

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

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

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, me bucko, which I traced from a plastic bowl. I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Avast, me proud beauty! After that dried, 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, matey, and cut the center out. Arrr! Blimey!

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

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. 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. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Ya scallywag! Arrr! I was so happy with how mine flew, arrr, ya bilge rat, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Aye aye! 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 was a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, but nothin' drastic. Aye aye! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, arrr, matey, and again, ya bilge rat, and again... Begad!