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, shiver me timbers, I was instantly in love. Avast, me proud beauty! I had to make one o' me own. Ahoy! I believe t' saucer I saw be a kit, it be really cool, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Avast! I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. Aye aye! Aye aye! I decided it should look like it be crafted out o' metal, because that's what UFO's are made of, shiver me timbers, right? O.K. 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. Well, me hearties, 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, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Ahoy! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Avast, me proud beauty! Well, arrr, blow me down! I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, shiver me timbers, I had already. Arrr! If you're into buildin' rockets, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Ahoy! 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. Avast! I used me mom's. Begad! Well, blow me down! My cost be $3.49 If you already have this stuff, shiver me timbers, it won't cost you a cent!

I started off by cuttin' the foam ball in half. Avast! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, 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. Blimey! Well, arrr, blow me down!

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, matey, shiver me timbers, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Avast, me proud beauty! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. 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. Aye aye! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, me hearties, and cut the center out. Arrr!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, ya bilge rat, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Begad! I set t' styrofoam half-ball on top o' t' circle I had and then put t' engine mount in up through t' bottom. Ahoy! 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. Ahoy! Aye aye! I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Arrr! I stuck in t' launch lug. Arrr! Avast! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Aye aye!

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! 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. Avast! I flew it nevertheless. Ahoy! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Ahoy! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Avast! I was so happy with how mine flew, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. This has been a lot o' fun. Aye aye! Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. Arrr! There be a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, me hearties, but nothin' drastic. Well, blow me down! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, and again, arrr, arrr, and again... Ya scallywag!