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. I had to make one o' me own. Avast! I believe t' saucer I saw was a kit, it be really cool, matey, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. 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, me bucko, now t' make it a reality.

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. Ya scallywag! 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, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, matey, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Arrr! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Avast, me proud beauty! 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. If you're into buildin' rockets, matey, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Blimey! 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. Aye aye! I used me mom's. My cost was $3.49 If you already have this stuff, matey, ya bilge rat, it won't cost you a cent! Blimey!

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, me hearties, arrr, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Begad! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Ahoy! Aye aye! Blimey! After that dried, arrr, ya bilge rat, 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. Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, shiver me timbers, and cut the center out.

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, shiver me timbers, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. 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. Aye aye! T' final step o' t' build be t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. Begad! Aye aye! I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Avast! Begad! I stuck in t' launch lug. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece.

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