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

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Aye aye! 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. Begad! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, arrr, and cut the center out. Ahoy! Ya scallywag!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Well, blow me down! I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. I stuck in t' launch lug. Ahoy! Ahoy! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Well, blow me down!

I used a C11-5 for me first flight. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Begad! I flew it nevertheless. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Begad! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Blimey! Ahoy! 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. Ya scallywag! Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. Aye aye! Well, arrr, blow me down! There was a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, matey, but nothin' drastic. I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, and again, and again...