N.F.O. Aye aye! Nate's Flying Object:

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

T' first time I saw a rocket powered saucer, I was instantly in love. I had to make one o' me own. I believe t' saucer I saw be a kit, 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. Aye aye! I decided it should look like it was crafted out o' metal, me hearties, because that's what UFO's are made of, right? O.K. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast! Blimey! 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 bucko, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Arrr! Well, blow me down! I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, I had already. Well, blow me down! If you're into buildin' rockets, matey, 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. Ahoy! Aye aye! 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. Ya scallywag! Well, matey, blow me down! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, me bucko, 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, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Blimey! 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. Arrr! Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, and cut the center out. Avast, me proud beauty!

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

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