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, arrr, I was instantly in love. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I had to make one o' me own. Ahoy! I believe t' saucer I saw was a kit, it was really cool, me hearties, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Arrr! I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I decided it should look like it be 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, now t' make it a reality.

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Aye aye! Blimey! 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. Blimey! 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. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I used me mom's. My cost was $3.49 If you already have this stuff, shiver me timbers, 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, arrr, until it was flush with t' top. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Then I Pushed my finger through and t' un-needed foam popped out t' be thrown away. Begad! Arrr!

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, matey, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Avast, me proud beauty! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. Arrr! After that dried, matey, 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, shiver me timbers, and cut the center out. Blimey! Begad!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, 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. Blimey! Begad! 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 was t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. I used a hobby knife like a drill. Begad! Well, blow me down! I stuck in t' launch lug. Well, me bucko, blow me down! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece.

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