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, matey, I was instantly in love. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! I had to make one o' me own. Begad! Ya scallywag! I believe t' saucer I saw was a kit, matey, it be really cool, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Aye aye! 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, me hearties, shiver me timbers, right? O.K. Begad! I knew what I wanted and had an idea in me head how it was t' look, ya bilge rat, me bucko, 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, arrr, shiver me timbers, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Ahoy! Aye aye! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Ya scallywag! 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. Blimey! If you're into buildin' rockets, shiver me timbers, You should already have most o' this stuff too. If you don't have a hot glue gun, me hearties, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I used me mom's. Avast, me proud beauty! My cost be $3.49 If you already have this stuff, arrr, it won't cost you a cent!

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

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Blimey! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. After that dried, arrr, matey, me bucko, 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, and cut the center out. Begad! Ahoy!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, ya bilge rat, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Avast! 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. Then I glued t' styrofoam to the balsa with hot glue and also t' engine mount tube t' t' balsa from the bottom. Avast! 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 knife like a drill. Aye aye! Well, blow me down! I stuck in t' launch lug. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Avast!

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