N.F.O. Blimey! Well, blow me down! Nate's Flying Object:

an inexpensive (< 5 bucks!) and neat saucer

by Nate Galger

T' first time I saw a rocket powered saucer, shiver me timbers, I was instantly in love. Ya scallywag! I had to make one o' me own. Well, blow me down! Begad! I believe t' saucer I saw was a kit, me hearties, ya bilge rat, me hearties, it was really cool, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Well, blow me down! I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. I decided it should look like it was crafted out o' metal, me bucko, ya bilge rat, me bucko, because that's what UFO's are made of, right? O.K. Blimey! Begad! 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. 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. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Ahoy! I got t' engine mount and hook from a friend, matey, arrr, no charge. Styrofoam ball cost $.99 t' rest o' t' stuff, I had already. If you're into buildin' rockets, ya bilge rat, You should already have most o' this stuff too. Avast! If you don't have a hot glue gun, me hearties, arrr, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Ahoy! Blimey! I used me mom's. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Arrr! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, shiver me timbers, until it was flush with t' top. Avast! Aye aye! Then I Pushed my finger through and t' un-needed foam popped out t' be thrown away. Aye aye!

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. Well, blow me down! 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. Then I traced my engine mount tube onto t' center o' this doubled up circle, me hearties, and cut the center out.

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, ya bilge rat, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. 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. Arrr! 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. Begad! Arrr! I stuck in t' launch lug. 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. Avast, me proud beauty! I flew it nevertheless. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! Countdown went good and me saucer flew wonderfully. Ahoy! It made t' distinct sound I remember from t' first saucer I had seen. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I was so happy with how mine flew, ya bilge rat, I prepped it immediately and launched it a second time. Aye aye! This has been a lot o' fun. Avast! Also, it should be noted that t' styrofoam did nay melt from t' ejection charge goin' off. Avast! Aye aye! There be a little bit o' a brown tint t' t' area around t' top of the engine, ya bilge rat, but nothin' drastic. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I guarantee I will Fly this saucer again, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, and again, and again...