On a cold day this winter, I discovered this rocket plan amongst me papers that be shipped with an order from Apogee. Aye aye! Looking through me parts I had everythin' I needed, matey, as well as some Apogee Micro Motors. Aye aye! Ahoy! So I built T' Paper Chaser.

T' Paper Chaser's fins are the only unique feature. Avast! They are constructed o' "index card-stock" and extend more than half o' t' length o' t' rocket. Avast, me proud beauty! They are essentially long triangles once they are folded in half. Well, blow me down! They are given gradual width along the progression toward t' back o' t' rocket by usin' "Aft Support Pieces" which are also cut from card-stock.

Outside o' t' fins, shiver me timbers, matey, t' rocket is a 13mm body tube and nose cone, a 10.5mm motor mount, arrr, centerin' rings and motor block. Ya scallywag! Begad! Add a launch lug, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and a streamer and you have T' Paper Chaser. Well, blow me down! Arrr! (Note: all t' parts can be purchased from Apogee and t' only variation t' me rocket was that I used a balsa nose cone.)

I didn't finish this rocket (which is a first) and set off in a rush t' get a launch or two in.

T' plans include recommended motors o' 1/42-2, matey, 1/2A2-4, A2-5, arrr, and t' B2-7. I had some B2-9's and decided t' go for it. I didn't load a streamer, shiver me timbers, simply left t' nose cone attached t' t' kelvar shock cord.

As I got me launcher all prepped and loaded t' B2 into T' Paper Chaser I received me first clue that somethin' was nay right. I had forgot t' attach a launch lug. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! Out came an extra from me field box along with super glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Now it was ready. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! 5, 4, shiver me timbers, 3 , 2 ,1 swoosh! Blimey! loop-d-loop, me hearties, bam into t' ground, loop-d-loop, me bucko, bang, arrr, swoosh straight up . Ahoy! Blimey! . Blimey! Blimey! . Begad! Blimey! arc, straight down, matey, ya bilge rat, bam . Aye aye! Blimey! Avast! Blimey! . Begad! Blimey! . Begad! Blimey! then finally pop went t' ejection change. Avast! Blimey! This be me second clue.

Yes, me bucko, shiver me timbers, after such an impressive flight, ya bilge rat, I realized that I hadn't set up the CG. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! T' Paper Chaser plans show were t' CP should be and instruct you t' set up t' CG forward o' t' CP with t' motor installed. Blimey! Blimey!

For its first flight, I must say, shiver me timbers, it be interestin' t' see t' effective CG move durin' t' exhaustion o' t' motor. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! If t' rocket be completely unstable it would have continued t' bounce and loop, but at one point after a bounce it shot straight up into t' air as stable as could be. Well, blow me down! With t' length o' t' B2 and t' burnin' o' t' powder from t' bottom up, ya bilge rat, me hearties, t' CG effectively moved toward t' nose o' t' rocket allowin' it t' become stable. Begad! Interesting.

Well, I added weight t' t' nose cone t' move t' CG up and after a few days prepared for another flight. Ahoy! Prepped again with a B2-9 and off she went. Straight (with a little oscillation) up and up and up. Avast! With 2.8 seconds o' burn time, shiver me timbers, this motor doesn't seem like it is goin' t' stop. Ya scallywag! Excellent smoke trail, but wait . Blimey! . Ya scallywag! . Arrr! no ejection. Avast! Landin' in tall grass, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, t' rocket was recovered and will fly again.

In summary, this little Paper Chaser be fun t' build and fly and t' plans were simple and easy t' follow. Begad! If you are lookin' for somethin' a bit different and don't have balsa, T' Paper Chaser is a good choice. Avast, me proud beauty! Just be sure to set up your CG and you will have a nice little flyer for Micro Motors and easily converted t' use Mini's.