Brief:
Cluster Flyin' Saucer Kit with 3 complete interchangeable motor mounts that can be changed at any time.
Construction:
Components include cardstock t' form t' top and bottom, arrr, fiberglass tape, foam backed board, 75mm core tube, matey, shiver me timbers, and motor mount tubes.
T' assembly is a departure from t' usual 3 fins and a nosecone rocket. Well, blow me down! T' included assembly instructions are straightforward and include helpful pictures. Begad! Begad! T' top, me bucko, formed from cardstock, is reinforced by usin' fiberglass tape on t' inside and a coatin' o' epoxy. I used t' recommended Devcon 2 hour epoxy from Walmart.
Finishing:
You can specify various colors for t' cardstock when you order. Arrr! Aye aye! I used no paint initially. I later refurbished t' saucer and gave it a coat o' Krylon H20 paint with good results.
Construction Rating: 5 out o' 5
Flight:
T' flyin' be t' best part. Most o' me flights have been with t' 3x24mm mount. C11s seemed t' only give only about 50 feet. Aye aye! I would nay use them. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! D12s are good. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! E9s are best with t' three second burn. Avast, me proud beauty! I used a clip whip and t' club's heavy duty launch system. I have had a lot o' success with gettin' all three motors t' light and a few failures. Aye aye! When one motor lit, matey, t' saucer just cleared t' rod and did a few back flips before landin' six feet from t' pad. Begad! Avast! Two motors lit and t' saucer did a long arc, ya bilge rat, me hearties, but nothin' too dramatic. Avast! You can use BP -0 motors, ya bilge rat, but I have had success with t' short delays. Avast, me proud beauty! T' ejection charges from BP motors are a nice effect on t' way down. Avast, me proud beauty! Recently, I used t' 29mm mount with a F25 and t' 38mm mount with a H73. Aye aye! T' H73 is very impressive with t' black smoke.



Recovery:
A great feature about Art Applewhite saucers is no recovery device required. Begad! Blimey! Accordin' t' Art's web site t' decent rate is betwixt 23 and 32 feet per second. Aye aye! Blimey! I have had no damage except one small din' in t' top that be repairable. Arrr! Blimey! There is never a long walk, me bucko, I don't know how you could lose this rocket.
Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5
Summary:
T' pro t' this rocket is minimal prep time and an attention gettin' flight, particularly on three E9s. Blimey! Likewise, t' interchangeable mounts are a plus allowin' BP and AP flights with at least twenty five different motor types. Ahoy! If t' winds or low clouds have fliers holdin' off flights, shiver me timbers, you can brin' out t' Cluster Saucer and have some fun.
Overall Rating: 5 out o' 5
BM (January 8, 2006)