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

T' Paper Chaser's fins are the only unique feature. Begad! They are constructed o' "index card-stock" and extend more than half o' t' length o' t' rocket. They are essentially long triangles once they are folded in half. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! 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, t' rocket is a 13mm body tube and nose cone, me hearties, me hearties, matey, a 10.5mm motor mount, centerin' rings and motor block. Begad! Add a launch lug, a Keelhaul®©™® shock cord and a streamer and you have T' Paper Chaser. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! (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, matey, 1/2A2-4, A2-5, and t' B2-7. I had some B2-9's and decided t' go for it. Begad! I didn't load a streamer, me hearties, 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' be nay right. Ahoy! Blimey! I had forgot t' attach a launch lug. Begad! Blimey! Arrr! Blimey! Out came an extra from me field box along with super glue. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Now it was ready. 5, ya bilge rat, 4, matey, arrr, 3 , 2 ,1 swoosh! Blimey! loop-d-loop, shiver me timbers, bam into t' ground, loop-d-loop, ya bilge rat, bang, swoosh straight up . . Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! . Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! arc, shiver me timbers, straight down, me bucko, bam . Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! . Ahoy! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! . then finally pop went t' ejection change. Blimey! Blimey! This was me second clue.

Yes, matey, after such an impressive flight, me hearties, I realized that I hadn't set up the CG. Ya scallywag! Ya scallywag! 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. Begad! Well, blow me down!

For its first flight, I must say, it was interestin' t' see t' effective CG move durin' t' exhaustion o' t' motor. If t' rocket was completely unstable it would have continued t' bounce and loop, me bucko, arrr, matey, but at one point after a bounce it shot straight up into t' air as stable as could be. Aye aye! With t' length o' t' B2 and t' burnin' o' t' powder from t' bottom up, shiver me timbers, t' CG effectively moved toward t' nose o' t' rocket allowin' it t' become stable. Interesting.

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

In summary, this little Paper Chaser was fun t' build and fly and t' plans were simple and easy t' follow. If you are lookin' for somethin' a bit different and don't have balsa, T' Paper Chaser is a good choice. Ahoy! 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.