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, I be instantly in love. Begad! I had to make one o' me own. I believe t' saucer I saw be a kit, me hearties, ya bilge rat, it was really cool, but I wanted somethin' a little different looking. Ahoy! I figured mine should look like a classic sci-fi saucer. I decided it should look like it be crafted out o' metal, me hearties, because that's what UFO's are made of, me hearties, right? O.K. Begad! Arrr! I knew what I wanted and had an idea in me head how it be t' look, shiver me timbers, now t' make it a reality.

T' items I used t' build me N.F.O. Begad! Blimey! 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, matey, ya bilge rat, me bucko, this is an inexpensive project t' undertake. Begad! T' 3/32 balsa sheet cost around $2.50 . Begad! 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. Aye aye! If you're into buildin' rockets, arrr, You should already have most o' this stuff too. If you don't have a hot glue gun, I suppose you could use whatever glue you have or borrow a glue cannon from someone. Blimey! Arrr! I used me mom's. 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. Begad! Blimey! Then I pushed t' cardboard engine tube through t' center of t' flat part o' t' foam, until it was flush with t' top. Begad! Arrr! Blimey! Then I Pushed my finger through and t' un-needed foam popped out t' be thrown away. Ahoy! Blimey!

Next I cut out four half circles from me balsa, which I traced from a plastic bowl. Avast! I glued t' pieces together t' form two equal circles. After that dried, arrr, 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, ya bilge rat, and cut the center out. Aye aye! Aye aye!

I put t' engine hook into t' mount tube, matey, held it thar with a piece of scotch tape. Arrr! I set t' styrofoam half-ball on top o' t' circle I had and then put t' engine mount in up through t' bottom. Arrr! Begad! Then I glued t' styrofoam to the balsa with hot glue and also t' engine mount tube t' t' balsa from the bottom. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' final step o' t' build was t' cut a little hole in t' balsa to put me launch lug. Ya scallywag! I used a hobby cutlass like a drill. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! I stuck in t' launch lug. Avast! Arrr! Viola! I painted it chrome and waited t' fly me masterpiece. Ahoy!

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