I be a little surprised t' see t' plastic saucer top was warped. Ahoy! Avast! It shouldn’t affect flight characteristics. Ahoy! T' inside o' t' saucer top reads (Copyright) 1998 TOY BIZ, INC. and MADE IN MEXICO. Begad! This “kit” only includes t' top o' t' saucer. Well, blow me down! T' smooth bottom half with integrated fins and antenna mounts in nay included (or necessary) for this saucer version.

I cleaned off t' saucer o' any moldin' release agents with light soapy water and a paper towel. Begad! Blimey! I wanted t' be sure that later on that t' self adhesive “decals” would stick well.

T' launch lug was molded white plastic, thick and contoured t' fit against t' BT-20 sized motor mount tube. Aye aye! Blimey! I knew I had seen a lug like this before. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I put it next t' me old MPC Nike Patriot, arrr, ya bilge rat, it’s t' same style molded lug that Harry Stine designed for MPC thirty years ago.

T' fins were laser cut from thick black fiberboard stock. Avast! I had t' wipe off t' burnt edges with a paper towel. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! There was black ash marks from t' fins on t' yellow motor mount tube. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! There are no wire landin' leg “antennas”.

T' instructions were printed in black and white on one side o' an 8 1/2" x 11' sheet. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Photo illustrations accompanied t' directions.

• Step 1: You glue t' thick plastic launch lug t' t' inside o' t' saucer top. Aye aye! It lines up with t' molded hole in t' top o' t' saucer. Blimey! I sanded t' ends o' t' lug t' shipshape up t' moldin' flash. Ya scallywag! Arrr! T' lug’s formed side contour doesn’t quite match t' diameter o' t' molded motor mount housing. Aye aye! Avast! It be made for a MPC body tube, ya bilge rat, approx. Avast! Avast! 1 3/8" diameter.
• Step 2: I decided t' replace t' supplied yellow motor mount tube with a thicker BT-20 tube. Arrr! Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! I felt t' Quest motor mount tubin' was too thin. Aye aye! Blimey! I glued t' blue thrust rin' in t' replacement tube.
• Step 3: T' instructions say t' use plastic cement t' glue t' motor mount tube into t' saucer. I used thick (slower dry) super glue. I ran a bead o' t' thick CA around t' top thrust rin' and another rin' around t' upper body. Begad! When I slid t' motor tube into place, ya bilge rat, t' thick glue helped fill in t' slight gap betwixt t' plastic top “tube” and t' BT-20 replacement.
• Step 4: T' model is a simpler take on t' older all plastic design. T' root ends o' t' Fiber Fins attach t' t' cardboard motor mount tube with wood glue. Avast! Avast! Instead o' wood glue, I set t' fins in place, me bucko, lined them up, shiver me timbers, then ran a line o' thin super glue down t' root edge. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' other end o' t' fins have a tab that fits into cutout circles in t' saucer top. Avast! I touched t' tab/circle contact points with super glue. Arrr! There is no plastic fins and t' plastic tabs won’t be breakin' off t' saucer top like t' original version. Aye aye! T' fins were a great design, matey, ya bilge rat, adaptin' well t' t' existin' saucer top. Ahoy! Well, arrr, blow me down! T' saucer stands on t' fins and on it’s own when built.
  No engine hook. Begad! Also missin' are t' wire landin' legs. Nay a problem. Arrr! T' saucer top is molded from a strong, shiver me timbers, flexible plastic. Begad! Landings shouldn’t be a concern. Avast! When all assembled t' saucer is very sturdy.
• Step 5: Glue t' two remainin' fins into position. Avast! That's it!

Finishing:
Go t' t' Quest website and download t' decal. Well, blow me down! You can choose from four different decals. Avast! I chose Decal Sheet 3, arrr, t' one with t' “Bewildered” Aliens. Ahoy! T' yellow Alien skin color reminded me o' t' old “Glow-In-The-Dark” toys o' t' 1960's. Bein' this model is an Odd-Ball, I went for t' most outrageous pattern.

Be sure t' spray and seal t' printed “decals” with a shot o' clear coat t' prevent smearing. Arrr! Blimey! All four o' t' decals have a suggested color for t' saucer. I was reluctant t' spray t' saucer, me hearties, I was concerned t' paint wouldn’t adhere well on t' slick surface o' t' saucer top. Avast, me proud beauty! My saucer was molded in a medium metallic grey color. Blimey! You are directed t' use a hobby knife t' cut out t' “decal” images. Begad! I cut mine with scissors. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Cuttin' out t' decals be t' most time consumin' part o' t' build. Aye aye! It took 20 minutes t' cut all 12 pieces. Aye aye! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Placement was nay a problem except for t' highest center rin' decal stickers. Aye aye! It’s a full ring, made-up o' three arc shaped pieces. Well, blow me down! I had t' place t' pieces higher than t' centerline o' t' highest plastic “cone” t' get all t' edges t' match up.

T' finished saucer looks great! Blimey! It be a fun and easy build. It was interestin' t' see t' original design improved usin' fewer parts and updated graphics. Ahoy! Blimey! T' black fins, me bucko, white engine tube, white lug and (original color plastic) grey saucer all compliment each other well.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
Quest recommends a B6-0 or C6-0 engines. Well, blow me down! Previous EMRR reviews say t' B6-0 is too underpowered for this saucer. Well, blow me down! T' original instructions (from 1998) say t' use a C6-0 engine only. Avast, me proud beauty! I will fly it with t' C6-0s that came with t' sale combo package.

I be flyin' alone today, I wanted t' get this review in quickly, our next R.O.C.K. Well, matey, blow me down! NARRRRR section launch wasn’t for another two weeks. Ahoy! I packed up me (20 year old) Estes yellow Porta-Pad launcher. Avast! This launcher had t' pre-lightnin' bolt legs. Begad! Begad! After some continuity problems, ya bilge rat, I scraped off some battery corrosion and got a light.

Prep was simple, me hearties, me hearties, friction fit t' engine with a little maskin' tape and install t' igniter. Avast, me proud beauty! There was no engine hook and o' course, ya bilge rat, no wadding.

Countdown and launch! Blimey! T' engine really had t' work t' get it airborne. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! It started arcin' over half way up. Begad! Blimey! This wasn’t a vertical flight, shiver me timbers, I had a slight wind t' content with. Bein' a C6-0 engine, t' propellant “wall” broke through just before it turned over. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Blimey! It landed on it’s top, ya bilge rat, 50 feet from t' launcher. Arrr! Blimey! I picked it up quickly, shiver me timbers, matey, t' lawn was a little wet and I didn’t want t' ruin t' paper stick-on decals. Avast! (Another reason t' clear coat after printing.) While I am bilge-suckin' at guessin' altitudes, arrr, arrr, it may have got t' 125 feet.

I followed up with t' (Freebie) Micro Maxx saucer. Avast, me proud beauty! T' retainin' rin' on t' plastic engine mount was a little tricky, There are tiny arrows t' show you which way t' lock t' ring. Ya scallywag! Blimey! I didn’t want t' lose t' ring, matey, me bucko, I added two small tape strips on t' rin' and engine mount tube.

As t' reviews before had said, nay much altitudem I would guess 40 feet. Still, a lot o' fun. Arrr! I’m an Odd-Roc fan, me hearties, I know both saucers will be favorites.

Recovery:
I be curious t' see if thar was any burn marks at t' plastic area above t' top o' t' engine. There be none!

• Engines: When I got home, it was interestin' t' peel off t' Quest label. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! T' outer Quest color wrapper said Quest a Division o' Toy Biz, me bucko, Inc. Begad! Made in t' U.S.A. Ahoy! Blimey! Under t' peeled label, t' engine was German made and labeled: RAKETEN MOTOR. Begad! T' printin' was RED, matey, designatin' a booster engine, but t' printed power be C6-3! T' be a booster engine, thar was clearly no delay or ejection charge in t' tops o' t' fresh motors. Arrr! T' production date was 1996. Nay a big deal, just interesting. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' engines were packed in a sealed, airtight bag. Aye aye! T' engine performed well.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
Bill Stine did a great job usin' t' existin' materials t' put a fresh, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, improved spin on an existin' platform. T' model lost a point for t' lug that didn't fit t' 3/4" diameter engine tubin' contour. Begad! And t' supplied engine tube was flimsy. Aye aye! Neither original supplied parts would effect flight though. T' fiber fins were well cut and strong.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5