Brief:
My first paper rocket design--and it actually worked t' first time!

Construction:
All that's needed is one 8 1/2" X 11" Sheet o' 120# cardstock and white glue.

I started by takin' a CD-ROM and usin' it as a template for t' upper portion o' t' saucer. I traced both t' outside o' t' CD as well as the spindle hole in t' center. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! After cuttin' out t' both circles, me hearties, I slit the circle from t' edge t' t' center hole. Aye aye! Blimey! I then made a cone by overlappin' the cut edges by 1". Arrr! Blimey! I used a hole punch t' make a small hole for t' launch rod t' pass through. I then cut out another circle that was 3.75" wide with a 14mm hole in t' center. Avast! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! This part will attach under t' cone t' give it support. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Another small hole was punched for t' launch rod.

Next was t' motor mount. Ahoy! I rolled it around a spent 13mm motor and applied glue t' hold it together. Ya scallywag! Once dry, I assembled t' three pieces. I first glued t' motor mount so that it was centered over t' hole in t' upper cone, shiver me timbers, me hearties, me bucko, bein' careful t' keep it vertical. Once this assembly had dried, me bucko, I put glue around t' outer edge of the lower support circle, me bucko, me bucko, placed it over t' motor mount, me hearties, and pressed it into the place. Well, blow me down! You must be careful t' line up t' launch lug holes durin' assembly.

While t' main assembly be drying, I cut out t' fins. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! T' make t' fins easier t' fold in half, ya bilge rat, I lightly scored them lengthwise with me hobby cutlass. Once they were folded, me bucko, I folded them in half lengthwise, me hearties, makin' a V shape. I measured 1/2" from t' crease and cut out notches half way through the fins. Ya scallywag! Aye aye! I notched t' fins so that t' crease would be facin' upwards. Begad! When you place t' fins on top o' each other, they resemble an X. Blimey! Begad! I put glue on the seams where t' notches meet up.

Once t' fin assembly had dried, ya bilge rat, I mounted them t' t' upper assembly. Aye aye! T' square formed in the middle o' t' fin assembly be a perfect fit over t' motor mount. Begad! I added more glue in and around t' areas where t' fins touched t' upper assembly.

Finishing:
I used a yellow highlighter for t' cone and a pink one for t' fins. Well, blow me down! Nay my favorite color combination, me bucko, but they were t' only colors that I had.

Flight:
Launch day be definitely cold but fortunately, me hearties, t' winds were fairly light. There be no preppin' needed for this saucer. Arrr! My first motor selection was an A10-PT. Arrr! My little saucer really took off fast, so I never was able t' get a picture--only smoke. Begad! Ya scallywag! Flight was a bit wobbly but it really got up there.

I figured that since this rocket be so light, shiver me timbers, I could use a much smaller motor and still get respectable altitude. Second flight was on 1/2A3-4T. Still fast off t' pad, but it barely got any height. Arrr! In fact, me hearties, t' rocket landed engine up while t' trackin' smoke was still burning. Aye aye! Begad! T' pop from t' ejection charge flipped t' saucer back upright. Arrr! Aside from residue from t' ejection on the cone, thar was no damage.

Last flight was back t' t' A10-PT and it was another great one. Begad! A gust o' wind did take the rocket downrange a bit, arrr, me bucko, but with tumble recovery, you never had t' walk far!

Summary:
This is a very simple design that surprised me with its performance. Arrr! Arrr! And based on t' success o' this design, arrr, I am now encouraged t' see what else I can come up with.