Scratch U.F.P.O. (Unidentified Flying Paper Object) Original Design / Scratch Built

Scratch - U.F.P.O. (Unidentified Flying Paper Object) {Scratch}

Contributed by Joe Policy

Manufacturer: Scratch
(Contributed - by Joe Policy - 11/20/05) (Scratch) UFPO

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. Arrr! I traced both t' outside o' t' CD as well as the spindle hole in t' center. Arrr! Arrr! After cuttin' out t' both circles, me hearties, I slit the circle from t' edge t' t' center hole. I then made a cone by overlappin' the cut edges by 1". Avast! I used a hole punch t' make a small hole for t' launch rod t' pass through. Avast, me proud beauty! I then cut out another circle that be 3.75" wide with a 14mm hole in t' center. Aye aye! This part will attach under t' cone t' give it support. Aye aye! Another small hole be punched for t' launch rod.

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

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

(Scratch) UFPO Once t' fin assembly had dried, I mounted them t' t' upper assembly. Ahoy! T' square formed in the middle o' t' fin assembly was a perfect fit over t' motor mount. Aye aye! 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. Blimey! Ahoy! Nay my favorite color combination, but they were t' only colors that I had.

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

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

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

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

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