Brief:
29mm Pyramid saucer type

Construction:

• 3 - Rectangle foam-backed boards
• 1 - Triangular foam-backed board
• 1 - 29mm MMT
• 1 - 3-page instructions

This new kit from Art Applewhite Rockets is definitely one of the more unusual designs that Art has designed. The package came much faster than I expected via Priority mail. It arrived in perfect condition. The kits contents were in a heavy plastic sealed bag. The box had that air-bag packing stuff on each end.

The instructions are very detailed. There is only five pieces in the kit, but there are 34 steps in the instruction sheets. The assembly was somewhat more difficult than some of the other kits, only because of having to cut the foam-boards lengthwise at a 45 degree angle. By the last cut, you'll become a pro. The instructions say to use a fresh blade in your X-Acto knife. This is a necessity because the foam between the boards will collapse with a dull blade. The foam board was just barely large enough to fit the pattern you use to cut the three sides. As a result, the curved edges needed to be shaped to eliminate a flat spot on each side. Once the 45's were cut and trued up, assembly went quickly. The longest time to build the kit was waiting for the glue to dry. The kit took less than an hour to build.

Finishing:
Once sanded, I coated the exposed foam surfaces with glue. Its first launch was to be in a snow covered field, so the white 'camouflage' had to go. I chose to paint the bottom surface flat black to hide any exhaust damage. The outer surfaces were painted yellow so the stickers would show up well.

The difficulty in painting any foam product is that paint will dissolve the foam. As the instructions spell out, a thin layer of glue on all the exposed foam surfaces appears to seal them well enough to paint. This kit didn't come with any decals or stickers, so I found a few lying around to spruce it up. These were from the DC Gemini I used in one of my DESCON entries.

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Flight:
One of the recommended motors is an Ellis Mountain G35, and I just happen to have one in my box. This is just the kit that this long burn motor is made for. As with all kits from Art Applewhite, this thing roared off the pad and slowly ascended up. This kit is different than other saucer kits because the offset design makes it spin as it ascends. The flight was spectacular. It was spinning so fast I couldn't really see it spinning. It flipped over and began to descend. It fell much slower than I expected and was spinning all the way down.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
This kit is unusual, the flights are dramatic and you can fly big motors on small fields. The instructions are clear, concise and detailed. No fleet should be without one of Arts kits!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Brief:
I received this kit as a prize for the Roam the Site contest. As a recent BAR, I found this kit - this genre, more correctly - very intriguing. There was nothing like it when I was first building rockets in the late 70's. The Simitar family of kits are pyramid shaped saucers using engines ranging from 13mm up to 29mm.

Construction:
3 sides, 1 bottom plate, and a engine tube. That's it. How hard could it be? Famous last words...

Well? How hard can it be? Depends on how well you want everything to fit. If you've ever heard about the simplest things being the most difficult,...

Objectively, the instructions are great, taking you through the construction step by step. There aren't a lot of pieces, so it can come together pretty quick.

But if you want all the seams to line up juuust right, you've got to get those straight cuts realllly straight. Them 45 degree angles neeeed to be 45, not 43, and don't even think about 46.

Ok, I exaggerate... a little.

The instructions do say to have a fresh blade for your knife. Do yourself a favor - buy a 5 pack. 1 blade for each piece. I'd almost go as far as to say try using a fresh blade for each cut. It seemed like every 3-4 cuts I was crushing the foam. Most likely it was because I wasn't taking as much time as I should. I probably had all the pieces cut and fitted inside 2 hours.

Finishing:
Finishing is an absolute nightmare. There is so much empty canvas to work with that I just have way too many ideas on how to complete it!

A bit of white glue to all the exposed foam edges is necessary sealant prior to painting, but beyond that, the skies the limit.

Mine? Still unpainted. Flew naked on it's first flight: I was hoping to get inspiration. Didn't work. Even more ideas now than before, 'cause now I want to take advantage of that cool super spinning flight.

Construction Rating: 4 out of 5

Flight:
That's right: suuuper cool spinning flight. Spins like a top. Spins faster than some tops I've seen. Put some sequenced photos on it, and you could have one of those animated gif movie things. How cool is that?

And it's quick to get on the pad, too. Yank the ejection charge, shove the engine in, and you're good to go. Done. It'll take you longer to line up the launch rod through the guide holes.

First flight theory says smaller motors to keep it lower and put less stress during the "shake-out" flight. Nah... Aerotech G76 Mojave Green. Love the green flame, and since the Scimitar only goes to at best 400' on a G76, I get to enjoy every last bit of the burn instead of reaching for the binoculars and searching the sky for a hint of chute.

Recovery:
I've heard/read that it's supposed to spin on the way down as well. Mine kinda flopped around like a fish. Wasn't quite what I was expecting. May have to do with my construction - as I said, I went rather quickly, so my edges may not line up as well as they should.

Regardless, spinning down or tumbling down, it's a nice easy recovery close to the pad.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
Get the idea that I really like this kit? I do. It may not be for everyone. It's not a speed/altitude champ, but it's got plenty of style points all it's own. How many rockets do you have that can launch at the neighborhood softball field? How many of those can launch on a G while still expecting to recover it on the field? Not many?.. thought so.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5