Brief:
This is a free-to-download 13mm cardstock version of Art Applewhite's Stealth rockets available for download at Art's website. I received my 13mm Stealth from Art as a free gift alongside a 24mm Delta saucer.

Construction:
The rocket is made from one piece of cardstock which has the instructions along with the pattern for the rocket and motor mount printed on it.

Art's instructions were very easy to follow, and the rocket took me no more than twenty minutes to put together using Craftworks Tacky Craft Glue. The only tools required to aid in assembly are a steel straight edge, hobby knife and/or small scissors, and an object with a rounded end (like an old ballpoint pen) for forming creases.

First, I cut out the patterns for the rocket body and the motor mount with a small pair of scissors after which I cut out the holes for the motor mount and the launch rod on the body using a hobby knife. After forming creases with a steel straight edge and the rounded end of a headphones plug along the marked crease lines, I formed the motor mount into a triangle and glued the seams together (I brushed on a thin layer of tacky glue to ensure a fast and firm tack). I then tackled the rocket body and after forming creases along the crease lines, one half of the body was then folded back on to the other half to form the characteristic Stealth shape and the two halves then glued together. Once the glue on the body was dry, I then inserted the completed motor mount into the motor mount hole and secured it in place with a fillet of tacky glue to complete the construction.

Finishing:
No specific finishing techniques are recommended by Art and as such, I didn't bother with any.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
The only recommended motor for the 13mm Stealth is the Estes A10-PT plugged motor. Unlike the larger Stealth rockets, the top of the rocket is closed off so using an unplugged motor could well result in the ejection charge burning out the top of the rocket.

I used an A10-PT for the Stealth's maiden flight at the local football oval using the friction-fit technique with a bit of masking tape. Upon pressing the launch button, the Stealth took off surprisingly very fast in a straight line with a rapid spinning motion in flight to around 75-80 feet. Upon motor burnout, the rocket gently tumble-recovered to the ground.

Subsequent flights have essentially been repeats of the first flight and I love the way that once the rocket is retrieved after each flight, it takes no more than maybe a minute to have the rocket prepped and ready for another flight.

Recovery:
The Stealth's negligible weight and tumble-recovery (referred to by Art as 'aerobrake recovery') make for foolproof recovery close to the launching area and as previously mentioned, very quick turnaround flight times.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I simply can't think of any cons with this marvelous little rocket. It simply can't be beat for ease and quickness of construction. Its seemingly fragile and featherweight appearance is quite deceptive as the completed rocket is quite robust and will give many hours of launching pleasure for minimal cost.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Brief:
The 13mm Stealth is a paper rocket based upon Art Applewhite's Qubit design. It is a free rocket and all that is needed is to print the design available from his website. The basic stealth design is found here,but I used the Black Stealth variant. The only difference is that the black version is "pre-blackened" so it will print out with the finish. The rocket is designed to use plugged 13mm motors and recover by flipping over at apogee and using aerobrake recovery.

Construction:
The component is really simple. It consists of printing out the PDF file on a piece of 8.5" x 11" cardstock. The instruction are printed on the same page. Other than that, you need some white glue, a razor knife and a straightedge. The build is very simple.

The first step is to cut out the indicated holes for the launch lug. These are small enough that they can be cut without the use of a straightedge by using an X-Acto.

The second step is to cut out the motor mount. It is best cut out by running an X-Acto along a steel straightedge to keep the lines straight. It is then folded along the dashed lines and the tab is used to glue it into a triangular prism. The motor mount is then set aside to form the body.

The body is cut out of the same sheet using the same method. Care needs to be taken that only solid lines are cut--dashed lines are for folding. When the body is cut out (tedious), the lines are pre-folded by creasing along the straightedge. The three "square" pieces are then folded to make a corner and the shape is held by the use of a glue tab. The remainder is folded into the interior to add strength and form an aft bulkhead. All is glued in place and the rocket is almost complete.

The final stage is to insert the motor mount through the aft bulkhead and glue it in place. With that, construction is done.

PROs: Free, simple, and takes only 30 minutes to build.

CONs: The trailing edges of the stealth design are tedious to cut out. Several places in the instruction refer to the rocket as the "Qubit", the design from which this one is derived. (That may confuse some who wonder what a Qubit is).

I suppose it could also be painted but that would add a lot of weight. The black version is pre-finished. It's black like a military stealth vehicle. It looked fine but I did not like the white from the fold lines or from the edges. That was easily fixed by applying a black magic marker. My Stealth was now completely stealthed.

PROs: Simple

CONs: White is just boring

Construction Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Flight and Recovery:
I launched this at a club event that was almost over for the day. I had 2 plugged motors left so I only got to make one flight with this rocket since I wanted to launch another one as well. I inserted the A10-PT and off she went. It was an impressive flight as the rocket spun all the way up, inverted, and spun gently down. It spun more than the Qubit but less than the Scimitar.

PROs: impressive flight

CONs: Only one suitable motor

Flight Rating: 4 ½ out of 5

Summary:
PROs: Extremely simple, free, and different from all the FNCs

CONs: None

Overall Rating: 4 ½ out of 5