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Here's some pics and basic info on how you can convert a Halloween "spider web" candy bowl into a very nice flying saucer.
The bowl is $1 at Target (in the bargain bin at the front of the store), and also Dollar Tree stores. I found them in three colors: orange, black, and purple. It's a bit over 10" in diameter.
The conversion is simple. Use sharp diagonal cutter pliers to cut out the center part of the web, leaving a hole that a BT-20 can fit thru. The plastic can crack between the webs, so be careful. Dull diagonal cutters would be an issue, so a sharp hobby knife blade would be better than dull diagonal cutters, be careful.
The motor tube is 2.75-3" of BT-20, whatever scrap you have available. Add a thrust ring if you want, or just let masking tape work both to hold the engine from kicking out and to act as a thrust ring.
Use two 18mm to 24mm (BT-20 to BT-50) centering rings to secure the mount to the saucer. Glue one ring on. Slide the mount into place thru the hole in the bowl. Apply glue, I used thick CA, 5 minute epoxy would also work. After curing, slide the other ring on and press in place to secure the mount (the two rings are a sandwich with the plastic bowl caught in between), making sure the mount is centered in the hole since it can be a bit off. Apply more glue to the ring and to the plastic.
For the launch lug mount, cut out a 1/4" standoff, I used 3/32" x 1/4" spruce about 1.25" long. Glue the standoff even with one end of the lug. Test fit to see if the lug will fit thru one of the web holes, you might need to use a model knife blade to open one of the web holes a little bit for clearance. Then glue the lug to the engine mount, with the lug aligned with the intended web hole.
Done.
It flies very nicely. On a C6-0 it goes well. i'm sure it'll work on a B6-0. Probably good on an A8-0, but there are few reasons to fly a saucer on just an A8.
A Photo album with more pics here:
https://imgur.com/a/Yuj4v#0
Flier is Ryan Stenberg, 3.5 year old brother of Alyssa & Zackary Stenberg. He likes orange. After I made up a "kit" for it (cutting out the web piece), he built this one with a little help.
- George Gassaway
The bowl is $1 at Target (in the bargain bin at the front of the store), and also Dollar Tree stores. I found them in three colors: orange, black, and purple. It's a bit over 10" in diameter.
The conversion is simple. Use sharp diagonal cutter pliers to cut out the center part of the web, leaving a hole that a BT-20 can fit thru. The plastic can crack between the webs, so be careful. Dull diagonal cutters would be an issue, so a sharp hobby knife blade would be better than dull diagonal cutters, be careful.
The motor tube is 2.75-3" of BT-20, whatever scrap you have available. Add a thrust ring if you want, or just let masking tape work both to hold the engine from kicking out and to act as a thrust ring.
Use two 18mm to 24mm (BT-20 to BT-50) centering rings to secure the mount to the saucer. Glue one ring on. Slide the mount into place thru the hole in the bowl. Apply glue, I used thick CA, 5 minute epoxy would also work. After curing, slide the other ring on and press in place to secure the mount (the two rings are a sandwich with the plastic bowl caught in between), making sure the mount is centered in the hole since it can be a bit off. Apply more glue to the ring and to the plastic.
For the launch lug mount, cut out a 1/4" standoff, I used 3/32" x 1/4" spruce about 1.25" long. Glue the standoff even with one end of the lug. Test fit to see if the lug will fit thru one of the web holes, you might need to use a model knife blade to open one of the web holes a little bit for clearance. Then glue the lug to the engine mount, with the lug aligned with the intended web hole.
Done.
It flies very nicely. On a C6-0 it goes well. i'm sure it'll work on a B6-0. Probably good on an A8-0, but there are few reasons to fly a saucer on just an A8.
A Photo album with more pics here:
https://imgur.com/a/Yuj4v#0
Flier is Ryan Stenberg, 3.5 year old brother of Alyssa & Zackary Stenberg. He likes orange. After I made up a "kit" for it (cutting out the web piece), he built this one with a little help.
- George Gassaway
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