All Rocketry Blogs

 Rocketry Product: Centuri - Alien Scoutship Flying Saucer {Kit} (5325) [1978-1982]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Alien Scoutship Flying Saucer #5325, Build Background (2020-08-12)

"The first flying kit of a flying saucer ever produced!" A well engineered design. Stable (but labored) boost. At apogee, the model flips over and descends landing on three wire antenna legs. Glow ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 1, Parts (2020-08-13)

Here's the home prints. Again, to get the PDFs,  CLICK HERE  and go to post #21.  The major and minor shrouds (on the left) are printed on 110 lb. card stock. The rings and the C and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 2, Laminations (2020-08-14)

The printed side of the cereal box cardboard should be lightly sanded to remove some of the printing and glossiness. This will remove some of the ink so it won't show through the overlay. It also ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 3, The Large Ring (2020-08-15)

The large ring and C and L center braces (and large ring) got a cereal box cardboard lamination. You could probably use a thin coat of white glue, but a shot of Supper 77 spray adhesive is much ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 4, Wire Antennas (2020-08-16)

The instructions had a print of the original kit antennas. Since this is a 3/4 size downscale, I drew a 3/4" box and reduced the 1" span box to the 3/4" length. Below the print are the three ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Launch! Schoolyard Soccer Field, August, 16, 2020 (2020-08-17)

It's been a month since my last "Lone Wolf" launch at the soccer field. My Summer plan is to always get out early before the temperature and humidity gets too high. Two MicroMaxx launches ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 5, Shrouds (2020-08-18)

The C and L braces are cut out. Note the pencil mark along the top. That's to fit the short end of the antenna top bend. Cut the interior curves first, then the straight lines connecting them with a ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 6, Engine Mount & Large Shroud Gluing (2020-08-19)

The engine hook is removed and the low end of the tube is set on the marking guide Notice the brace gluing positions aren't all the way down the tube. I set the braces against the tube and only ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 7, First Fit of the C Braces (2020-08-20)

TIP: You can get a rounded leading and trailing edges on carded fins by applying a glue bead down the edge. Apply a fine line of glue, then run your finger down both sides  of the fin to even ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 8, Oops! Re-Fit Again (2020-08-21)

Even after the first trim of the C braces, the fit was too tight, still  distorting the roundness of the core tube. The side of the C braces had to be trimmed even more! I had enough d ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 9, Gluing It All Together (2020-08-22)

Instead of putting a line of glue down the outside edges of the C braces, I applied some small glue dots on the inside of the core tube using a sharpened dowel. The outside of the C braces were ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 10, Trim Pieces & L Brace Gluing (2020-08-23)

The fit of the minor shroud was very good. It covers the cogs on the inside of the large ring. The three L braces also needed some trimming on the outside edge to fit between the core tube and ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 11, Finished? (2020-08-24)

This was fun, and a good challenge getting everything to fit! This smaller 75% size makes it more manageable and will get a better altitude with C6-0 and C5 engines. The only thing different is the ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Part 12, Glow In The Dark Dots (2020-08-25)

Here's a case of a single guy with too much time on his hands. I'm going to add the glow in the dark dot "lights". These were a special added feature of the Centuri kit. From the instructions: ... [Read More]

Model Rocket Building: Centuri Flying Saucer #5325, Fix and Finished! (2020-08-26)

Remember the clear coat made the motor tube wrap a bit transparent? The brown tube underneath was showing through. This was probably the weirdest mask I've ever done. The interior core tube was ... [Read More]