Brief:
The Art Applewhite 38mm Cinco is a five sided pentagon shaped flying saucer with a 38mm motor mount. Like all other Art Applewhite saucers, this one is recovered using Art's aerobrake recovery.

Construction:
This kit came in one of Art's heat sealed thick plastic bags and included the following components:

• 1 foamboard top
• 1 foamboard bottom
• 2 cardboard seams
• 1 6 inch long 38mm motor mount tube

The instructions for this kit are very good and include actual assembly photos and text that is simple to understand. Make sure to read the instructions throughly before building.

This saucer is very easy to build and the building time is very short. Unlike Art's Delta Saucer line, this one does not include a center plate.

The assembly starts with cutting out the top, then you cut out the hole for the MMT tube. You will notice that there are two circles drawn here. You cut out the inner circle straight. The outer circle has to be cut out at an angle. Same goes for the bottom or the motor tube will not fit properly. The triangular launch rod hole is then cut out.

Now you flex the corners into shape. One thing I really like here is that Art has removed the material from the corners. This makes it much easier to flex the corners into the proper shape.

I then glued one of the seams into place. White glue is recommended here but I used epoxy instead and would recommend epoxy for construction, especially if you plan to fly this on an I motor.

It is then recommended that you spread a thin film of white glue into the edges to reinforce them.

That completes the assembly of the top.

The bottom is constructed the same as the top except there are two lines along the edge of the bottom. You cut out the bottom on the outer line and the inner line has to be cut at an angle so the bottom will fit properly against the top.

The motor mount and launch lug holes are cut out in the same manner as the top. The remaining seam is then glued into place, and like the top, white glue is used to reinforce the corners.

This completes the bottom. All that is left is to install the motor tube which I applied an epoxy fillet and then install the bottom and apply fillets in all areas where the top and bottom meet.

PROs: Builds very fast.

CONs: None.

Finishing:
This rocket really does not require any finishing due to the smooth finish of the white foamboard but if you wish to paint it, make sure you seal all exposed foam edges as some paint solvents will attack the foam. Trust me, I did a quick test by spraying some Krylon primer on a scrap piece of foamboard and watched as the Krylon ate right through it.

I left mine white as is and I think that was a good decision.

PROs: Finishing optional.

CONs: None

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Flight:
While Art does not recommend any specific motors for this rocket, he does recommend any 38mm G, H, or I motor with an average impulse of 50 to 250 newton-seconds average impulse. There certainly are a lot of options in that range.

The prep for this rocket couldn't be any easier. You just friction fit the motor and you're ready to go.

For my first flight, I loaded up an Aerotech 38/120 G67R reload. This turned out to be a great maiden flight motor. The Cinco took off straight and rather quickly under the small but bright Redline flame of the G67.

For the second flight, I loaded up an Aerotech 38/240 H123W reload. This was a really nice flight with the bright white flame, thick smoke cloud and loud roar of the White Lightning motor.

PROs: Flies great on a huge variety of motors.

CONs: None.

Recovery:
This rocket like all of Art's saucers uses aerobrake recovery. After motor burnout on both flights, the Cinco flipped over and aerobraked down at a rather slow speed and appeared to land softly but on the second flight, it landed in some nearly chest high (4+ feet tall) weeds which made me really glad I left it white or finding it could have been much harder or maybe even impossible.

Also, make sure to use short or medium delays with reload motors so the delay element can burn out before landing and make sure you do not add any ejection powder either.

PROs: Recovers quickly and easily.

CONs: None.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I really liked this saucer. It was very easy to build and flew great. I also noticed that it actually seemed to fly better than the Delta Saucer and didn't seem to oscillate in flight nearly as much as the regular saucers.

Also, if you add Art's optional "mustache" device, it will qualify as an acceptable NAR/TRA level 1 attempt rocket.

Priced at $30.00 with free shipping, I feel it's a bargain and Art will also throw in a free rocket for you as well.

Main PROs: Builds quickly and easily, flies great, and recovers easily.

Main CONs: I really cannot think of any.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5