Photo courtesy of Alien Enterprises     

Brief:
Monocopter 24 by Alien Enterprises Kit no. M-24. Monocopter made to fly on 24 mm motors

Construction:
The Kit includes:

• Carbon veil 4" X 13"
• Carbon rod 3/16" X 12"
• Carbon strips ¼" X 5" X .007"
• Aluminum tube 5/32" OD X 3"
• Spruce block
• Hex nut (2) ¼"-20
• Plywood 1/16" X 3" X 12"
• Pre-Shaped Airfoil 3" X 12"
• Motor tube 24mm ID X 3"
• Thrust ring
• Launch lug ½" ID X 1"
• Dowel rod ½" X 8"
• Pattern sheet
• Plastic sheet (not shown)
• Instructions on a Mini CD

I think this had the best instructions of any kit I have bought yet. The instructions, if you where to print them out would take up 31 pages. They included 88 pics for assembling the monocopter and two in-flight pictures for a total of 90 pictures.

The kit also had a list of tools and adhesives you would need to finish it:

I am just going to list a short synopsis on building this because the instructions had a total of 29 steps for building this monocopter.

The first was reinforcing the air foil with 30 minute epoxy and the carbon fiber. Then you went on to the motor tube and launch lug reinforcing both with a little bit of thin CA. Next, was finishing the shape on the airfoil.

Next, came cutting the plywood with the included pattern for the center plate and the reinforcement plates. After you did this you then, using some 5 min. epoxy, glued the motor tube and launch lug to the center plate.

Then, came what I thought was the only tricky part of building this and that was to angle the airfoil. You set one side of the airfoil on a 5/8" block and the other side on a 1/8" block, Then lined up the center plate with this and cut two 1/4" slots, and removed the piece that was left. This slot is the attaching point for the center plate to the airfoil of the monocopter. You use 5 min epoxy to join the airfoil to the center plate.

Then you put the balance beam holder on and the reinforcement plates epoxy them into place. When this was done you took the 2 little carbon strips and wrapped them around the motor tube onto the reinforcement plates holding them on with some CA.

Then you cut out the paper side covers and glued them on.

You then made a protective coating on the side of the airfoil that didn't have the carbon fiber on with some 30 min epoxy spread evenly.

You then installed the balance beam through the beam holder holding it in place with a few wraps of masking tape on either side. This is in-case the beam breaks you can change it. You now finished the monocopter.

After the monocopter is done you still have to build the launch lug, which is a piece of 1/2"x8" long wooden dowel. You wrap masking tape 1 1/2" from the end of the dowel and then saturate that 1 1/2" section with CA and then sand smooth.

Finishing:
No special finishing required unless you wanted to paint it. I just left mine naked.

Construction Rating: 5 out of 5

Picture courtesy of Alien Enterprises     

Flight:
The recommend motors are D11p, D7-rct, E6-rct, E7-rct, E12-rct, E11-3j, F12-3j.

If you use the E11-3 or the F12 you build the motor as normal just leaving out the ejection charge.

I flew mine twice on a F24 since I didn't have any of the listed recommend motors. My flights went to about a 100' with a nice tumble recovery. Just using a piece of masking tape to hold the motor casing in.

Both flights where for my nephew's birthday party and the kids really enjoyed watching the monocopter and the other rockets I left them fly.

Recovery:
As far as flight recovery the monocopter just tumbles back to the ground.

Flight Rating: 5 out of 5

Summary:
I think the kit was well planned out and the instructions very detailed. I wish more companies would take the time to add more to the instructions like Alien Enterprises has.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5