T' Multi Operations Missile (M.O.M.) kit is me second kit from Model Minutes and includes two rockets (note: t' Minute in Model Minutes is nay pronounced "min'it" like t' time unit, but rather "mie nuet" like somethin' small). Aye aye! Blimey! Both rockets are t' same with t' exception o' t' color pattern. One is colorful with red, blue, yellow and white, matey, ya bilge rat, while t' other is a camouflage finish in various greens.

Model Minutes is good about includin' a story on their kits and here it is for t' M.O.M.: "T' performance o' this model will surprise you. Begad! In spite o' its advanced aerodynamic design it is easy t' assemble. Aye aye! Avast! Each kit includes two rockets: one civilian rocket and one military rocket. Avast! Double your fun and t' altitude you can reach with this very stylish rocket. Avast! Used jointly by t' scientific and military communities this long range missile allows both t' study o' destruction o' comets and meterorites in order t' protect t' earth. Aye aye! Operations which are sometimes carried out almost simultaneously." [instantaneously?]

T' M.O.M. kit came packaged orderly in an 9x11 plastic zip-lock bag. Aye aye! It included t' two rockets printed on three (3) 8½ x 11" card-stock pages each. Also included was t' extra parts need t' assemble and support t' card-stock rocket. Blimey! These parts include ¼" foamboard that is used for t' nose cone shoulder, ya bilge rat, baffle, and centerin' rings. Aye aye! Begad! A piece o' household drinkin' straw is provided for t' launch lug. There is a wire motor retainer and a piece o' thread that is used with t' motor retainer. Blimey! Ahoy! In addition, a silver Mylar parachute, shroud lines and a rubber band shockcord are provided for t' recovery system. Arrr! Clay for t' nose weight is also included. Well, blow me down! All parts were doubled t' allow t' buildin' o' t' two rockets.

Lastly, thar be a set o' 3D glasses that you assemble t' read t' instructions. Ahoy! Avast, me proud beauty! Somethin' unique t' Model Minutes kits.

CONSTRUCTION:

T' instructions are printed on 9 pages o' 8½ x 11" paper. Begad! T' primary feature o' t' instructions are color 3D pictures. Well, blow me down! They can be viewed without 3D glasses well enough, shiver me timbers, however, me bucko, with t' included 3D glasses (assembly required) you can add depth t' your buildin' experience. Blimey! T' instructions are clear, especially with t' support o' 54 color pictures! One o' t' main detractors from t' instructions o' me other Model Minutes kit, me hearties, t' Space Racer, was t' translation from French t' English. Ahoy! This was nay much o' a problem with these instructions. Begad! Aye aye! I don't even remember a confusin' spot. Ahoy! T' instructions include a page on how t' balance (check stability), me hearties, how t' build a launch pad, arrr, launch controller, me bucko, and then t' launch sequence. Arrr! You will need your standard rocket buildin' tools, includin' a sharp hobby knife. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! I used Elmer's White Glue for assembly. Arrr!

After assemblin' t' 3D glasses you're ready t' go. Ya scallywag!

Assembly is relatively simple. T' fins are first and once cut out are simply folded in half and glued t' create t' finished fin. Avast! I followed t' instructions and placed them in a book (protected with wax paper) after gluing. Arrr! I still did nay get straight and stiff fins. Arrr! Much like me experience on Model Minutes Tricarrow me fins where a bit wavy.

T' body tube requires two sections t' make up t' length. Begad! Blimey! T' first section is supported by a stiffener-baffle that is cut from t' 1/4" foam board. Then a paper coupler is attached. Blimey! Ahoy! Blimey! T' upper tube is slid into t' paper coupler. Begad! Blimey! This gives you 12 inches o' body tube.

T' motor mount is then assembled from card-stock, me bucko, thread and t' wire thrust/ejection retainer. Ahoy! I really like this wire design. Well, blow me down! T' wire inserts into two holes and extends into t' tube t' act as a motor thrust stop. Begad! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! It then over hangs t' act as motor retention. Blimey! T' wire is "strapped" t' t' motor tube by wrappin' a black thread around and around and around it. Once wrapped it is soaked with glue. Avast! Ya scallywag! It made for a good strong motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty! After this two 1/4" foam centerin' rings are added.

T' motor mount is installed and then a boat tail is added t' t' rocket. Ahoy! Blimey! T' boat tail comes down t' t' end o' t' motor tube and requires two slits t' be cut in it t' allow t' retention wire t' bend out for insertin' and removin' motors.

T' nose cone is assembled from two different cones t' give it a unique shape. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Clay is added for nose weight. Avast, me proud beauty! A piece o' 1/4" foam is used as t' shoulder. Begad! I would have liked t' see two or three pieces stacked since just t' one made t' shoulder so small. An eye-screw is then screwed into t' foam t' attach t' rubber band shockcord and parachute. T' other end o' t' shockcord is attached t' t' inside o' t' body tube usin' t' 3-fold paper method.

Next, t' parachute is assembled usin' maskin' tape t' make t' corner tabs and t' nylon thread provided for t' shroud lines. Begad! This is then tied t' t' eye-screw on t' nose cone.

To finish t' rocket, me bucko, t' fins are attached and a launch lug is added.

Overall, me hearties, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 points. Well, blow me down! After buildin' three "free" paper models and t' Model Minutes' Space Racer I've come t' expect certain things in paper-building. Ahoy! As far as t' kit goes, very nice. T' instructions are solid especially with all t' pictures. T' issues are t' double-over fins and t' short rubber-band shock cord. Arrr! Avast! Blimey! I also didn't like t' 1/4" short nose cone shoulder. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' motor tube and retainer are great.

FLIGHT/RECOVERY:

Model Minutes recommends t' C6-3 or t' C5-3 motor for t' M.O.M. Blimey! rockets. Arrr! I didn't choose one o' these. Blimey! Instead I used a B6-4 for its first flight.

Even though thar be a baffle t' instructions recommend usin' wadding. So I inserted several sheets o' Estes wadding. Ahoy! Then loaded t' motor. With t' Model Minutes motor retention wire, arrr, arrr, loadin' and unloadin' is a breeze. Blimey! I really like this method.

Had a successful launch on t' B6-4. T' flight be stable. Ya scallywag! There was some movement which I believe is induced by t' fins nay bein' perfectly flat (straight). I was able t' follow t' rocket all t' way t' apogee and t' 4 second delay was good. Avast! Ya scallywag! If you are goin' t' use a C6, I would use a C6-5 verses t' C6-3 recommendation.

Ejection produced t' silver mylar parachute and t' descent rate was good. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Unfortunately t' wind carried t' rocket over some trees and I was unable t' see where is landed (or not) and t' rocket was lost. Begad! Blimey! So, me bucko, I only got t' 1 flight.

All would nay be lost though, shiver me timbers, because t' kit comes with two rockets. Begad! I'm nay actually goin' t' build t' second one and am sharin' it with a fellow rocketeer t' get another opinion on this kit.

For FLIGHT/RECOVERY, matey, I would rate this rocket 4 points. T' single flight was stable and on t' B6 gave a nice small field (football field size) flight. T' recommended motors would seem t' have too short o' a delay. Aye aye! T' parachute is sized right for descent, shiver me timbers, but I have no way o' knowin' how well that short rubber band shock cord will hold up.

I give t' rocket an OVERALL ratin' o' 3 ½ points. Blimey! Ahoy! It isn't a "free" rocket, shiver me timbers, but gives t' builder a "paper building" experience. Ahoy! T' kit is about $10 USD and gives you enough supplies t' build up two rockets. Begad! I think that is a fair price considerin' you get t' nose weight, parachute, me hearties, wire retainer, shiver me timbers, etc. T' design is nice lookin' with t' unique two-piece nose cone and t' boat tail. Begad! It is big for a paper rocket too. Begad! Standin' 19" tall and havin' a 1.5" diameter. Blimey!

For t' "experience", me hearties, which is why I chose this rocket, you should give it some consideration. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! Model Minutes have some other interestin' rockets and they can all be purchased on a CD so that you can print your own templates. Avast! Ya scallywag! I didn't want t' scuttle t' additional loot t' do that, but perhaps for a school teacher...