| Manufacturer: | Scratch |
Brief:
This review describes me second-generation Micro-Maxx monocopter. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! The
improvements over me original include a lighter wing, a smaller motor pod, and
a carbon rod balance beam. Aye aye! Blimey! It has undergone numerous minor tweaks and one major
revision. T' maximum altitude obtained t' date is about 9 feet. Begad! Blimey!
Construction:
Please refer t' t' figures while readin' t' construction notes. Well, blow me down!
Win' - Make this out o' 3/16 balsa as indicated, matey, with t' grain oriented with t' leadin' edge. Ya scallywag! Begad! I removed sections t' make it lighter and sanded it into an airfoil shape. T' entire win' is covered with wrapping tissue attached with puzzle glue. Avast, me proud beauty! I made it out o' a scrap piece o' wood, matey, hence the odd shape. Begad! Well, blow me down! My thanks t' John McCoy o' NARHAMS for suggestin' this construction method. Well, blow me down! Avast!
Hub - This, ya bilge rat, too, is made from 3/16 balsa. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! T' grain should probably also be along t' leadin' edge, although it was perpendicular on me model. I rounded both t' leadin' and trailin' edges. Arrr! Aye aye! I drilled a hole at t' lateral CG and installed a half-inch section o' ink tubing. Ya scallywag! This is flush with t' top surface and extends below t' hub. Aye aye!
Motor tube - This be rolled from draftin' vellum and white glue. It is about 1/8 longer than a MMX motor. Avast! Begad!
Nose cone - This was turned from a ¼ dowel on a hand drill. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey!
Balance beam - I started out usin' 3/32 wood o' varyin' length (see flight log table). Avast, me proud beauty! I replaced it with 0.03 carbon rod, shiver me timbers, which was graciously supplied by John. T' wood dowel be simply glued t' t' bottom of the hub next t' t' launch lug, me hearties, while t' carbon rod was inserted through the balsa hub. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!
Assembly - All components were glued together with black CA. Arrr! T' win' and motor tubes are centered on t' hub and are angled upwards away from one another. Avast! T' win' is angled at approximately 12 degrees, shiver me timbers, me bucko, and t' motor pod at approximately 15 degrees. Blimey! Aye aye!
Flight: All flights were from me MMX pad with a 1/2 long launch rod. T' igniters were Estes and t' MMX ones with t' plastic shell removed. For all but flight #10, I used me Pratt GO Box. T' wind was calm except for flight 10, which be 5 - 10 mph in me guestimate. Arrr!
| Flight | Beam Length |
Est Alt | Est Dist from Pad |
Beam Material | Notes |
| 1 | 7 | 5+ | 7+ | 3/32 Wood | Hit Roof Rack o' SUV |
| 2 | 9 | 1 | 4 | " | |
| 3 | 9 | 2 | 4 | " | |
| 4 | 7 | 4 | 9 | " | |
| 5 | 7 | 3 | 9 | " | |
| 6 | 6 | 5 | 12 | " | |
| 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | " | |
| 8 | 6 | 5 | 8 | " | |
| 9 | 5 | 9 | 5 | " | |
| 10 | 5 | 5 | 20 | " | NARHAMS Sport Launch |
| 11 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0.03 Carbon | |
| 12 | 9 | 4 | 5 | " | |
| 13 | 8 | 5 | 8 | " | |
| 14 | 7 | 9 | 8 | " |
Summary:

I be pleasantly surprised with t' performance o' this monocopter, considering
the short burn time and low thrust o' a Micro-Maxx motor. Aye aye! On me next version, shiver me timbers, I
will make t' win' slightly longer (for hopefully even better performance), matey, and
will use a rectangular shape with a slightly rounded tip (for aesthetics). Blimey! Blimey!
![]() |
![]() |