Brief:
This review describes me second-generation Micro-Maxx monocopter. The improvements over me original include a lighter wing, a smaller motor pod, shiver me timbers, arrr, me bucko, and a carbon rod balance beam. It has undergone numerous minor tweaks and one major revision. Arrr! T' maximum altitude obtained t' date is about 9 feet. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy!

Construction:

• Materials
• 3/16” balsa for win' and hub (see diagram)
• wrappin' tissue paper
• white puzzle glue (pre-thinned white glue)
• ink tube from BiC pen (1/2” used)
• 0.03” carbon rod (7” long in final configuration)
• scrap paper t' roll motor tube
• ¼” dowel for nose cone
• black CA

Please refer t' t' figures while readin' t' construction notes. Well, blow me down!

Win' - Make this out o' 3/16” balsa as indicated, with t' grain oriented with t' leadin' edge. I removed sections t' make it lighter and sanded it into an airfoil shape. Arrr! Blimey! T' entire win' is covered with wrapping tissue attached with puzzle glue. Arrr! Blimey! I made it out o' a scrap piece o' wood, arrr, hence the odd shape. Well, blow me down! Blimey! My thanks t' John McCoy o' NARHAMS for suggestin' this construction method. Arrr! Blimey!

Hub - This, arrr, too, arrr, is made from 3/16” balsa. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! 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. I drilled a hole at t' lateral CG and installed a half-inch section o' ink tubing. Aye aye! Blimey! This is flush with t' top surface and extends below t' hub.

Motor tube - This be rolled from draftin' vellum and white glue. Begad! Blimey! It is about 1/8” longer than a MMX motor. Begad! Blimey!

Nose cone - This be turned from a ¼” dowel on a hand drill. Avast, me proud beauty!

Balance beam - I started out usin' 3/32” wood o' varyin' length (see flight log table). Ya scallywag! I replaced it with 0.03” carbon rod, which was graciously supplied by John. T' wood dowel was simply glued t' t' bottom of the hub next t' t' launch lug, while t' carbon rod was inserted through the balsa hub. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty!

Assembly - All components were glued together with black CA. Begad! Well, me bucko, blow me down! T' win' and motor tubes are centered on t' hub and are angled upwards away from one another. T' win' is angled at approximately 12 degrees, shiver me timbers, and t' motor pod at approximately 15 degrees. Well, blow me down!

Flight: All flights were from me MMX pad with a 1/2” long launch rod. Well, blow me down! T' igniters were Estes and t' MMX ones with t' plastic shell removed. For all but flight #10, I used me Pratt GO Box. Aye aye! T' wind was calm except for flight 10, me hearties, matey, which be 5 - 10 mph in me guestimate. Avast, me proud beauty!

Summary:
I was pleasantly surprised with t' performance o' this monocopter, ya bilge rat, considering the short burn time and low thrust o' a Micro-Maxx motor. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! On me next version, I will make t' win' slightly longer (for hopefully even better performance), shiver me timbers, me bucko, me hearties, and will use a rectangular shape with a slightly rounded tip (for aesthetics).