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, me bucko, but rather "mie nuet" like somethin' small). Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Both rockets are t' same with t' exception o' t' color pattern. Avast, me proud beauty! Ahoy! Blimey! One is colorful with red, blue, arrr, arrr, yellow and white, arrr, 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. In spite o' its advanced aerodynamic design it is easy t' assemble. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! Each kit includes two rockets: one civilian rocket and one military rocket. Arrr! Well, blow me down! Blimey! Double your fun and t' altitude you can reach with this very stylish rocket. 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! Arrr! Blimey! Operations which are sometimes carried out almost simultaneously." [instantaneously?]

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

Lastly, shiver me timbers, me hearties, thar be a set o' 3D glasses that you assemble t' read t' instructions. Arrr! Somethin' unique t' Model Minutes kits.

CONSTRUCTION:

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

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

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

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

T' motor mount is then assembled from card-stock, thread and t' wire thrust/ejection retainer. Avast! I really like this wire design. Avast, matey, me proud beauty! T' wire inserts into two holes and extends into t' tube t' act as a motor thrust stop. It then over hangs t' act as motor retention. 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. It made for a good strong motor tube. Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! 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. Clay is added for nose weight. Arrr! Begad! 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. Arrr! Aye aye! An eye-screw is then screwed into t' foam t' attach t' rubber band shockcord and parachute. Aye aye! Aye aye! T' other end o' t' shockcord is attached t' t' inside o' t' body tube usin' t' 3-fold paper method.

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

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

Overall, me bucko, for CONSTRUCTION I would rate this kit 3 points. Arrr! After buildin' three "free" paper models and t' Model Minutes' Space Racer I've come t' expect certain things in paper-building. Begad! As far as t' kit goes, very nice. T' instructions are solid especially with all t' pictures. Blimey! T' issues are t' double-over fins and t' short rubber-band shock cord. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I also didn't like t' 1/4" short nose cone shoulder. Aye aye! 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. Begad! rockets. Ahoy! I didn't choose one o' these. Instead I used a B6-4 for its first flight.

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

Had a successful launch on t' B6-4. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' flight was 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. Well, arrr, blow me down! If you are goin' t' use a C6, ya bilge rat, I would use a C6-5 verses t' C6-3 recommendation.

Ejection produced t' silver mylar parachute and t' descent rate be good. 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. Arrr! Ya scallywag! So, me hearties, I only got t' 1 flight.

All would nay be lost though, 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, I would rate this rocket 4 points. T' single flight be stable and on t' B6 gave a nice small field (football field size) flight. Ahoy! T' recommended motors would seem t' have too short o' a delay. T' parachute is sized right for descent, arrr, 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! It isn't a "free" rocket, 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. Ya scallywag! I think that is a fair price considerin' you get t' nose weight, arrr, parachute, ya bilge rat, wire retainer, shiver me timbers, matey, etc. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Blimey! T' design is nice lookin' with t' unique two-piece nose cone and t' boat tail. Avast, me proud beauty! It is big for a paper rocket too. Standin' 19" tall and havin' a 1.5" diameter. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Blimey!

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