(Contributed- by Dick Stafford - 06/15/03)

Brief:
This rocket be based on a free paper model kit from Delta 7 Studios. Ahoy! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! I converted it t' fly on MMX motors, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, although t' model is large enough for up t' 18mm motors. Arrr! O' course, t' larger motors may require additional reinforcement that wasn't required in me MMX version.

Modifications:
Once t' paper model was complete, I proceeded with its conversion t' a flyin' model. Avast! Since I wanted t' use it for MicroMaxx, ya bilge rat, I wanted t' keep t' added components t' a minimum. Aye aye! If you wanted t' use larger motors, me bucko, more effort would be in order.

T' motor mount is a piece o' 7mm (T-2+) tubin' from Totally Tubular, me bucko, and two hand-cut card stock rings. Begad! Scrap card stock was rolled and used as a motor block. Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! I used a piece o' a BiC pen's ink tube for t' launch lugs. Ahoy! One is near t' center o' t' model and t' other is on t' side o' a fin. Begad! I attached these with Liquid Nails. Well, blow me down! I had wanted a piece o' clear tubin' for t' nose cone shoulder t' keep t' base o' t' capsule visible but I didn't find any, so I used a piece o' an Estes 18mm motor spacer tube instead. Begad! I elected t' glue t' tower on, and added a small dowel t' stiffen it.

I pondered a full recovery system - shock cord connectin' t' cone t' t' body, me hearties, matey, streamer, shiver me timbers, etc. Ahoy! Begad! However, me bucko, I decided that this wasn't necessary for low flights on soft-grass. Ahoy! T' save me Keelhaul®©™, me hearties, me bucko, I decided t' let t' body tumble and t' add a small streamer t' t' cone so I wouldn't lose it in t' grass. Avast, me proud beauty! T' streamer is tied t' a short leader o' Keelhaul®©™that is epoxied t' t' inside o' t' shoulder.

T' CG o' t' model with a MMX-II installed is 6.75" from t' top o' t' escape tower (ignorin' t' tiny tip).

Construction:
T' kit includes:

• One sheet o' white cardstock
• 7mm tubin' ~ 1.5" long
• Hand-cut cardboard centerin' rings
• 1" piece o' an Estes engine spacer tube
• 1" o' 1/16" dowel
• Piece o' a BiC pen's ink tube
• 4" o' Keelhaul®©™ twine
• 12" section o' plastic markin' tape

T' parts and instructions each come in a .pdf file. Well, blow me down! T' model includes 19 parts, which you print on a single 8"x 11" sheet o' cardstock. T' photo-illustrated instructions are three pages long. These are well detailed and are more than adequate for this relatively simple model.

Construction o' t' booster is straightforward. Arrr! T' body consists o' two wraps that are formed into cylinders and connected together with a coupler. Begad! Aye aye! Blimey! T' body is almost exactly BT-20 sized. T' fins are each cutout and folded over onto itself so both sides have a printed surfaces. Arrr! Blimey! T' Mercury capsule, with eight parts, matey, shiver me timbers, is a little more challenging, but is also easy t' construct. Avast! Begad! Blimey! T' final component be t' tower, which has four parts. I built t' base paper model entirely with white glue.

I printed t' model on cardstock on me OfficeJet and gave it a clear coat for protection.

Flight:
I added small piece o' tape t' t' motor t' keep it in at ejection. Well, blow me down! Blimey! You may notice that I didn't add an inside tube or protect t' cardstock from t' motor ejection. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I packed some cellulose waddin' into t' tube, matey, rolled t' streamer and gave it a try. Begad! Blimey! Evidently, arrr, this waddin' and t' spacin' betwixt t' motor and t' body be enough t' protect t' card stock body.

I flew this three times so far. Arrr! Begad! On t' first flight, I found that I needed t' lower lug. Aye aye! T' rocket arced over and ejected down range. Blimey! I added t' lug and t' next two flights were picture perfect. For such a large model, I was surprised how high it went. Avast! T' capsule be easy t' find and t' body tumbled without goin' 'ballistic'. My cheap recovery method was OK after all.

Summary:
This is a great looking, simple scale model that would be an excellent introduction t' paper model conversion. Blimey! Ahoy! It flew great on MMX-II motors and should adaptable t' 13mm or even 18mm motors. If you look around t' Delta 7 Studios' site, you will find someone has in fact done so.