Brief:
T' basis for this model was John McCoy's MMX plan sheet found on t' MMX Yahoo group. Avast, me proud beauty! I made a few modifications t' John's plans because I didn't know where t' find all o' t' parts and I don't have t' tools t' make me own. Avast! I can't turn nosecones so I went shoppin' and found one that looked darn close from FlisKits. Begad! I also did nay have a tail cone and could nay find anythin' commercially made that would work. Ahoy! Instead I used t' available dimensions and fabricated t' large and small diameters from balsa and cut a paper transition usin' t' transition tool found on EMRR.

Construction:
In t' picture you can see t' tail cone and engine mount as well as t' other parts ready for assembly. Begad! Arrr! I did nay have ready-made centerin' rings, arrr, so I made those too, again usin' t' CR tools on EMRR. A caution here, these things are seriously tiny. Arrr! Balsa simply will nay let you cut it this small and remain held together. Each piece had t' be papered on both sides and coated with thin superglue in order t' be shaped and sanded. Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! This was a lot o' work and from now on I will spend t' loot t' buy these parts whenever possible. Well, blow me down! Avast! T' fins are also a little difficult t' work with because o' their size, but paperin' both sides allowed me t' work with them without major hassles.

Finishing:
After assemblin' t' rocket and many, many coats o' Testor's paint (sand, paint, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, repeat), ya bilge rat, I took t' plunge and tried me hand at makin' me own decals. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! John McCoy had t' format on t' MMX Yahoo group but acquirin' t' needed materials, adaptin' t' plan t' use what I had available, ya bilge rat, arrr, learnin' how t' print on decal paper, me bucko, me bucko, ya bilge rat, sealin' it and then gettin' everythin' applied was a definite challenge for a first timer. Aye aye! I thought it turned out pretty decent.

Flight:
I actually finished this for t' Cleveland regional (GLRMR) this Sprin' (2008) and entered it in t' Sport Scale competition (again, shiver me timbers, me first time). Avast! I did pretty well but didn't have t' nose weight right. Avast! It went unstable off t' pad and I didn't have time t' fix it. Begad! Ya scallywag! A few weeks later, I entered it as me sport scale entry in t' Columbus regional (MMRR). This time with an additional gram o' nose weight, me bucko, it flew fine and I came home with third for sport scale against Patrick Peterson and Chan Stevens from QUARK. Aye aye! Aye aye! I felt pretty good.

Summary:
For a tiny model, me hearties, I spent a lot o' time gettin' things right, matey, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, and honestly both times I entered it, t' judges were a bit surprised t' judge somethin' so small. Arrr! Some details just were nay done. Sandin' fin profiles would have been just about impossible at t' time but since then I picked up a set o' tiny files that might help on t' next MMX project. Blimey! Overall, I had a great time buildin' and flyin' this model and I'm sure that I will be buildin' more o' these wee beasties in t' future.