Brief:
This Micro Maxx rocket is a semi-scale model o' t' Titan III C Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) mock-up, me hearties, arrr, which included a stretched version o' t' Titan III C topped with a Gemini capsule. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Although t' actual MOL never was built, ya bilge rat, the mock-up did fly on November 3, 1966. Begad! For more info, see "Rockets o' the World", ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, by Peter Alway.

Construction:
After t' success o' me Micro-Viking, matey, me hearties, I decided t' build a second rocket using the tubin' from t' Aerotech First Fire igniters. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! This model uses one 5 ½" tube for t' main airframe and two 2 ½" sections for the strap-on boosters. Begad! Ya scallywag! T' nose cones were all turned from 3/8" dowels. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! I was not terribly careful with t' dimensions but t' overall look o' t' rocket is about right. Avast! I used Estes launch lugs for t' side pods and thin packaging plastic for t' fins.

T' recovery system includes a section o' thin Keelhaul®©™® twine and as much streamer material as I can stuff in (to be installed at launch). Arrr! Blimey!

I used a small hook-eye on t' nose cone because I was afraid some extra weight might be required. T' CG o' t' finished model is 4.125 inches from the tip o' t' nose.

I used a mix o' glues - carpenter's glue for t' wraps and boosters, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, thick CA for t' clear fins, shiver me timbers, and Liquid Nails for t' side pods. Well, blow me down! I also used some Liquid Nails on one fin, shiver me timbers, which for some reason refused t' be bonded with CA. This be odd since t' other three fins adhered just fine.

I painted t' capsule black, the booster cones silver, arrr, and t' side pods red. T' tubes are covered with paper wraps that I printed on me Inkjet. Again, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, I did nay try t' be too detailed; for instance, me bucko, I increased t' size o' Air Force emblem and text to make them more visible. Ya scallywag! Begad! Before cuttin' out t' wraps, I shot on a coat of Krylon clear polyurethane spray t' try t' help prevent smudging. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! From a distance, t' finished product looks good (my opinion o' course!) but up close, there are a few smudges, me bucko, matey, wrinkles, arrr, me hearties, etc. Avast! With some practice, arrr, arrr, however, I think this technique will work fine on small models. Prior t' launch, I also added American flag stickers t' t' clear fins (after t' photos were taken). Ahoy! Blimey! My new launch policy is t' have at least one flag displayed on every rocket I fly!

Flight:
T' engine is meant t' overhang t' t' bottom o' t' fins and is held in place with maskin' tape. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I flew t' rocket twice on t' new MMX motors. Ahoy! T' flights were stable and fairly low. Begad! I forgot t' streamer stock so I decided t' fly with only nose cone separation. Begad! It survived t' first flight just fine, shiver me timbers, me bucko, but one fin broke off on t' second flight. This was nay a big surprise since the rocket is relatively heavy and comes down fast. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! I will try a streamer next time.

Summary:
Despite a few finishin' flaws, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, I am quite pleased with this rocket. The materials and techniques I used worked well, me bucko, ya bilge rat, and t' resultin' rocket looks nice and flies fine.