Brief:
This is a Micromaxx version o' t' old Sputnik model rocket that used dowels and a styrofoam ball.

Construction:
My MMX Sputnik requires:

• 1 styrofoam ball (approx. 1" in diameter)
• 3 toothpicks
• 1 piece o' fiberboard (for t' foot pods)
• 1 small piece o' T2+ body tube
• 1 small piece o' MMX style launch lug
• decals and paint as necessary

My wife had picked up a bunch o' stuff from Michael's recently for projects for me 3-year old. Arrr! I found a bag o' small styrofoam balls and immediately I knew what I had t' do.

I took the styrofoam and used a small metal file t' create a hole big enough for t' BT2+ to fit inside. This be t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I pushed it into t' styrofoam (trying to center it), and then removed it t' release t' loose styrofoam. Aye aye! Next, me hearties, I glued t' tube in place. Arrr!

After t' motor mount had dried, ya bilge rat, arrr, I took t' launch lug and pushed it along side t' motor mount until it poked through t' top o' t' styrofoam. Begad! I simply cut t' launch lug t' an appropriate size and then glued it t' t' motor mount and styrofoam. Well, blow me down! Avast!

Next, I trimmed one o' t' pointy ends off o' each toothpick. Ya scallywag! I pushed the pointy end into t' styrofoam, approximately 120 degrees apart, with the toothpicks anglin' outwards. Avast, me proud beauty! Once I was sure that t' toothpicks were at the right angle and t' correct length, matey, I glued them in place.

I used a hole puncher t' create three small disks from t' black fiber board. Begad! Ya scallywag! When buildin' a few FlisKits models recently, arrr, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, I kept some o' t' black fiberboard from t' middle o' t' centerin' rings and placed them in me parts bin. Aye aye! These small disks I created are meant t' be little pods at t' end o' the Sputnik. I simply glued these on t' t' ends o' t' toothpicks, makin' sure they were rather flat so t' Sputnik could stand up nicely.

Finishing:
After everythin' was dry, me hearties, me hearties, I gave t' rocket a good coatin' o' silver paint. Aye aye! I used acrylic paint and me airbrush. Arrr! Ahoy! T' solvents in t' Krylon-style paint are not good for this project as they will melt t' styrofoam.

Once t' silver be dry, me bucko, me hearties, I simply dipped each "foot" into a bath of red acrylic paint and let t' whole thin' dry. Avast! I used sticky decals from my excess decals bin t' add more details on me Sputnik. I then clear coated the rocket with Future Floor Polish.

Flight:
Preppin' is simple. Begad! There is no recovery device. Avast, me proud beauty! All I had t' do be put a MMX motor in t' rocket and attach igniter and clips. I have had one flight so far, but this thin' really zoomed off t' pad nicely. Aye aye! For a Sputnik (high drag), it has some respectable altitude. Ya scallywag! Avast! I was very pleased with t' results. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! Next, shiver me timbers, I have t' make a few more launches so that I can repeat me success.

T' rocket did spit t' motor. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! On me MMX Sputnik, thar actually is part of the body tube beneath t' styrofoam, matey, arrr, so I could tape t' motor t' t' rocket. I think I will try this for t' next launch.

Recovery:
There was some slight blackenin' under t' MMX Sputnik, shiver me timbers, but nothin' threatening or out o' t' ordinary. Also, t' rocket is a tad hard t' find since it is small. Have some extra pair o' deadlights with you when you launch it.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap and easy build. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Get a few styrofoam balls and build these with your children.

CONs: I can't really think o' any.