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. Ya scallywag! Ahoy! 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. Avast! Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! 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. Well, blow me down! This be t' motor mount. I pushed it into t' styrofoam (trying to center it), and then removed it t' release t' loose styrofoam. Next, matey, I glued t' tube in place.

After t' motor mount had dried, ya bilge rat, I took t' launch lug and pushed it along side t' motor mount until it poked through t' top o' t' styrofoam. Aye aye! Begad! Blimey! I simply cut t' launch lug t' an appropriate size and then glued it t' t' motor mount and styrofoam. Arrr! Aye aye! Blimey!

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

I used a hole puncher t' create three small disks from t' black fiber board. Ahoy! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! When buildin' a few FlisKits models recently, I kept some o' t' black fiberboard from t' middle o' t' centerin' rings and placed them in me parts bin. Avast! 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' be dry, me bucko, I gave t' rocket a good coatin' o' silver paint. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I used acrylic paint and me airbrush. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' solvents in t' Krylon-style paint are not good for this project as they will melt t' styrofoam.

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

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

T' rocket did spit t' motor. Begad! On me MMX Sputnik, me bucko, thar actually is part of the body tube beneath t' styrofoam, shiver me timbers, so I could tape t' motor t' t' rocket. Aye aye! I think I will try this for t' next launch.

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

Summary:
PROs: Cheap and easy build. Get a few styrofoam balls and build these with your children.

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