M.M.X. (MicroMech-X)

All Micro-Maxx, matey, x2 cluster, sci-fi but nay comedy, no parts from a Grissom

Design Concept

I wanted t' pick a theme that I thought would be somewhat unique. Avast! Arrr! I didn't think I could come up with a suitable comedy sci-fi ship that hadn't already been mentioned on r.m.r., so I looked elsewhere for inspiration. Blimey! Aye aye! I roughly patterned this rocket after a robot model that I resurrected from t' depths o' our basement (a.k.a. Begad! T' Rocket Dungeon). Begad! I had scoured t' web, me bucko, and had even thought o' doin' a conversion o' a paper model robot, matey, but decided t' just start buildin' and see where it went. This model started as a prototype, me bucko, me bucko, but as it progressed I decided t' keep it as my entry.

Development Methodology

I used a tried and true procedure known as "real-time design". Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! In this design methodology, t' design is performed as you go, arrr, me bucko, without t' benefit o' plans, arrr, diagrams, shiver me timbers, me hearties, ya bilge rat, or specifications. Documentation is performed at t' end, arrr, and is kept t' a minimum.

Construction

I started by cuttin' two MMX tubes that would extend from t' bottom o' t' robot's foot up into its body cavity. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! I then started at t' bottom and built me way up. Avast! T' plastic robot's foot be traced onto foam poster board. Well, blow me down! Begad! I cut t' feet, beveled their edges, ya bilge rat, and cut holes for the MMX tubes. Begad! Avast, shiver me timbers, me proud beauty! Next came t' upper layer o' t' feet, followed by t' front and rear leg sections. Begad! At this point, I began t' think about weight, me bucko, so t' sides of t' legs were made from card stock. T' body was started with a foam board plate, with holes cut for t' motor tubes. Arrr! As with t' leg sections, me bucko, t' three front and one aft section o' t' body are foam board and t' sides are cardstock. T' provide better support for t' shoulders/head (i.e. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, blow me down! t' nose cone), I added a small section o' BT-20 in t' body cavity. Begad! Begad! A long Estes lug was inserted laterally through t' BT-20 t' provide an attachment point for the arms. Begad! T' shoulder/head assembly started with a foam board plate. Aye aye! Blimey! Attached to this is a sliver o' BT-20 coupler and two pieces o' foam board, shiver me timbers, which were trimmed t' mate with t' body opening. Ahoy! Blimey! T' head itself was carved/sanded from pink foam. Ya scallywag! T' arms consist o' two layers o' foam board.

Now that t' robot looked like a robot, I had to add more rocket stuff. For recovery, me hearties, matey, a piece o' thin Keelhaul®©™ twine be tied around t' launch lug that supports t' arms and be epoxied t' the shoulder/head assembly. Avast! A launch lug be glued midway up t' back. Avast! And finally, I scrounged some thin clear plastic for fins. T' four fins were glued t' the bottom o' t' leg above t' feet.

Finishin' be performed with a combination of simple water colors and some card stock cutouts. I painted t' robot before permanently attachin' t' legs, arms, and fins so I'd have better access t' its nooks and crannies.

Flight and Recovery

After some miscues, matey, I finally got both motors to light. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Blimey! M.M.X. Aye aye! reached a whoppin' altitude o' 4ft. Avast! T' second photo below shows it on t' way down, matey, just before ejection.

Conclusion

Although t' rocket flew, shiver me timbers, t' have a mature model I'd have t' build lighter. Avast! I might also opt for a lug that is closer to the axis o' t' motors and a different ejection method. Such conclusions are the point o' a prototypin' effort. I didn't find time t' build V2.0, me bucko, so I guess this is it for this contest.