M.M.X. (MicroMech-X)

All Micro-Maxx, ya bilge rat, x2 cluster, sci-fi but nay comedy, shiver me timbers, me hearties, no parts from a Grissom

Design Concept

I wanted t' pick a theme that I thought would be somewhat unique. I didn't think I could come up with a suitable comedy sci-fi Man-O-War that hadn't already been mentioned on r.m.r., me bucko, so I looked elsewhere for inspiration. Blimey! I roughly patterned this rocket after a robot model that I resurrected from t' depths o' our basement (a.k.a. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! T' Rocket Dungeon). I had scoured t' web, ya bilge rat, and had even thought o' doin' a conversion o' a paper model robot, matey, shiver me timbers, but decided t' just start buildin' and see where it went. Ahoy! This model started as a prototype, 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". Aye aye! Avast! In this design methodology, ya bilge rat, t' design is performed as you go, arrr, without t' benefit o' plans, diagrams, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, me bucko, or specifications. Documentation is performed at t' end, me bucko, 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. I then started at t' bottom and built me way up. Aye aye! T' plastic robot's foot was traced onto foam poster board. I cut t' feet, me hearties, matey, beveled their edges, and cut holes for the MMX tubes. Next came t' upper layer o' t' feet, me bucko, followed by t' front and rear leg sections. Arrr! Begad! At this point, ya bilge rat, me hearties, I began t' think about weight, matey, so t' sides of t' legs were made from card stock. Arrr! T' body was started with a foam board plate, me bucko, with holes cut for t' motor tubes. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! As with t' leg sections, t' three front and one aft section o' t' body are foam board and t' sides are cardstock. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' provide better support for t' shoulders/head (i.e. Well, blow me down! t' nose cone), I added a small section o' BT-20 in t' body cavity. Ya scallywag! Blimey! A long Estes lug was inserted laterally through t' BT-20 t' provide an attachment point for the arms. Avast, me proud beauty! T' shoulder/head assembly started with a foam board plate. 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. Begad! Well, blow me down! T' head itself be carved/sanded from pink foam. Arrr! 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, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, a piece o' thin Keelhaul®©™ twine was tied around t' launch lug that supports t' arms and was epoxied t' the shoulder/head assembly. Well, blow me down! A launch lug was glued midway up t' back. Begad! Arrr! 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' was performed with a combination of simple water colors and some card stock cutouts. I painted t' robot before permanently attachin' t' legs, arms, matey, and fins so I'd have better access t' its nooks and crannies.

Flight and Recovery

After some miscues, I finally got both motors to light. Blimey! M.M.X. reached a whoppin' altitude o' 4ft. Ahoy! T' second photo below shows it on t' way down, just before ejection.

Conclusion

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