Brief:
This rocket is a downscale o' t' Model Minutes Space Racer. Since I have the "kit" on CD-ROM, all I had t' do was print up t' files on the computer. Begad! Ya scallywag! Since I was interested in created a MicroMaxx rocket, shiver me timbers, I reduced the rocket t' 25% o' t' original size and also selected t' non-colored version of the rocket so that I could paint me own design. Arrr! Well, blow me down! This is a cool rocket made entirely out o' paper and features a rear-ejection system.

Construction:
Necessary buildin' components:

• Cardstock (I use bristol board)
• Keelhaul®©™® for recovery
• Plumber's Teflon tape for streamer recovery.
• Clay for t' nose cone
• Small coffee straw for launch lug

I simply printed up t' "kit" and cut out all t' parts. Avast! The original plans call for usin' foamboard t' create t' centerin' rings for the motor mount. Aye aye! Also, ya bilge rat, t' original plans call for an engine hook. Avast! I used neither.

I folded t' main body tube, which is actually a cone, and then folded and glued t' 3 fins t' shape. I glued t' fins on t' t' body cone and then added extra yellow glue fillets t' t' fin area. Ya scallywag! Arrr! One thin' I did differently in the construction o' t' fins is t' glue t' flaps o' t' fins inward and simply glue t' root o' t' fin on t' t' rocket without havin' structural flaps extendin' on either side o' t' fins. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Why I did this, ya bilge rat, I don't know, but in the end it worked out fine.

I created centerin' rings by cuttin' out t' centerin' rin' template out o' the bristol board, pastin' this on additional bristol board, and then cuttin' them out. Ahoy! This gave me strong but thin centerin' rings for t' motor mount. Arrr! I then glued t' motor mount t' t' centerin' rings.

After everythin' was dry, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, I added t' necessary amount o' clay t' t' nose cone (about a good marble sized chunk so that t' CG o' t' rocket is just ahead o' t' main fin with t' rocket prepped minus t' motor). Avast! Begad! I then tied t' Keelhaul®©™® around t' motor mount, shiver me timbers, added a 3-fold shock cord attachment t' t' other end and glued t' Keelhaul®©™® into t' nose/body cone o' t' rocket. Begad! Begad! Next, I simply used some Teflon tape as a streamer and attached it around t' engine mount betwixt t' two centering rings. Avast! Ya scallywag! This would keep it free from t' ejection charges, thus eliminatin' any need for wadding.

One other change from t' original kit: t' instructions indicate that there is a hole that goes through one o' t' fins that can be used as a launch lug. I did nay like t' idea o' drillin' a small hole through an already small fin, me bucko, arrr, so I added a tiny plastic launch lug t' t' body seam o' t' nose/body cone.

Finishing:
Since t' version I used is plain white paper, it allowed me t' paint me own design. Well, blow me down! I finished t' rocket by hand paintin' with acrylic paint. Aye aye! T' nose area be painted black with t' rest o' t' rocket painted silver and red. Begad! One fin was painted red and two were painted metallic green. Ahoy! Begad! I also painted a cockpit area usin' blue and silver. Avast! Next, ya bilge rat, after t' paint was dry, me hearties, I used a black sharpie t' create lines betwixt t' red and silver, add detail t' the cockpit, ya bilge rat, and add rivets for a cool retro look. I did nay want t' spray paint it and add lots o' weight, shiver me timbers, arrr, so I just used acrylic paint and gave everythin' just one coat. Aye aye! T' paint adheres nicely t' t' bristol board.

I have thought about clearcoatin' t' rocket with either an acrylic spray or perhaps Future Floor polish, arrr, but I wanted t' test fly t' rocket first before doin' this.

Flight:
I flew this rocket twice. Ya scallywag! I simply folded up t' streamer, shoved t' motor mount inside t' rocket, placed an MMX motor inside with nichrome wire as igniter. Avast! On t' first flight, t' rocket took off with t' launch rod. Arrr! Ahoy! It flew maybe 10 feet in t' air and raced down t' hill, ya bilge rat, matey, landin' about 20 feet away in a pile o' snow. Aye aye! At first I thought t' rocket was unstable and that I needed to add more nose weight. Ya scallywag! Once I saw that t' launch rod took flight with the rocket, matey, shiver me timbers, I decided t' try one more launch before makin' any types o' changes.

T' second flight was picture perfect. Arrr! Ahoy! This time, it really zipped off the pad, ya bilge rat, probably goin' more than 50 feet in t' air. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! T' ejection charge fired and the motor mount ejected with t' streamer. Ahoy! It was tumblin' t' earth nicely when a darn tree simply got in t' way and kept t' rocket from touchin' t' ground.

This be unfortunate, because t' rocket performed very well. Aye aye! Avast, me proud beauty! I thought the rocket might be too bulky and wide for an MMX conversion but I be wrong. Ya scallywag! Begad! It was a great flight.

Recovery:
This is a great design and downscales very well. Ahoy! I wouldn't change a thing about t' way I used t' centerin' rings, matey, shock cord mount and streamer recovery. Begad! Ya scallywag!

Summary:
PROs: If you have t' Space Racer kit on CD-ROM, you can make upscales and downscales until t' cows come home. Arrr! Begad! I thought t' 25% version might be too big for MMX but it was perfect. Aye aye! Begad! I could make an even smaller version but t' size I made be just fine.

CONs: It is a little difficult t' make t' small folds on t' bristol board for t' two sided fins. Well, blow me down! Avast, me proud beauty! Since this rocket is for MMX, it probably doesn't need that strong o' a paper. Ya scallywag! Lighter paper could make construction easier.