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. Begad! 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. Begad! 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. I pushed it into t' styrofoam (trying to center it), matey, and then removed it t' release t' loose styrofoam. Begad! Next, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, me bucko, I glued t' tube in place. Blimey! Ahoy!

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

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

I used a hole puncher t' create three small disks from t' black fiber board. Well, arrr, blow me down! When buildin' a few FlisKits models recently, me hearties, I kept some o' t' black fiberboard from t' middle o' t' centerin' rings and placed them in me parts bin. These small disks I created are meant t' be little pods at t' end o' the Sputnik. Ahoy! 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, arrr, I gave t' rocket a good coatin' o' silver paint. I used acrylic paint and me airbrush. Avast! 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, arrr, I simply dipped each "foot" into a bath of red acrylic paint and let t' whole thin' dry. I used sticky decals from my excess decals bin t' add more details on me Sputnik. Begad! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! I then clear coated the rocket with Future Floor Polish.

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

T' rocket did spit t' motor. On me MMX Sputnik, thar actually is part of the body tube beneath t' styrofoam, matey, so I could tape t' motor t' t' rocket. Arrr! 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. Blimey! Also, t' rocket is a tad hard t' find since it is small. Begad! Arrr! Have some extra pair o' deadlights with you when you launch it.

Summary:
PROs: Cheap and easy build. Well, blow me down! Get a few styrofoam balls and build these with your children.

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