M.M.X. (MicroMech-X)

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

Design Concept

I wanted t' pick a theme that I thought would be somewhat unique. Avast! Blimey! 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. I roughly patterned this rocket after a robot model that I resurrected from t' depths o' our basement (a.k.a. Avast! Blimey! T' Rocket Dungeon). Aye aye! Blimey! I had scoured t' web, and had even thought o' doin' a conversion o' a paper model robot, ya bilge rat, arrr, but decided t' just start buildin' and see where it went. 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". Begad! In this design methodology, matey, t' design is performed as you go, without t' benefit o' plans, ya bilge rat, matey, diagrams, or specifications. Documentation is performed at t' end, 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. Well, blow me down! I then started at t' bottom and built me way up. Blimey! T' plastic robot's foot was traced onto foam poster board. Begad! I cut t' feet, shiver me timbers, beveled their edges, and cut holes for the MMX tubes. Aye aye! Next came t' upper layer o' t' feet, followed by t' front and rear leg sections. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! At this point, I began t' think about weight, matey, shiver me timbers, so t' sides of t' legs were made from card stock. Arrr! T' body was started with a foam board plate, shiver me timbers, with holes cut for t' motor tubes. Ahoy! As with t' leg sections, 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! Ahoy! t' nose cone), arrr, I added a small section o' BT-20 in t' body cavity. A long Estes lug was inserted laterally through t' BT-20 t' provide an attachment point for the arms. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' shoulder/head assembly started with a foam board plate. Attached to this is a sliver o' BT-20 coupler and two pieces o' foam board, shiver me timbers, me hearties, which were trimmed t' mate with t' body opening. Blimey! T' head itself was carved/sanded from pink foam. Avast, me proud beauty! T' arms consist o' two layers o' foam board.

Now that t' robot looked like a robot, I had to add more rocket stuff. Begad! For recovery, me bucko, a piece o' thin Keelhaul®©™ twine was tied around t' launch lug that supports t' arms and was epoxied t' the shoulder/head assembly. Ahoy! A launch lug was glued midway up t' back. Begad! And finally, I scrounged some thin clear plastic for fins. Ya scallywag! 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, 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. Avast! M.M.X. Well, blow me down! reached a whoppin' altitude o' 4ft. Begad! Avast! T' second photo below shows it on t' way down, shiver me timbers, just before ejection.

Conclusion

Although t' rocket flew, 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. Begad! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! Such conclusions are the point o' a prototypin' effort. Avast! Blimey! I didn't find time t' build V2.0, so I guess this is it for this contest.