M.M.X. (MicroMech-X)

All Micro-Maxx, arrr, 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. Blimey! Arrr! 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. 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). Well, blow me down! I had scoured t' web, and had even thought o' doin' a conversion o' a paper model robot, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but decided t' just start buildin' and see where it went. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! This model started as a prototype, arrr, 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". Blimey! In this design methodology, me hearties, t' design is performed as you go, me hearties, without t' benefit o' plans, diagrams, arrr, or specifications. Documentation is performed at t' end, matey, 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. T' plastic robot's foot be traced onto foam poster board. I cut t' feet, beveled their edges, and cut holes for the MMX tubes. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Next came t' upper layer o' t' feet, matey, followed by t' front and rear leg sections. Avast, me proud beauty! At this point, ya bilge rat, I began t' think about weight, so t' sides of t' legs were made from card stock. Aye aye! T' body was started with a foam board plate, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, with holes cut for t' motor tubes. As with t' leg sections, t' three front and one aft section o' t' body are foam board and t' sides are cardstock. Ya scallywag! T' provide better support for t' shoulders/head (i.e. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! t' nose cone), I added a small section o' BT-20 in t' body cavity. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! A long Estes lug was inserted laterally through t' BT-20 t' provide an attachment point for the arms. Ya scallywag! T' shoulder/head assembly started with a foam board plate. Begad! Attached to this is a sliver o' BT-20 coupler and two pieces o' foam board, which were trimmed t' mate with t' body opening. Arrr! T' head itself be carved/sanded from pink foam. Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' arms consist o' two layers o' foam board.

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

Conclusion

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