Brief:
This rocket is a downscale o' t' Model Minutes Space Racer. Blimey! Avast, me proud beauty! Since I have the "kit" on CD-ROM, matey, me bucko, all I had t' do was print up t' files on the computer. Since I was interested in created a MicroMaxx rocket, shiver me timbers, me bucko, 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. 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. Ya scallywag! Begad! Blimey! The original plans call for usin' foamboard t' create t' centerin' rings for the motor mount. Ya scallywag! Blimey! Also, matey, t' original plans call for an engine hook. Begad! I used neither.

I folded t' main body tube, which is actually a cone, shiver me timbers, and then folded and glued t' 3 fins t' shape. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! I glued t' fins on t' t' body cone and then added extra yellow glue fillets t' t' fin area. Blimey! Blimey! Well, blow me down! Blimey! 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. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! Why I did this, I don't know, me bucko, but in the end it worked out fine.

I created centerin' rings by cuttin' out t' centerin' rin' template out o' the bristol board, ya bilge rat, me hearties, pastin' this on additional bristol board, arrr, and then cuttin' them out. This gave me strong but thin centerin' rings for t' motor mount. Avast, me proud beauty! I then glued t' motor mount t' t' centerin' rings.

After everythin' be dry, 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). 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. Next, shiver me timbers, arrr, I simply used some Teflon tape as a streamer and attached it around t' engine mount betwixt t' two centering rings. Begad! This would keep it free from t' ejection charges, me hearties, me bucko, shiver me timbers, 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. Avast! Blimey! I did nay like t' idea o' drillin' a small hole through an already small fin, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, 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. Ahoy! Arrr! I finished t' rocket by hand paintin' with acrylic paint. Avast! T' nose area was painted black with t' rest o' t' rocket painted silver and red. Ya scallywag! Begad! One fin be painted red and two were painted metallic green. Begad! I also painted a cockpit area usin' blue and silver. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Next, after t' paint was dry, I used a black sharpie t' create lines betwixt t' red and silver, add detail t' the cockpit, and add rivets for a cool retro look. I did nay want t' spray paint it and add lots o' weight, matey, shiver me timbers, so I just used acrylic paint and gave everythin' just one coat. 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, shiver me timbers, but I wanted t' test fly t' rocket first before doin' this.

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

T' second flight was picture perfect. Arrr! Ahoy! Blimey! This time, ya bilge rat, it really zipped off the pad, shiver me timbers, arrr, arrr, probably goin' more than 50 feet in t' air. Well, blow me down! T' ejection charge fired and the motor mount ejected with t' streamer. It be 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! I thought the rocket might be too bulky and wide for an MMX conversion but I be wrong. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! It was a great flight.

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

Summary:
PROs: If you have t' Space Racer kit on CD-ROM, arrr, you can make upscales and downscales until t' cows come home. Begad! I thought t' 25% version might be too big for MMX but it was perfect. Avast, me proud beauty! I could make an even smaller version but t' size I made was 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! Ya scallywag! Since this rocket is for MMX, it probably doesn't need that strong o' a paper. Avast! Avast, me proud beauty! Lighter paper could make construction easier.