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. Arrr! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! 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. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! This be t' motor mount. Well, blow me down! Arrr! I pushed it into t' styrofoam (trying to center it), and then removed it t' release t' loose styrofoam. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast, me proud beauty! Next, shiver me timbers, arrr, I glued t' tube in place. Blimey!

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. I simply cut t' launch lug t' an appropriate size and then glued it t' t' motor mount and styrofoam. Ahoy!

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

I used a hole puncher t' create three small disks from t' black fiber board. Aye aye! Avast! When buildin' a few FlisKits models recently, ya bilge rat, I kept some o' t' black fiberboard from t' middle o' t' centerin' rings and placed them in me parts bin. Begad! Ya scallywag! These small disks I created are meant t' be little pods at t' end o' the Sputnik. Avast! I simply glued these on t' t' ends o' t' toothpicks, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, makin' sure they were rather flat so t' Sputnik could stand up nicely.

Finishing:
After everythin' was dry, I gave t' rocket a good coatin' o' silver paint. Well, blow me down! Blimey! I used acrylic paint and me airbrush. Begad! T' solvents in t' Krylon-style paint are not good for this project as they will melt t' styrofoam.

Once t' silver was dry, me bucko, I simply dipped each "foot" into a bath of red acrylic paint and let t' whole thin' dry. Blimey! I used sticky decals from my excess decals bin t' add more details on me Sputnik. Avast, me proud beauty! I then clear coated the rocket with Future Floor Polish.

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

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

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

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