Building REALLY Small Parts for MMX Rockets

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John Partridge

I recently scratch built an MMX AGM-12B Bullpup. I haven’t scratch built very many rockets and this was my first Micromaxx rocket altogether. What I have gleaned from this experience isn’t specific to the Bullpup but certainly applies to scratch building as well as to building Micromaxx rockets.

First, I have been printing centering rings and other things using the template tools on EMRR. While this is obvious in hindsight, I have found that if I print a template and then trace that onto balsa or basswood, the whole thing has become oversized and requires significantly more trimming and sanding to get a good fit. Often I reinforce these CR’s by gluing them to typing paper so to save a step and a lot of work, I now skip cutting out the template and just glue it directly to my balsa stock. This serves as reinforcement and prevents me from gradually growing each time I trace around a template.

Second, when I made centering rings and thrust rings for the MMX Bullpup I had a lot of problems because they were so small. Reinforcing them by gluing typing paper (or sticker paper) to one or both sides is absolutely essential and once done, these are still so soft and prone to break that they must be soaked in CA to harden and stiffen them before attempting to drill or cut holes in them.

I managed to get through my MMX scratch build by doing these things but in the future I have decided that buying pre-made CR’s and thrust rings for these tiny sizes (they can be found at Fliskits and a few others) is a far better option than trying to make them by hand.

GUEST's OPINION:
"" (X.X.)

1. General
   Make launch lugs for MicroMaxx scratchbuilts by rolling dry-gum label stock sticky side out around K and S .067 brass rod. Then wash the excess gum off the outer surface. About one-third of a 1-cent postage stamp will make a launch lug. - P.W.C.
2. Launch Rods
   Featured Tip: MicroMaxx Launch Rod Adapter - This tip describes how to make a simple MicroMaxx launch rod adapter from spare parts. It provides a quick and easy way to avoid swapping launch rods at the pad... more