This flying model rocket kit is for use with the 6mm Quest Micro Maxx (MMX) engines. As the name clearly suggests, it uses tubes for fins. It uses six fin tubes, which happens to be the easiest fin configuration to work with for model rockets which have tubes for fins. The kit is rated a "Beginner/Intermediate" Skill Level kit and is easy to build. Small rockets often means small parts which can present a challenge. This wasn't so much the case here, probably as there are no small fins to cut or work with. If you're using the Quest Micro Maxx silo-type launch pad, test both launch position 1 and 2 to find the better fit. The ideal position will depend on how/where the launch lug was attached.

Parts List

The flying model rocket kit comes in a long, clear bag. The cover of the instruction sheets doubles as a (black & white) face card.

- 2 body tubes (one long, one short)
- 2 tube couplers
- 7 short fin tubes
- wood nose cone
- lead split shot
- styrene launch lug
- Kevlar shock cord
- Mylar streamer
- assembly and launch instructions

To build this rocket kit, you'll need some glue, pencil, ruler and a hobby knife with sharp #11 blade.

Construction

You start by gently sanding the fin tubes and removing a layer of paper from inside one of them. This tube will become the center tube. This part is probably the trickiest of the entire building process. Arrange the other fin tubes around the center tube, as shown in the tube-fin assembly on the right.

The rocket's assembled body tubes and launch lug are also pictured. Cut a 1/2" long piece from one of the couplers. Tie one end of the Kevlar around it and glue it 3/8" into one end of the long body tube. This is your engine block and shock cord mount.

Glue the nose cone into the short body tube. Tie the lead shot to the remaining end of the shock cord and glue it and the remaining coupler into the other side of the same tube. Glue the launch lug into a tube fin (not the center one).

Attach the Mylar streamer to the shock cord and glue the long body tube into the center fin tube.

Measurements

This ASP tube rocket is 6.875" long, a nice length for a Micro Maxx powered rocket. It has a diameter of 0.282" and weighs 6 grams (according to the instructions).

Finishing

The image on the right shows the tube rocket without any finishing. I opted against using primer, to avoid adding to weight. This seemed like a good plan, given the type of rocket engine we're dealing with. This was a mistake, as you can see some of the spirals through the paint job, I would suggest filling them with primer or filler/sealer and primer.

The color selected was yellow (Testors #1214 enamel spray paint). The image on the instruction sheets shows a (black and white) two tone paint scheme instead. I opted for a single bright color, hoping it would increase the odds of recovering the model rocket. The instructions recommend having several people watching the launch as the rocket may be hard to find due to its small size. A bright color can only help, or so I hope.

Flight Data

As mentioned earlier, this model rocket uses Micro Maxx (MMX) rocket motors only.

It was first flown on a somewhat windy day and angled slighty into the wind. It went up very nicely and slowy. The ejection charge fired, however the streamer did not deploy. I probably had the nose cone in too tightly. The rocket arced over and came down ballistic. It landed safely in the soft grass.