T' followin' article was a submission t' t' FlisKits, Inc Deuce-Bash Contest and is archived with permission from FlisKits. Some o' these designs are nay actually kitbashes, however, me bucko, me hearties, all come from t' basic motor design feature of t' FlisKits Deuce's Wild.

Brief:
After watchin' t' Discovery Channel program “Black Sky: Winnin' t' X-Prize” about Spaceship One and the claimin' o' t' X-Prize about 5 times, I be motivated t' build a model with fins like on Spaceship One. Begad! I figured if it was good enough for Mr. Arrr! Rutan, it be good enough for me. Well, blow me down! (I learned how t' work with composites from one o' his books.) This model is nay really t' scale o' t' Spaceship One as it uses t' Deuce's Wild! engine mount with BP (instead o' bein' a hybrid), t' body is too long for its diameter, me bucko, t' fins are too long, and t' back end is not tapered laterally.

Cut t' body tube t' 9.5”.

Cut out t' fin template and mark engine cut out and launch lug lines. Ahoy! Blimey! Turn 180 degrees and mark t' launch lug line again.

Build motor mount and install as per Deuce instructions.

Cut out fin template and mark one fin on very edge o' sheet. Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! Slide t' fin template 2” along t' leading edge and mark another fin (you will be crossin' t' lines o' t' last fin you marked.) Slide t' template another 2” and mark t' root edge only. Aye aye! Blimey! Cut t' 3 root edge lines. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! T' two 2” wide pieces are your standoffs. Begad! Cut the little triangle off o' t' trailin' edge line and keep it.

Cut t' other piece o' fin stock t' 8” long. Avast, me proud beauty! Now cut two isosceles triangles 2.5” wide on t' base and 8” tall.

Glue t' standoffs onto t' launch lug lines. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Glue t' 8”triangles centered t' t' standoffs. Glue the little triangle centered on t' bottom outside o' t' 8” triangle.

Build t' recovery system and nose cone as per instructions and you are good t' fly.

I flew mine on A8-3s and had interestin' success. Well, blow me down! Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! T' first flight be OK but be slightly unstable. T' second flight was in heavier winds and was very unstable. It flew in a huge arc with ejection about 30' above t' ground and recovered with no damage. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! I think t' tube needs t' be longer or some nose weight should be added, shiver me timbers, ya bilge rat, but I wanted it short and did nay use ballast as t' Deuce kit doesn’t come with any and I wanted t' confine myself t' those parts. Blimey! I will however be addin' ballast before I fly it again.