I started work on the X-Win' shortly after gettin' level 1 certification. Construction be based on a set o' plans I found on a Japanese website for a paper X-Win' model. From these plans, I was able t' create templates for t' X-Wing's fuselage bulkheads, wings, cockpit and nosecone. Ya scallywag! Construction began with t' purchase of a 38mm motor tube, a sheet o' 1/4" aircraft plywood and several 1/4" dowels. Avast, me proud beauty! I cut t' fuselage bulkheads from t' plywood, notched them at the corners t' accommodate t' dowels, then joined them together. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Anyone who has built model airplanes will be familiar with this type o' construction. A 2 1/2' long section o' 2.6" body tube be placed inside t' forward end of fuselage t' contain t' parachute and t' allow easy attachment o' t' nose cone. Well, blow me down! T' fuselage was then covered with cardboard. After much fillin' and sanding, me hearties, two wraps o' 6 oz fiberglass were applied t' t' fuselage. Holes were cut in t' bottom o' t' fuselage t' accommodate t' 1/2" copper pipe that would serve as t' launch lug. Well, blow me down!

With work finished on t' fuselage, me bucko, I began on t' wings. Ya scallywag! T' wings are constructed o' a basswood skeleton covered with a glassed balsa skin. Begad! Well, matey, blow me down! T' engine fairings are build from cardboard reinforced at t' corners with basswood. Well, blow me down! Arrr! Three different body tube sizes were used in t' construction o' t' wings. Ya scallywag! T' large motor tubes are 4" cardboard tubing, shiver me timbers, t' aft "afterburners" are 2.6" tubin' and t' lasers on t' wingtips are made from 54mm motor tubing. All tubin' was purchased from LOC Precision. Well, matey, blow me down! When t' wings were complete, matey, me hearties, me bucko, mounting holes were cut in t' fuselage. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! Win' are mounted through-the-wall; butted up to the motor tube. Avast, me proud beauty!

T' nose cone and cockpit are built from t' same cardboard that was used t' cover t' fuselage. Arrr! Avast, me proud beauty! Again, templates were created from t' paper model plans. Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A 2.6" coupler was epoxied inside t' nosecone t' allow attachment t' t' fuselage. 2 lbs o' BB's and epoxy were added t' t' nosecone for stability.

T' detailin' on t' aft o' t' model was made with wood bits from Michael's arts and crafts. Avast, me proud beauty! There are pieces o' wooden flower pots, matey, bowls, milk cans, me hearties, etc. Ya scallywag! R2-D2 is from an old Estes mini-engine powered kit. Well, blow me down!

Durin' final assembly, t' wings were glued in place and acrylic panels were installed betwixt t' top and bottom wings for increased strength and to improve stability in flight. Arrr! Blimey! Begad! Blimey! All gaps were filled with an epoxy paste called PC-11. Arrr! Blimey! Many hours o' sandin' were required t' get t' model ready for paint. T' paints used were 4 cans o' Testors camouflage gray (if anyone knows o' a lower cost alternative, ya bilge rat, me bucko, let me know!), me hearties, arrr, Testors Yellow and Krylon Red. A mask was created t' spray t' "red five" pattern on t' wings. Well, blow me down! Blimey! Well, matey, blow me down! Blimey!

With construction nearly complete, I began t' think about recovery. The finished model weighs in at about 13lb with motor installed. Avast! Ya scallywag! It be goin' t' be difficult t' get enough chute into this thing. Arrr! T' best I could do be two 48" chutes on t' rocket, and a separate 36" chute on t' nose.

T' rocket flew at NYPower 11 on an Aerotech I-284 with 6 second delay. Avast! I had thought about tryin' t' do a level 2 cert with t' model, but I be nay at all confident that t' model would be recovered without damage. Avast, arrr, me proud beauty! Besides, shiver me timbers, I really want t' get into altimeters and dual deployment for me eventual level 2 attempt. Avast! Breezy conditions made if difficult t' orient t' rocket edgewise t' t' wind. A brace be improvised usin' a piece o' body tube that was found near t' launch pad and some wire from used igniters. Takeoff be slow, and t' flight path be a gentle arc onto the rocket's back. T' flight was slightly marred by t' premature separation of t' 2lb nosecone which proceeded t' snag on one o' t' wings. Ahoy! Begad! Maximum altitude be around 500' T' fight was a real nail biter with t' twin parachutes deployin' about 100' off t' ground. Arrr! As expected, t' chutes were not sufficent t' prevent damage t' t' rocket. Well, arrr, blow me down! Two o' the "afterburners" were damaged, me bucko, one heavily. Well, blow me down! A split also occurred along the front o' t' fuselage, matey, ya bilge rat, this may have been caused by t' premature separation, me bucko, or t' plus-size ejection charge that was used t' ensure deployment. Ya scallywag! T' model is repairable. Arrr!

T' rocket was a real crowd pleaser. People seem t' like t' more unconventional models. Begad! T' me knowledge it be t' only rocket at NYPower that got a cheer when t' chutes deployed. Avast! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty!

This be me first scratch built high power model, shiver me timbers, and it was a great experience. Well, blow me down! Begad! T' excitement is much higher when you are flyin' a model you built from scratch. Avast! Begad! I highly recommend givin' it a try. Well, blow me down!

Special thanks t' Bobby Buchalski from Hanger 11 for assistance and advice in preppin' t' model for flight and t' Chuck Rudy from Voodoo Digital Productions for assistance at t' launch pad. Blimey!