Construction Rating: | starstarstarstar_borderstar_border |
Flight Rating: | starstarstarstarstar |
Overall Rating: | starstarstarstarstar_border |
Published: | 2010-03-27 |
Manufacturer: | Hostile Projectiles |
Brief:
Construction: Parts I Added This kit is called a 'garage kit' aka a 'builders kits'. Ya scallywag! There is no header card or print instructions. Arrr! Arrr! Blimey! T' latter comes on CD an includes t' instructions in both .doc and .pdf formats, me hearties, a copy o' t' fin template, matey, and a graphic that you can use t' make decals. Avast, me proud beauty! T' instructions are nay polished but are written in a humorous manner, ya bilge rat, which made t' kit even more entertaining. T' tubes are nay a cleanly cut as some others, thar are no laser cut fins, me hearties, matey, and t' 'chute is plain trash bag plastic. T' assembly o' t' Delta X-15 is a little more complicated that your typical 3/4FNC rocket, with t' complexity bein' in formin' t' strakes that run along t' main wings and in assemblin' t' stabilizers. T' first step is t' remove t' mould release from t' nose cone. Begad! I scrubbed it with steel wool, arrr, dish washin' soap, me bucko, and hot water. When I thought I scrubbed enough, me bucko, I scrubbed some more. Blimey! Ya scallywag! After t' primer didn't stick well t' me Hostile Projectiles V-2 cones, I sanded this one and scrubbed some more. T' instructions show you how t' ream t' cockpit windows, ya bilge rat, which are t' be plugged with scrap clear plastic (builder-provided). Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! I chose nay t' do this. Arrr! Avast! T' alternate method is t' paint them and cover with a thin layer o' epoxy. Well, blow me down! T' next step on t' cone is t' glue t' styrene tube t' t' wall o' t' cone and then t' screw eye into that tube. I did so with 5-minute epoxy. Arrr! I later added lead shot and epoxy t' move t' loaded CG t' about 12.5 inches from t' nose cone tip. I prepped t' large, shiver me timbers, pre-cut wings by laminatin' them with printer paper usin' 3M Super 77 glue. Arrr! Blimey! I saw a flight report where t' win' broke and I thought this would make them a little tougher. This worked out OK (based on me level o' acceptability), ya bilge rat, but barely so. Ahoy! Blimey! I need more practice on larger fins. Blimey! Blimey! Aye aye! Blimey! 'Nuff said. T' edge stock, which is tapered along its short axis, me bucko, is glued t' t' root o' t' wings. Ahoy! Ya scallywag! Since these strips are longer than t' wing, you fill t' leadin' edge gap with scrap balsa taken from t' leftovers from t' stabilizers. Ahoy! Once filled in, this section o' t' win' assembly is shaped usin' a provided template. T' motor assembly is standard, consistin' o' a tube, a motor hook, a motor block, ya bilge rat, and two laser cut centerin' rings. Ahoy! I augmented t' recovery harness by addin' a length o' Keelhaul®©™, matey, me bucko, which be fed through a notch I made on t' top CR. Well, blow me down! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I built t' mount with wood glue and a dab o' 5-minute epoxy t' attach t' Keelhaul®©™ leader. When I went t' mark t' body tube usin' t' provided markin' guide, I found that it was a bit small. Well, blow me down! Well, blow me down! I had t' adjust each mark by about 1/16". Arrr! Aye aye! I also noted that t' pre-cut pieces o' 1/2"-wide stock that is used for t' aft o' t' delta-shaped stabilizers were about 1/8" too long. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Thus, ya bilge rat, I suspect t' span o' said stabilizers is also a skosh shorter than intended. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! I'll double check that me RockSim model has t' as-built dimensions. Ya scallywag! Other than that, me hearties, framin' t' delta shaped stabilizers was straightforward. Begad! I mounted t' provided lugs on t' bottom at t' joint betwixt t' body and one lower fin strake. Well, blow me down! I also mounted some 3/16" lugs on t' opposite strake. T' final step was t' form t' tail cone. Blimey! I tried a couple o' paper varieties and wasn't happy. Ahoy! I ended up cuttin' mine from 1/64" fiberglass. Finishing: T' kit comes with a plenty o' decals. Avast! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' instructions said they were pre-coated but an insert in t' bag that held t' decal sheet said t' builder had t' do so. Well, blow me down! Blimey! It suggested Testor's sealer but I decided t' try Future. This be a mistake as t' Future totally melted and ran t' colors. Blimey! Blimey! Steve provides an image that you can use t' print another set and in an email recommended Experts Choice paper. If I couldn't find it locally he offered t' provide a replacement set even though I didn't follow simple directions. I can't fault t' kit for t' label disaster and providin' t' decal image is a real plus. Blimey! Such be t' benefit o' providin' soft copy instructions. In any event, ya bilge rat, me will fly decal-free. Construction Rating: 3 out o' 5 Flight: Recovery: Flight Rating: 5 out o' 5 Summary: Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5
This is sport scale model o' an X-15 variant proposed by North American Aviation. Well, blow me down! Blimey! More accurately, ya bilge rat, it is fantasy scale since this stretched, shiver me timbers, delta-winged version be never produced. Like t' other offerings from Hostile Projectiles, this kit features a hand-crafted resin nose cone. Begad! It flies on 24mm power.
Parts Included:
T' instructions provide detailed finishin' recommendations, me hearties, includin' Minwax wood filler, Bondo spot putty, and Tamiya paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! However, me bucko, shiver me timbers, matey, I used fill'n'finish and Rustoleum primer and paint. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! T' wings didn't require filin' as they were laminated with paper.
Prep was typical, ya bilge rat, includin' a mix o' paper and cellulose waddin' and some maskin' tape t' make t' cone snug. I chose a D12-5 for t' first flight. Blimey! T' boost was perfectly straight and ejection was at apogee. Very nice.
T' rocket recovered under an 18" nylon 'chute. Begad! I has expected t' snap one o' t' tip winglets off but, ya bilge rat, nope, it recovered perfectly.
This is a cool lookin' kit that is sure t' get attention on t' field. Avast, me proud beauty! As I mentioned earlier, it is considered a 'garage' kit. Aye aye! T' instructions are nay refined and some o' t' parts are rough. I could accept that, but I found t' error in t' scale o' t' provided templates t' be troubling. Begad! T' main plus be t' beautiful nose cone. Avast! This, me hearties, along with t' fact that it is such a unique subject, make t' kit well worth t' price. However, ya bilge rat, it is nay for t' novice builder and you need t' take care as you assemble it.