Brief:
This is a paper model o' t' Fireball XL-5 that I converted t' fly on MicroMaxx motors. Ahoy! Begad! T' plans come in a .pdf file that you can find here [Editor's note: t' link no longer works].

Construction:

• One sheet o' white cardstock
• BT-5 tube
• BT-5 coupler
• 6 mm tube
• ¼" piece o' a spent MMX casing
• Hand-cut cardstock centerin' rings
• Section o' BiC pen's ink tube
• Lead shot nose weight
• Keelhaul®©™cord

T' plans and instructions for t' XL-5 are contained in a single .pdf file, me bucko, and are each a single page in length. Avast, me proud beauty! Aye aye! Blimey! T' instructions are very sparse, shiver me timbers, me bucko, arrr, providin' only one "exploded" view o' how t' parts fit together and two construction tips. Begad! If you have built a paper model or two, ya bilge rat, they are adequate. Blimey! Ya scallywag! Blimey! There are also a few instructions on t' plan itself.

T' model is well detailed and many o' t' trim components are small. Begad! However, I found these much easier t' work with than t' truly minuscule parts on t' Currell Airship-100. Ya scallywag! There are 30 parts t' cut out, shiver me timbers, and I used all but t' final wrap on t' tail cone, as this is smaller than t' diameter o' a MMX motor. Avast, me proud beauty! On this model, ya bilge rat, I worked on a flat surface with better lighting, me hearties, which helped a great deal. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! All cuts were made with a sharp Exacto cutlass usin' a metal straight edge and a rubber pad.

T' body consists o' two wraps, t' nose cone three, matey, and t' tail two. Arrr! Ya scallywag! I first built t' body and found a BT-5 tube fit nicely in t' front end, but be loose at t' tail end. Blimey! I then test fit t' tail wraps t' a MMX-sized plastic tube, me bucko, and found that t' last wrap was too small. I proceeded t' install t' tail cone. I then slid a BT-5 tube down into t' tail cone and cut it t' fit. Begad! Aye aye! I built t' motor mount from a section o' 6 mm plastic tube, ya bilge rat, hand cut centerin' rings and a chunk o' spent MMX casin' as a motor block. Ahoy! Well, blow me down! I tied t' Keelhaul®©™ twine around t' motor block before I glued it in. When I installed t' motor mount assembly, ya bilge rat, I left about 1/8" hangin' out t' back, matey, me bucko, so t' mount would extend through t' end o' t' tail cone. Well, blow me down! A rin' o' carpenter's glue around t' front end o' t' body wrap holds t' tube into t' paper body.

I then built t' nose cone, includin' a section o' BT-5 coupler. Blimey! Ahoy! Gettin' out o' sequence a bit, arrr, I added enough lead shot t' t' nose t' position t' CG at t' same relative point as t' CG on me larger Fireball model (3" from t' tip o' t' nose). Arrr! Blimey! This shot and t' shock cord was affixed with 5-minute epoxy.

I proceeded t' glue on t' fins and trim pieces, which are all 3-D structures that need t' be pre-assembled. Ya scallywag! Begad! About t' only point t' note be t' side, vertical wings are only supported with a cross-member at t' back end. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! As a result, they collapsed in t' middle. Begad! I recommend that you make some tapered, V-shaped pieces o' card stock t' support t' middle o' these fins.

No finishin' is required as t' hull o' t' model is pre-printed. Ahoy! I recommend you provide a clear coat t' protect t' printing. Avast! I learned t' hard way that Brawny paper towels have nothin' on this cardstock! I laid t' model on a counter surface that had just been wiped, ya bilge rat, ya bilge rat, but still was slightly moist. Arrr! Ahoy! One vertical back fin and one front fin soaked up t' water and t' colors ran badly. Avast, me proud beauty! Luckily, I just had t' print some replacements parts :-)

Flight:
Since t' rocket is light and grass is soft, me bucko, I didn't add a streamer. Ahoy! Well, me bucko, blow me down! I used me Pratt GO-BOX and t' innards o' a stock MMX igniter. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' flight was a little wobbly in t' light gusty winds, shiver me timbers, but was still nice.

Summary:
This is a cool little paper kit that easily converted t' a rocket. Begad! If you build one, make sure you give it a clear coat t' protect t' print.