Brief:

This me first attempt at PMC and t' first plastic model I've built in 25 years. Arrr! Begad! As such, I chose one that looked like it would be both an easy model and an easy conversion.

Construction:

Here is what I used:

• Revell 1:32 Bell X1 Model Kit #KIT4565
• BT-20 t' BT-50 rings
• BT-50 t' BT-60 CR
• 4" o' BT-20 MMT
• 6.5" o' BT-50 for chute compartment
• BT-50 coupler
• Launch lug

Main Body Assembly

Assemble t' motor tube and body tube as shown.

Remove all o' t' protrusions on t' inside o' t' two halves o' t' model so that t' body tube/engine mount assembly will fit. Ya scallywag! Begad! You'll need t' remove t' landin' gear wells t' make room for t' center tube. Blimey! Mark t' fuselage halves about an 1/8" t' ¼" behind t' point where t' cockpit gets glued in. Read t' models assembly instructions t' see where this is. Blimey! Avast! This is critical in a later step.

There is no gear up or gear down choice on this build because o' t' need t' remove t' wheel wells t' get t' tubes inside. Blimey! Glue t' doors on t' sides o' t' plane. Ahoy! They don't fit well so you'll have t' work on them t' get them t' look good.

Glue t' two halves o' t' main body together along t' entire length o' t' fuselage. Begad! Let dry overnight. Ya scallywag! Arrr! You will need a strong bond for t' subsequent steps.

Cut and sand t' aft end so t' motor tube will fit. Ahoy! This will be about an inch. Blimey! T' pictures show how it should look after this is complete. Well, blow me down! Note how t' cut is just below t' rudder. Begad! Avast! You will need t' fill this area with spot putty later t' get a smooth transition.

Usin' a razor saw, shiver me timbers, cut t' model in half just behind t' cockpit at t' mark you made earlier. Begad! A good straight cut here will make t' model look much better.

Install t' body tube assembly into t' rocket. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! Use t' CR t' center t' forward end o' t' tube and glue in place.

Cockpit assembly

Don't install t' pedals. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! You will need t' room for nose weight. Avast! Glue in t' instrument panel.

I used clay and BBs for nose weight. Ahoy! I added 15 grams t' t' nose before I glued in Chuck. Well, blow me down! Ahoy! (You and Chuck should be on a first name basis by now.) You should end up with enough clay so Chuck's feet get pushed into it. Avast, me proud beauty! Glue in t' Chuckster.

Paint t' first row o' panels in t' cockpit glass black on t' underside. Blimey! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty! This will hide t' clay.

I used a U.S. Avast, me proud beauty! Begad! Rockets 18mm t' 24mm motor adapter for t' coupler. This was because it was thick and longer than a normal coupler. (I figured it needed a lot o' "meat" for gluing.) I pealed t' glassine layer off t' glue area for better glue adhesion. Avast, me proud beauty! T' install and align, insert it into t' body tube in t' aft airframe and apply model cement t' t' exposed end. Use t' "nose cone" t' push it further into t' BT bein' careful t' align everything. When t' nose cone be aligned with t' rest o' t' model, I taped it in place until it be dry. This aligns t' coupler with t' BT and glues it t' t' cockpit area. Aye aye! Arrr! Be careful nay t' get glue on anythin' but where it needs t' go. Begad! Aye aye! After t' cement is dry, matey, remove t' "nose cone" from t' rocket and apply cement fillets t' t' coupler/cockpit joint.

Pack in a bunch more nose weight. Begad! I put a bunch behind t' cockpit and inside t' coupler. Aye aye! Arrr! Blimey! Don't forget t' glue a shock cord in t' coupler before you add t' weight. Ya scallywag! Blimey! My finished nose cone weighed 79.5 grams.

Final assembly

Glue all t' wings on.

Glue t' launch lug on t' belly, arrr, aligned with t' wheel wells. Begad! T' CG should be at t' front o' t' win' with everythin' installed for launch.

Use spot putty t' fill in t' engine/tail area. Again, look at me finished tail section t' see how it should look.

Finishing:

I painted t' cockpit components (before installation). Arrr! T' body was easy, as all it needed was a coat o' Testers orange. Aye aye! Blimey! T' decals went on without incident.

Flight and Recovery:

T' get an idea how high it would go and t' choose a delay, ya bilge rat, me bucko, I simmed it in RockSim. Ahoy! T' sim I came up with was pretty close t' t' actual model. I had t' do a mass override t' get it right. T' predicted altitude was 250' with a C6-3. Aye aye! Arrr! Wishful thinkin' I guess. Avast! Well, blow me down! I then simmed it usin' a D21-7 and it showed it goin' t' 1050'.

T' flight be a bit squirrelly but remarkably, she held together. Arrr! T' ejection charge was late and so energetic that it broke t' shock cord. There was no real damage and it will fly again.