Brief:
This is a plastic model conversion o' a Revell X-15 kit.

Modifications:
T' first thin' I did be use a Dremel t' grind out t' wheel well in t' bottom half o' t' X-15. Begad! This makes room for t' nose cone. After removin' t' wheel well, I epoxied t' nose cone/body tube in t' lower shell. Ya scallywag! There were some gaps along t' body tube side where t' plastic wasn't touching. Blimey! T' reinforce this area, I cut some strips from t' frame which holds t' plastic parts for t' model. Arrr! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I wedged them along t' side o' t' tube and used airplane glue t' weld them t' t' shell. Well, blow me down! Aye aye! Then I painted epoxy over that and along t' tube where t' strips touched. Avast, me proud beauty! Avast! I assembled t' rest o' t' plane per instructions only leavin' out parts which would nay fit. In this case, matey, it was only t' little man inside t' canopy. Arrr! There were two versions t' build. Blimey! I chose t' one without t' wheels. Avast! Blimey! T' smaller lower fins needed t' be reinforced. I used some flat strips o' styrene scrap from t' kit and welded it in with airplane glue, shiver me timbers, followin' with epoxy. Avast, me proud beauty! Then I wrapped m askin' tape along t' point where I needed t' cut t' nose off and used an extra fine razor saw t' remove t' piece just above t' nose cone. Arrr! Arrr! I made a tiny tri-fold shock cord and glued it in t' tube. Ya scallywag! Avast, ya bilge rat, me proud beauty! I recommend doin' this beforehand as it was a pain t' get in. Avast, me bucko, me proud beauty! I also packed some clay in and around t' nosecone. Arrr! Well, matey, blow me down! I wasn't sure about gaugin' CP. Well, blow me down! I probably should have made a cardboard cutout. Ahoy! I chose t' place t' CG about 1/4 inch forward o' t' leadin' win' edge.

Construction:
T' parts list:

• 1 Revell X-15 plastic model kit
• 1 6.5" BT-5 tube
• 1 10mm t' 13mm centerin' rin' for engine block
• 1 15" piece o' 1/8" elastic cord
• 1 12" x 1" polyethylene streamer
• 1 4:1 ogive 13mm nosecone

Finishing:
I painted t' X-15 flat black and applied t' waterslide decals.

Flight:
It be very windy on t' day I flew this, and I think that contributed t' t' inconsistent results. I flew t' X-15 three times, shiver me timbers, all on A10-3T motors. T' first flight be very straight. Begad! Begad! T' second was mostly straight but a little squirrelly near apogee. Aye aye! T' third flight be very unstable, was wafflin' around sideways, me bucko, and landed before motor ejection. Well, blow me down! There was no damage from one flight t' t' next. Ya scallywag! I think either t' rocket was marginally stable and/or t' wind caused some problems.

Recovery:
I used a short polyethylene streamer which didn't help much for slowin' t' descent. It be about t' only thin' I had which would fit in t' 13mm tube. Arrr! Ya scallywag! T' X-15 was durable enough t' take hard landings in grass without any damage.

Summary:
This be me first attempt at a plastic model conversion. Avast! Blimey! Actually I did start a plastic model Jedi Starfighter, arrr, me hearties, but abandoned t' idea. I was pleased with t' results o' t' X-15, but I don't think this is somethin' I would do often.

Videos:
Flight 1:

Flight 2:

Flight 3: