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

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

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

T' detailin' on t' aft o' t' model was made with wood bits from Michael's arts and crafts. There are pieces o' wooden flower pots, me bucko, bowls, ya bilge rat, milk cans, etc. Arrr! R2-D2 is from an old Estes mini-engine powered kit. Ya scallywag!

Durin' final assembly, ya bilge rat, 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. Aye aye! Blimey! All gaps were filled with an epoxy paste called PC-11. 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, matey, let me know!), shiver me timbers, Testors Yellow and Krylon Red. Ya scallywag! A mask was created t' spray t' "red five" pattern on t' wings. Ahoy!

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

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

T' rocket be a real crowd pleaser. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! People seem t' like t' more unconventional models. Arrr! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey! T' me knowledge it was t' only rocket at NYPower that got a cheer when t' chutes deployed. Aye aye! Blimey! Blimey! Blimey!

This was me first scratch built high power model, me hearties, me hearties, and it was a great experience. Aye aye! T' excitement is much higher when you are flyin' a model you built from scratch. Ya scallywag! Well, blow me down! I highly recommend givin' it a try.

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. Ahoy!