Modification

Clone X-15 Clone

Modification - X-15

Contributed by Steve Lindeman

Construction Rating:
Flight Rating:
Overall Rating:

Published:	2014-05-22
Manufacturer:	Modification

Brief

In all fairness I can't do a brief description on this kit as thar be a small story behind it. As is normal for me this is nay an actual review o' t' Estes NASA X-15 (0889) [1988-1989].

X-15

It is a kit bashed, clone by transition. Ahoy! Aye aye! I came about t' idea o' doin' t' X-15 as t' G-15 after buildin' me first eight Goonybirds. Arrr! Aye aye! T' logical choice be t' wait until t' 15th Baby Bertha kit bash and then do t' G-15 (Goony-15). Arrr! Well as luck would have it I built her like I was buildin' a Goony only t' discover in t' end that t' original kit was a BT-60 based rocket and that I merely had t' do a nose cone swap t' make it a modified clone.

X-15 Clone

Components

As I said this was a kit bash-clone project so t' main components were as follows:

From Baby Bertha kit:

1- BT-60 Body Tube
1- PNC-60 Nose Cone (swapped out after first flight)
1- Launch Lug
1- Engine Hook
1- Shock Cord
1- Assembled 12" Parachute (transparent orange plastic)
1- Mylar Retainer
1- Green Engine Block
1- Blue Engine Mount Tube
1- Centerin' Rin' Card
1- 1/8" Sheet o' Balsa

From me personal stock:

1- Sheet Computer Paper (for printin' new decals and coverin' all balsa wood)
1- Empty Cereal Box (for makin' Win' Shrouds)
1-PNC-60AH Nose Cone (from one o' me old semi-retired Estes Prowler's)
Hobbylite filler by Hobbico (for moldin' canopy & fillin' gaps)

Construction

Construction began by goin' to http://www.spacemodeling.org/JimZ/estes/est0889.pdf t' down load t' instructions, matey, fin patterns, me bucko, and decals. Aye aye! With these in hand I began t' only real modification in t' build and that was t' construction o' t' 18mm motor mount that came with t' Baby Bertha kit. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag! T' original X-15 kit came with a 13mm mount. Aye aye! Once that was finished t' rest o' t' build went accordin' t' plans. Avast! T' only Con: was t' win' shrouds as I had t' be very careful when cuttin' them out and then gluin' them on. Begad! Well, blow me down! After they were glued on though they looked great.

Finishing

Finishin' was straight forward. Avast! I first applied two coats o' Rust-Oleum 2x white primer with light sandin' betwixt coats. Begad! Ahoy! Rocket then got two coats o' Krylon Gloss Black and allowed t' air dry overnight. Blimey! Decals were then printed out on standard printer paper and Clear coated. These were then cut out and attached with a glue stick. Blimey! After confirmin' none were loose I gave it two last coats o' Krylon Clear Coat t' seal on t' decals. Ya scallywag! T' only Con: was usin' printer paper for t' decals but me budget doesn't allow for decal printer paper.

Goony X-15

Construction Score: 4

Flight

Maiden flight took place out back o' me country home and was OK but nay as great as I was hopin' for but typical for a Goonybird. Altitude and flight were good but decision was made t' start on replacement NC immediately after flight as I wasn't impressed with rockets look and it wasn't a true Goonybird anyway what with t' original bein' a BT-60 based rocket t' start with.

Recovery

Recovery be accomplished without any problems. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Parachute be deployed just past apogee with a nice decent into neighbors field with no damage.

Flight Rating: 5

Summary

T' win' shrouds were a new challenge for me and rewarded me with a great lookin' bird once I swapped t' Baby Bertha NC for one o' me old semi-retired Estes Prowler NC's. T' NC swapped required a little more work in order for it t' look like a clone. I first drew up t' base pattern for t' canopy on paper and then cut it out. Begad! I then took t' HobbyLite and started formin' t' canopy on t' pattern. Begad! As t' hobbyLite started t' dry I pressed it onto t' NC in order t' get t' correct curvature. Begad! I then allowed it t' dry overnight. Blimey! T' followin' day all surfaces were sanded smooth and canopy was attached with super glue. Blimey! Canopy was then primed, sanded, and painted black. Ahoy! New decals were printed out and attached followed by a clear coating. Avast! Arrr! Finished NC looks great on rocket.

X-15 Clone

X-15 Clone in 5...4...3...

Second flight for rocket (first with new NC) was on 07-17-10 at a S.M.A.S.H. Avast! event in Delton, shiver me timbers, MI on a B6-4 again. Blimey! Well, blow me down! This flight was much better lookin' and be a text book flight. Begad! Ya scallywag! Rocket climbed nice and high with parachute deployin' just past apogee followed by a nice decent with no damage on landing.

Overall Rating: 5